How to Increase DAU: 7 Proven Strategies for Apps and Games in 2026

In today’s crowded app market, acquisition alone isn’t enough. If your users aren’t coming back daily, you’re bleeding value. That’s why DAU (Daily Active Users) has become one of the most critical KPIs for app and game teams.

But increasing DAU isn’t just about push notifications or lucky feature updates—it requires a systematic, data-driven approach that aligns user motivation, product experience, and retention mechanics.

Let’s dive into 7 proven strategies to increase DAU sustainably, whether you're a mobile game publisher, a product manager, or a performance marketer.

Define What “Active” Means in Your Product

Before trying to grow DAU, you need to define what “active” means clearly.

Is it a login? A session? Completing a level? Making a purchase?

Your growth strategies must align with this definition. If your DAU is based on "session start", your UX and marketing should encourage daily logins. If it's "level completion", your gameplay loops need to optimize for that.

Use product analytics to track what % of users reach your “active” event daily—and identify drop-off points.

Build a Repeatable Reason to Return

To increase DAU, users need a compelling reason to come back daily. This is often referred to as a return trigger.

Examples:

• Daily rewards or login streaks

• Limited-time events (e.g., “Spin the Wheel” promotions)

• Leaderboards or competitive incentives

• New content drops

In the gaming world, even light casual games see DAU spikes from weekend-only events or exclusive challenges.

A/B test different daily hooks. Measure which ones impact DAU AND retention (Day 1, Day 7).

Leverage Push Notifications—Smartly

Push notifications are powerful, but only if they’re:

• Timely

• Personalized

• Aligned with user behavior

Avoid generic reminders like “Come back today!” Instead, send value-driven nudges:

• “You’re one match away from a new rank!”

• “Your daily bonus is about to expire in 2 hours”

Use predictive analytics to time notifications based on individual user activity windows.

Introduce In-App Reward Systems

Reward systems—especially non-intrusive, engagement-based ones—are proven to drive DAU. In mobile games, this can take the form of:

• Playtime-based rewards

• Ad view incentives (watch to get extra lives or currency)

• Achievement badges tied to daily behaviors

Platforms that integrate such mechanics often see:

• Longer sessions

• Higher re-engagement

• More organic DAU growth over time

Reward-based ad units also enhance monetization while improving DAU—perfect synergy.

Re-engage Dormant Users with Win-Back Campaigns

DAU isn’t just about new users—it’s also about re-activating lapsed ones.

Strategies that work:

• Email or push campaigns for users inactive for 3–7 days

• Personalized comeback incentives (e.g., free items, XP boosts)

• Re-onboarding flows that show “What’s new”

Segment your inactive users by last active date, and set up automated win-back flows per cohort.

Improve Onboarding to Prevent Drop-Off

If users aren’t becoming active in the first place, you can’t grow DAU.

60%+ of app users churn after Day 1.
You need to shorten time-to-value and make sure first-time users complete your “active” event.

Ideas:

• Highlight key features in the first session

• Remove unnecessary friction in sign-up

• Use tooltips and progress indicators

Track what % of new users become Day 1 DAUs—and run onboarding experiments to improve it.

Measure, Optimize, Repeat

Increasing DAU is not a one-time play. You need continuous measurement and iteration.
Key metrics to watch:

• DAU growth rate (week over week)

• DAU-to-MAU ratio (stickiness)

• Retention rates

• Session time per DAU

Use cohort analysis to separate the effects of campaigns vs. product improvements.

Strategic Summary: how to increase DAU

Increasing DAU in 2026 requires more than generic notifications or feature launches. It demands clarity, consistency, and customer-centricity.

By clearly defining your “active” criteria and applying retention-first strategies—like reward loops, smart messaging, and personalized onboarding—you can sustainably grow your Daily Active Users and unlock more monetization opportunities.

DAU is not just a number. It’s a reflection of how valuable your app is to users—every single day.

Want more insights like this? Download our latest Global Game Advertising Trends Report.

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