CPV (cost per view)

Cost per view — ad spend divided by the number of video views. The pricing unit for video and connected-TV campaigns bought on a view basis.

CPV, cost per view, is total spend divided by the number of qualifying video views. It is the pricing unit for video and CTV campaigns, though what counts as a “view” varies by platform — a few seconds watched, or a completed view.

Why it matters for agencies

Because the view definition differs across YouTube, Meta, TikTok, and CTV, CPVs are rarely comparable platform-to-platform. The honest read is CPV alongside the view-through and completion rate, and pairing it with engagement rate shows whether cheap views are actually being watched.

Run the numbers with the free CPV calculator.