DraftKings downloads slipped 6.4% WoW, but existing users aren’t going anywhere. Sessions surged 25.9% QoQ, even as new-user inflows stay under pressure.
The acquisition story is the one to watch. Here’s what Apptopia’s mobile signals are showing for DKNG.
Downloads Retreat as Sessions Rebound QoQ
For the week of February 23, DraftKings downloads reached an estimated 180.5K. That’s a -6.4% WoW decline, essentially flat QoQ at +0.2%, and down a steeper -21.9% YoY. Total sessions told a different story, hitting approximately 29.5M. Sessions fell -4.8% WoW but jumped +25.9% QoQ and eased only -2.7% YoY.
This mixed setup, with pressured YoY acquisition but a strong QoQ rebound in sessions, suggests engagement intensity is improving even as new-user inflows remain under strain.
For investors, the combination may indicate softer cohort growth that typically weighs on bookings and revenue 1–2 quarters out. But more sessions could support near-term per-user monetization if conversion and ARPU trends hold.
DAU Expansion Outpaces Per-user Depth as Reach Scales in Q4 2025
For the week of February 23, DraftKings’ DAU reached an estimated 0.7M (-5.7% WoW, +24.9% QoQ, -5.7% YoY) while MAU climbed to an estimated 10.3M (-2.5% WoW, +23.5% QoQ, +3.5% YoY). Average sessions per DAU of 13.4, alongside 31.8 minutes per DAU (both slightly declining YoY), suggest breadth growth is outpacing per-user engagement depth.
For investors, concurrent DAU/MAU gains with mostly stable time-per-DAU typically point to monetization driven more by user volume than incremental engagement intensity.
DraftKings’ Churn at 37.6% Reflects Comparatively Healthy But Weakening Retention
DraftKings’ user churn held at approximately 37.6% in Q4 2025, which the data indicates is a low level consistent with comparatively healthy retention. But the 10.0% YoY increase may point to deteriorating cohort stickiness and incremental revenue leakage if this pattern persists.
For investors, this combination of low but rising churn may signal less predictable repeat engagement and potentially weaker recurring revenue durability. CAC efficiency is at risk of compressing as replacement needs and payback periods expand if upward churn pressure continues.
DraftKings MPI accelerated 32.6% QoQ, 1.5% YoY
One of the key metrics investors track for DraftKings (DKNG) is Monthly Unique Payers, which the company highlights as a primary driver of its revenue and stock performance over time.
Among the hundreds of mobile signals Apptopia models, Apptopia’s Mobile Performance Index (MPI) has shown a persistent multi-year relationship with DraftKings’ disclosed Monthly Unique Payers, suggesting that sustained strength or weakness in MPI can indicate how engagement is tracking relative to this KPI.
DraftKings’ Mobile Performance Index in Q4 2025 showed accelerating momentum, rising 0.1% WoW and 32.6% QoQ, while YoY growth remained modest at 1.5%. This pattern indicates strengthening mobile engagement as baselines step up toward prior-year levels.
For investors, this trajectory suggests that Apptopia’s accelerating MPI signal could correlate with more favorable forward-looking sentiment if stability holds. Investors should monitor Apptopia’s MPI for DKNG to gauge whether accelerating momentum continues into Q1 2026.
Mixed Mobile Momentum With Emerging Friction Points
DraftKings’ mobile metrics show a mixed profile heading into Q1 2026, with accelerating Apptopia MPI and strong QoQ breadth gains offset by pressured downloads and rising churn. This suggests improving engagement momentum, but a more fragile funnel and cohort base.
Investors should monitor the balance between accelerating MPI, sessions growth, and worsening churn, and use Apptopia’s other metrics to gauge whether engagement-led monetization can offset softer new-user inflows and retention headwinds.
