Definition

CPA.

Also called: Cost per action, Cost per event, tCPA

Cost per action: spend divided by a chosen in-app event, such as a registration, level completion or first purchase.

Formula CPA = Spend ÷ Attributed target events

Optimising to CPA moves the target closer to value than CPI does. The chosen event must be frequent enough for the ad platform’s algorithm to learn from, yet predictive enough of value to be worth paying for.

Many teams start with an early event and move deeper as volume allows. Revisit the choice as budgets grow: an event that was a good proxy at small scale can drift as the campaign reaches broader audiences.

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