{"id":174,"count":0,"description":"","link":"https:\/\/tenjin.com\/zh\/glossary\/cost-per-tracked-install-tcpi\/","name":"Tracked Cost Per Install (tCPI)","slug":"cost-per-tracked-install-tcpi","taxonomy":"glossaries","parent":0,"meta":{"status":["1","1"],"order":["0","0"],"glossary_term_description":["
\r\n\r\nDefinition:\u00a0<\/b>\r\n\r\ntCPI stands for cost per tracked install. It measures how much you are paying for each app install that has been independently verified by your attribution platform. Where standard CPI is based on the install numbers an ad network reports, tCPI is based on installs that your attribution tool has actually recorded.<\/span>\r\n\r\nFormula:\u00a0<\/b>\r\n
tCPI<\/span> = Total Campaign Spend \u00f7 Total Tracked Installs\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/pre>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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What is tCPI?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nWhen a user clicks on your ad, installs your app, and opens it for the first time, that install can be recorded in two places: by the ad network running your campaign, and by your attribution platform independently.<\/span>\r\n\r\ntCPI uses the second of those two numbers. It reflects installs that have been captured and verified by an attribution tool like Tenjin, rather than installs that the ad network is reporting on its own behalf.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThat distinction matters more than it might initially seem. Ad networks have an inherent interest in the numbers they report. An independent attribution platform has no stake in inflating install counts. tCPI gives you an acquisition cost figure grounded in data you can trust.<\/span>\r\n
The tCPI Formula and Examples<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n<\/b>Formula:\u00a0<\/b>\r\n
tCPI<\/span> = Total Campaign Spend \u00f7 Total Tracked Installs\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/pre>\r\nFor Example: <\/b>\r\n<\/span>\r\n<\/span>Your campaign spent $500 and Tenjin tracked 200 installs:\u00a0<\/span>\r\n
tCPI<\/span> = 500 \u00f7 200 = $2.50\r\n\r\n<\/span><\/pre>\r\nYour tCPI for that campaign is <\/span>$2.50<\/b>.<\/span>\r\n\r\nRunning this calculation alongside your standard CPI gives you two reference points. If the numbers are close, your reported and tracked data are well aligned. If there is a significant gap, that is worth investigating.<\/span>\r\n
tCPI vs CPI: What Is the Difference?<\/b><\/h2>\r\nBoth metrics measure your cost per install, but they use different install counts as their denominator.<\/span>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Metric<\/b><\/td>\r\nInstall Count Used<\/b><\/td>\r\nSource<\/b><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
CPI<\/b><\/td>\r\nReported installs<\/span><\/td>\r\nAd network<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n
tCPI<\/b><\/td>\r\nTracked installs<\/span><\/td>\r\nAttribution platform (e.g. Tenjin)<\/span><\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\nCPI is useful for a quick read on campaign performance using the data your networks provide.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\ntCPI gives you an independently verified figure that is less susceptible to discrepancies, attribution conflicts, or inflated reporting.<\/span>\r\n\r\nUsing both together gives you a more complete and honest view of your acquisition costs.<\/span>\r\n
Why tCPI Matters<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nIndependent verification. tCPI is based on installs your attribution platform has recorded, not what an ad network is claiming. That independence makes it a more reliable input for decisions about where to spend and where to cut back.<\/span>\r\n\r\nSpotting discrepancies. A meaningful gap between your CPI and tCPI is a signal worth investigating. It could point to attribution mismatches, tracking issues, or install fraud. Catching those issues early protects your budget.<\/span>\r\n\r\nMore accurate ROI measurement. If you are evaluating campaign return on investment, the accuracy of your install count directly affects the accuracy of your conclusions. tCPI gives you a cleaner foundation to work from.<\/span>\r\n\r\nCampaign optimization. Monitoring tCPI across campaigns, channels, and creatives helps you identify what is working and where spend is being wasted. It is one of the core metrics UA teams use to keep acquisition efficient.<\/span>\r\n
What Is a Good tCPI?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nThere is no universal benchmark for tCPI. It varies by app category, platform, target market, and the audience you are trying to reach. iOS campaigns typically produce higher tCPIs than Android. Tier-one markets cost more than lower-competition regions.<\/span>\r\n\r\nThe most useful reference point is not an external benchmark but your own LTV data. A tCPI that sits comfortably below the lifetime value of your acquired users is a healthy signal. A tCPI that approaches or exceeds LTV is a clear sign that your acquisition economics need attention.<\/span>\r\n\r\nTenjin publishes<\/span> benchmark reports<\/span><\/a> across app categories and markets that give you a real-world point of comparison for your tCPI figures.<\/span>\r\n
How to Improve Your tCPI<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n
Refine Your Targeting<\/strong><\/h4>\r\nReaching audiences that are more likely to install reduces wasted spend and brings your tCPI down. Use performance data to identify the segments that convert well and focus budget there.<\/span>\r\n
Test Your Creative<\/strong><\/h4>\r\n\u00a0Ad creative has a direct impact on click-through and conversion rates. Regular creative testing helps you find what resonates and drives installs at a lower cost.<\/span>\r\n
Audit Your Tracking Setup<\/strong><\/h4>\r\nIf your tCPI is significantly higher than your CPI, start with your tracking implementation. Misconfigured tracking links or SDK issues can suppress tracked install counts and distort your tCPI upward.<\/span>\r\n
Monitor by Channel\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\r\ntCPI varies across networks and placements. Comparing tCPI at the channel level helps you identify where your tracked acquisition costs are most efficient and where you may be overpaying.<\/span>\r\n\r\nConnect tCPI to Downstream Metrics.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n\r\nA low tCPI is most valuable when it is paired with strong retention and revenue data. Always evaluate acquisition cost alongside the quality of the users you are bringing in.<\/span>\r\n
How Tenjin Tracks tCPI<\/strong><\/h2>\r\nTenjin records installs independently of the ad networks running your campaigns, giving you a clean, verified install count to work from. Your tCPI in Tenjin reflects installs that the platform has captured directly, which you can compare against network-reported figures in the same dashboard.<\/span>\r\n\r\nWith granular attribution down to the campaign, ad group, and creative level, you can track tCPI across every layer of your UA activity, identify where costs are drifting, and make adjustments quickly.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n
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Related Terms<\/strong><\/b><\/h2>\r\n