CPC vs CPM
CPC and CPM are easy to mix up. Here are both definitions from the HighRisk Media glossary side by side.
Comparison table
| Term | CPC | CPM |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cost Per Click | Cost Per Mille |
| In short | CPC (Cost Per Click) is an advertising pricing model in which the advertiser pays the platform only for each click on an ad. | CPM (Cost Per Mille) is an advertising pricing model where the advertiser pays for every thousand impressions of an ad, regardless of clicks or user actions. |
| Verticals | Gambling, Betting, Crypto, Fintech, Dating, Nutra | Gambling, Betting, Crypto, Fintech, Dating, Nutra |
What is CPC?
CPC is one of the basic models for buying traffic. The advertiser sets a bid per click, and the platform charges only when a user clicks the ad. Impressions can be free for the advertiser, and the cost of an impression does not matter in this model.
What is CPM?
CPM (Cost Per Mille, "cost per thousand") is a way of buying ad traffic in which the advertiser pays for every thousand views of a banner, video, or native block. Clicks and conversions do not affect the payment.