Top 8 Cross-Platform Analytics Tools Indie Games Studios Use to Track Installs, Sessions & Purchases Across Mobile Stores and Web
Making a hit indie game is tough. But tracking its performance? That’s just as crucial—and sometimes even trickier. With your game across Android, iOS, and the web, how do you even start to measure who’s installing, playing, and buying? That’s where cross-platform analytics tools come in.
TL;DR: If you’re an indie game dev, using the right analytics tool can help you figure out what’s working and what isn’t. The best ones track installs, sessions, and purchases across platforms like Google Play, the App Store, and web. This article walks you through the top 8 tools made to simplify that data jungle. Read on and pick your favorite weapon of choice!
Contents
1. Unity Analytics
Indie developers love Unity. Chances are, you’re using it already to build your game. The good news? Unity has its own analytics system built right in!
- Tracks: Installs, sessions, player retention, and in-app purchases (IAPs)
- Platforms: Android, iOS, WebGL
- Best for: Unity-built games that need native integration
It’s super easy to get started. Just click a few buttons in your Unity dashboard, and boom—you’re seeing real-time data without writing complex backend code.
Plus, Unity offers player segmentation and funnels so you can see where players drop off in your game. It’s all in one place and beginner-friendly.
2. GameAnalytics
This free tool is a big hit with indie devs worldwide. Why? Because it does a ton without charging a cent.
- Tracks: Installs, sessions, DAU/MAU, custom events, progression, and monetization
- Platforms: iOS, Android, Web, Unity, Unreal, and more
- Best for: Visualizing player behavior with minimum setup
If you’re the kind of person who enjoys dashboards and customizable views, this tool’s for you. It even has a benchmarking feature so you can compare your stats to industry averages!
3. Firebase Analytics (Google Analytics 4)
Firebase is like a Swiss Army knife for mobile apps. It does hosting, push notifications, and yes—deep analytics. It’s free and runs on Google’s cloud network.
- Tracks: Installs, sessions, IAPs, user properties, device info
- Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
- Best for: Developers who want powerful, customizable tracking
Firebase lets you dig deep. Want to see how iOS players behave compared to Android? Or how paid users flow through your game? It’s all doable. Just be ready to spend time learning the dashboard—it’s powerful, but the learning curve is real.
4. Adjust
If you’re spending money on acquiring users, Adjust is your buddy. It’s all about measuring performance for marketing campaigns.
- Tracks: Installs, reattributions, clicks, impressions, purchases
- Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
- Best for: Games doing paid user acquisition (UA)
Adjust connects your ad campaigns to your app performance. You’ll see which ads bring in paying players and where to invest more. It’s also savvy about fraud detection, so your budget is safe.
5. Mixpanel
Want deep analysis without needing to code like crazy? Mixpanel’s for you. It offers simple drag-and-drop tools to create reports and funnels.
- Tracks: Custom events, funnels, user paths, retention
- Platforms: Web, Android, iOS
- Best for: Studios focused on user journeys and retention
You can set Mixpanel to track whatever you want—level completion, ad views, currency balances. It’s all up to you. Plus their UI is slick and modern, great for indie devs who love clean dashboards.
6. Amplitude
Almost like Mixpanel’s cousin, but with heavier emphasis on product intelligence. Amplitude is awesome at helping you understand how users engage deeply with your game.
- Tracks: Sessions, engagement, retention, cohorts, conversions
- Platforms: Android, iOS, Web
- Best for: In-depth behavioral analysis and data storytelling
Amplitude breaks down what top players do—and how you can get others to behave similarly. Powerful, elegant, and free (up to a limit), it’s a great pick if you’re a data nerd.
7. Tenjin
If your game is free-to-play with ads and microtransactions, Tenjin might be perfect. It brings together tracking from installs to revenue in one dashboard.
- Tracks: Installs, ad revenue, LTV, ROAS, IAPs
- Platforms: Mobile (Android and iOS)
- Best for: Games that monetize through ads and user acquisition
Tenjin’s key strength? It connects UA spend with all kinds of revenue streams. Plus, it integrates with AdMob, Unity Ads, and other ad networks seamlessly.
8. Facebook App Events + Meta Analytics
Even if you’re not advertising on Facebook (yet), their analytics option is handy. Many devs use it alongside others like Firebase or Unity.
- Tracks: App installs, app launches, in-app purchases, custom events
- Platforms: Android, iOS, Web (via FB SDK)
- Best for: Social games or games marketed on Instagram/Facebook
This tool shines if your user base finds you through Meta’s platforms. It helps you understand user behaviors tied to your ad campaigns and offers actionable lookalike audience features.
Bonus: Which One Should You Use?
Tough question—but here’s a cheat sheet:
- Use Unity Analytics or GameAnalytics if you’re just starting and want solid-beginner tools with fast setup.
- Use Firebase if you want deep, customizable tracking and Google integration.
- Use Adjust or Tenjin if you run paid user acquisition campaigns.
- Choose Mixpanel or Amplitude if you love data and want to dive into player behavior.
Also, don’t stress if you use more than one! Many devs combine Firebase with Adjust, or Unity with GameAnalytics. The key is to track the metrics that actually help improve your game.
Final Thoughts
Analytics can sound like rocket science, but it’s actually pretty game-changing once you’re set up. These tools tell you what players love—and what makes them leave. It’s like having a window into your community’s brain.
So go ahead—pick one (or more), connect it to your game, and start learning from your data. Your next big hit might just be one insight away!
