How do I compare new vs. returning users in GA4?
Run a GA4 report with newVsReturning as the dimension and activeUsers plus engagementRate as metrics. It splits your users into 'new' and 'returning' so you can see how each group engages.
The report
| Field | GA4 API name(s) |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | newVsReturning |
| Metrics | activeUsers, engagementRate |
Ask it in plain English
Why it matters
New and returning show as two separate rows, not a ratio, which makes the split easy to misread at a glance. Dividing new by (new + returning) into a single percentage gives a stable number that's actually comparable week over week, rather than eyeballing two totals that both move independently.
Ask your own Google Analytics this
Connect once, then ask in plain English. No tokens, no setup.
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Which GA4 fields does "How do I compare new vs. returning users in GA4?" need?
Dimensions: newVsReturning. Metrics: activeUsers, engagementRate. These are the real Google Analytics Data API field names, so the same report can be built in the GA4 UI, the API, or through Caybl.ai.
Can I just ask "How does engagement rate compare between new and returning users this month?" instead of building this report?
Yes. Once Google Analytics is connected through Caybl.ai, ask "How does engagement rate compare between new and returning users this month?" and your agent runs the report for you - no need to know the newVsReturning or activeUsers field names above.
Does asking about newVsReturning change anything in my GA4 property?
No. Running this report doesn't change anything in your GA4 property. Caybl.ai's Analytics scope does allow two narrow write actions elsewhere - marking a key event and linking a Google Ads account - but a report like this one only reads data.
Related recipes
Fields used here
Sources
- Google Analytics Data API - dimensions & metrics reference (official Google documentation)