MRR: what it means (and how to track it cleanly)

A guide to MRR: definitions, what to include/exclude, and how to decompose MRR changes over time.

Updated 2026-01-05

Definition

MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) is the recurring revenue you expect from active subscriptions in a month. It's the standard momentum metric for subscription businesses.

What to include

  • Recurring subscription charges (normalized to monthly).
  • Exclude one-time fees and services revenue from MRR.
  • For annual plans, count monthly equivalent (annual price / 12).

MRR movement breakdown

  • New MRR, Expansion MRR, Contraction MRR, Churned MRR.
  • Track net new MRR to understand growth rate and efficiency.
  • Cohort MRR helps separate price/upsell from retention effects.

More in saas metrics

LTV: How to estimate Lifetime Value (and when not to)
Retention rate: how to measure retention correctly