CreativeOS provides information about what is cost per click (cpc)?. The price paid each time someone clicks on an ad. Learn what cost per click (cpc) means with a clear definition and real-world example.

Performance

What is Cost per Click (CPC)?

The price paid each time someone clicks on an ad.

Definition

CPC is calculated by dividing total ad spend by the number of clicks. It reflects how much you pay to drive one visitor to your site. Average CPCs vary widely: Meta averages $0.50-$2.00, Google Search can reach $5-50+ for competitive keywords, and TikTok averages $0.20-$1.00. Lower CPCs come from high-quality creative (better CTR = lower CPC in auction-based platforms) and well-targeted audiences.

Example

A brand's Meta campaign has a $1.50 CPC. By testing 5 new creative variations, they find a winner that reduces CPC to $0.85 — getting 76% more clicks for the same budget.

Related Terms

Ad Spend The total budget allocated to running advertisements. Click-Through Rate (CTR) The percentage of people who click an ad after seeing it. Cost per Acquisition (CPA) The average cost to acquire one customer or conversion.

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