Understanding whether a metric is good or bad in isolation is difficult. Context is everything — and comparison is one of the fastest ways to get it.
Whether you want to measure the impact of a site change, understand how mobile and desktop users differ, or see how two audience segments perform against each other, Compare mode lets you overlay two sets of data across your entire dashboard at once. Instead of switching between views or building separate dashboards, you see both sides of the story in a single glance.
What you're analyzing and why it matters
Comparison helps you answer questions that a single metric can't:
- Did performance improve after we made that change last week?
- Are mobile users converting at the same rate as desktop users?
- Do returning customers behave differently from new visitors on this page?
- By viewing two time periods, devices, or user segments side by side, you can quickly spot meaningful differences, and decide where to focus your attention next.
How to compare data in your dashboard
Step 1: Open compare mode
- Open the Analysis context at the top of your dashboard.
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Click 'Compare'.
- Select what you want to compare:
- Period: compare two different date ranges, such as this week vs last week, or before and after a site change.
- Device: compare how the same metrics look across desktop, mobile, and tablet.
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Segment: compare two different groups of users, such as new visitors vs returning customers
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Click 'Apply'.
Step 2: Read your results
Your widgets will update to show two sets of data side by side:
- Blue data: your reference value, the baseline you're comparing against.
- Pink data: the value you're comparing it to.
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On single-value widgets, a triangle indicator shows the direction of change. Green for a positive shift, red for a negative one.
Tip: Start with a period comparison to establish whether performance has changed over time, then layer in a segment or device comparison to understand who or where the difference is coming from.
Step 3: Stop comparing
When you're ready to return to your standard view:
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For period comparisons: toggle the Compare button off in the Analysis context bar and click 'Apply'.
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For device and segment comparisons: click 'cancel' next to the comparison value in the Analysis context bar.