The AARRR framework, also known as Pirate Metrics, provides a structured approach to understanding user behavior across five key stages of the customer journey. Developed by venture capitalist Dave McClure, this framework breaks down the customer lifecycle into Acquisition, Activation, Retention, Referral, and Revenue.^[1]

Each stage represents a crucial transition in users' relationship with your product:

• Acquisition tracks how users discover you
• Activation measures meaningful first experiences
• Retention shows ongoing engagement
• Referral captures word-of-mouth growth
• Revenue tracks monetization success

By organizing metrics within this framework, teams can identify which stage needs the most attention rather than trying to improve everything simultaneously. This helps prioritize resources and create targeted improvements where they'll have the greatest impact on overall growth.