Glossary · Payout models
CPA— what it means in affiliate marketing
Cost per action: a fixed fee for one defined user action — a registration, a deposit, a completed sale.
The action is defined by the advertiser and counted by the advertiser, which is where most of the friction in this industry comes from. CPA is paid after approval, not after the click, so the affiliate carries the cost of traffic that fails the check.
Related terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| CPL | Cost per lead: payment for a lead — a phone number, an email, a submitted form. |
| CPS | Cost per sale: a fixed amount or a percentage of order value, paid when the purchase completes. |
| Revenue share | A percentage of the revenue the referred users generate, usually 20–50%, paid for as long as they keep playing or buying. |
Entry updated 21 July 2026. All 276 terms in one page.
