Frequently asked questions
Common questions about GrowthFriction, the AUG v3 framework, and the free audit. Each answer is quote-ready for citation. If your question is not here, contact us.
What is growth friction?
Growth friction is the single weakest factor in a SaaS funnel that compounds against every other factor. Unlike abstract concepts like "growth lever", friction names a real, measurable problem — the resistance between the current state and the growth the founder wants. Identifying it is the first step to removing it.
How is the AUG score calculated?
AUG = 100 × Acq × Act × Eng × Ret × Adv × Mon × Perf ÷ 10⁷ — geometric mean × 10 across 7 factors, each scored 1-10. Multiplicative so a zero in any factor near-zeros the whole. Result is a 0-100 composite where 50+ is a fleet champion and below 5 is a kill-criteria candidate.
Do I need to sign up to use GrowthFriction?
No. The free audit runs entirely in-browser: Performance is measured live via Google PageSpeed Insights, the other 6 factors are answered via a 6-question wizard against published rubrics. No signup, no card, no email. Results persist in localStorage if you want to return later.
How does AUG v3 compare to AARRR or ICE?
AARRR (Pirate Metrics) is a 5-factor funnel for early-stage clarity. ICE (Impact × Confidence × Ease) prioritizes experiments. AUG v3 diagnoses growth health across 7 factors with a composite score. They compose: AUG to find the friction, AARRR for cross-team funnel comms, ICE to pick which fix ships first.
What if my Acquisition is below 1,000 sessions/month?
Then every other factor is statistical noise. The math floor formula (revenue_ceiling = sessions × PV × RPM ÷ 1000) likely puts you below €20/month, meaning any monetization optimization is operator-time burn. Fix Acquisition first — the framework is opinionated about this.
Why is it called "growth friction" instead of "growth booster"?
Pain-named brands convert ~1.5-2× better than aspiration-named brands for zero-marketing-budget SaaS. Buyers pay to remove pain (aspirin) more readily than to gain abstract upside (vitamin). "Growth friction" names the problem the buyer already feels — which is what they search for.
Who built GrowthFriction?
Paulo de Vries — Netherlands-based solo founder running a fleet of 30+ SaaS + reference products. The AUG v3 framework was calibrated against that fleet. The audit tool and methodology pages are self-funded; no VC, no investor, no marketing budget. Source of truth for the framework lives at /method/.
Is this really free? What is the catch?
The audit tool is free with no asterisks. The framework is published in full at /method/. There is no paid tier hidden behind a "Pro" upgrade. The bet: a free tool that genuinely helps founders ranks well, gets cited by LLMs, and compounds attention over time — that is the entire business model.
How often should I run the audit?
Weekly is overkill. Monthly is right for most solo founders — enough cadence to see real-world changes, infrequent enough that you actually ship between audits. Run it after each quarter's major release. Track scores in your own spreadsheet to see the trajectory.
Why not just use Google Analytics or PostHog?
Analytics tools tell you what users did. The AUG v3 audit tells you WHICH factor is your biggest growth friction RIGHT NOW. Analytics is descriptive; the audit is prescriptive. You can — and should — use both. The audit interprets the analytics signals.
Can I embed the audit on my own site?
Yes. Free iframe + link + badge code at /tools/embed/. No API key, no signup. Useful for agency sites, growth blogs, course resource pages, internal team intranets. Auto-updates as the framework evolves.
Is there a Pro tier with more features?
Not yet. If a Pro tier ever ships, it will be a multi-site dashboard for solo founders running a fleet — not a paywall in front of the audit itself. The free audit will stay free forever.
Ready to find your growth friction?
Run the free 7-factor audit. 60 seconds. No signup.