Paddle charges one flat rate (around 5% + $0.50 per transaction) that bundles payments, billing, and global tax. Here is what that actually works out to, where the 50 cents hurts, and a calculator for your real effective rate.

Jun 29, 2026 Read more →

Metrics 6 min read

Mobile App Churn Rate by Category (2026)

Mobile app churn benchmarks vary dramatically by category. Gaming loses 60-75% in 30 days. Utility apps see 40-50%. Subscription apps hold 40-55%. Here are the real 2026 numbers, with what good and concerning look like.

Jun 28, 2026 Read more →

Comparison 10 min read

Stripe Smart Retries vs Churnkey (2026): Which Recovers More?

Stripe Smart Retries is free and handles retry timing. Churnkey costs money and does a lot more. Here is exactly where each one wins, with a calculator to see if Churnkey would actually recover enough to pay for itself.

Jun 28, 2026 Read more →

Metrics 6 min read

MRR Churn vs ARR Churn: What's the Difference? (2026)

MRR churn and ARR churn measure the same leak on different clocks. The trap is comparing a monthly number to an annual one. A 3% monthly churn rate is a 30% annual churn rate. Here is how to read both correctly.

Jun 27, 2026 Read more →

Comparison 11 min read

Paddle vs Stripe Billing (2026): Which Should You Use?

Paddle is a merchant of record that handles your sales tax and VAT. Stripe Billing is a payment toolkit where you stay on the hook for compliance. Here is exactly where each one wins, with a true-cost calculator.

Jun 27, 2026 Read more →

Comparison 11 min read

Best Churnkey Alternatives in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)

Churnkey is the sharpest churn-prevention tool in its lane, but it is not the right fit for everyone. Here are 8 alternatives I actually recommend, ranked by who they fit best, with a calculator to check if a paid tool is even worth it for you.

Jun 26, 2026 Read more →

Metrics 4 min read

What Is Negative Churn?

Negative churn is when expansion revenue from existing customers exceeds revenue lost to churn. Your customer base grows revenue on its own, even without acquiring new customers. It is the holy grail of SaaS unit economics.

Jun 26, 2026 Read more →

Strategy 7 min read

How to Predict Churn From Your Stripe Data

Your Stripe billing data already predicts churn 30-60 days before it happens. Most teams never look. Here is the analysis framework, the signals that matter, and how to set up automated alerts without a data team.

Jun 25, 2026 Read more →

Metrics 4 min read

What Is LTV to CAC Ratio?

LTV to CAC ratio is the single number that tells you whether your unit economics work. Under 3:1 signals a problem. Above 5:1 signals you are under-investing in growth. Here is why it matters and how to move it.

Jun 24, 2026 Read more →

Strategy 8 min read

How to Ship Retention Experiments in 2 Weeks

Most retention experiments take 3-6 months to ship in-house. The math says they should take 2 weeks. Here is how teams that actually ship fast structure the work, plus the option to outsource it entirely.

Jun 23, 2026 Read more →

Metrics 4 min read

What Is CAC Payback Period?

CAC payback period is how long it takes for a customer to pay back what you spent to acquire them. Under 12 months is best-in-class. Over 24 months is a red flag. Here is what it measures and how it relates to your ability to scale.

Jun 22, 2026 Read more →

Retention 7 min read

Lifecycle Email Audit: 10 Things Teams Miss

A lifecycle email audit surfaces the gaps quietly killing your retention. Here are the 10 things most SaaS teams miss, the framework for finding them yourself, and when it makes more sense to outsource the audit.

Jun 21, 2026 Read more →

⭐ Featured

Tools to put these strategies into practice

The retention tools I recommend most often.

All tools →

ChurnHalt

Analytics & Insights

You're finding out about churn after it happens. ChurnHalt analyses your Stripe history, finds the patterns behind cancelled subscriptions, and flags who you should focus on.

Retention Email Snapshot

resurrection

Retention & Loyalty

A 15-minute diagnostic call that surfaces exactly where your lifecycle emails are losing users. $249 value - ChurnTools users pay $149 with code CHURNTOOLS40.