Work out cost per install instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.
Cost per install is the cheapest number to report and the least useful, because most installs never activate. Dividing spend by activated and paying users gives the acquisition cost that actually matters for unit economics.
Install economics
CPI = spend / installs; cost per paying user = spend / (installs × paying rate)
Figures are estimates based on the inputs given. Marketing performance, platform fees and conversion behaviour vary by audience, channel and season. Use this as a planning guide, not a forecast.
Cheap installs often come from low-intent inventory that never activates, so the cost per paying user is worse.
The furthest-down-funnel event with enough volume to be statistically reliable.