What Are CPA Offers? Types Explained with Examples (2025 Guide)
When you browse a CPA network for the first time, you’re hit with a wall of acronyms: CPL, CPI, CPS, SOI, DOI. It can be overwhelming. But understanding these different CPA offer types is essential, as the type of offer you choose will define your entire marketing strategy.
An offer that pays you for an email submit requires a very different approach than one that pays for a product purchase.
This guide will demystify the most common CPA offer types with simple explanations and clear examples, so you can confidently choose the right one for your first campaign.
1. CPL (Cost Per Lead): The Beginner’s Best Friend
This is the most common type of CPA offer. You get paid for generating a lead, meaning you’ve delivered a potential customer’s contact information to the advertiser.
Within CPL, there are two main categories:
- SOI (Single Opt-In): The easiest type of conversion. You get paid the moment a user submits their information (e.g., just an email or a zip code).
- Example: A user enters their email to download a free PDF guide. You get paid.
- Payout: Typically lower ($0.50 – $4.00).
- DOI (Double Opt-In): This requires a second step. The user must submit their information AND then confirm it (usually by clicking a link in a confirmation email).
- Example: A user signs up for a newsletter and must click the link in the welcome email to confirm. You get paid after the click.
- Payout: Higher than SOI ($2.00 – $8.00) because the lead is more qualified.
Why it’s great for beginners: The conversion barrier is extremely low, making it easier to get your first commissions and learn the process.
2. CPI (Cost Per Install): The Mobile Giant
If you’re interested in the massive mobile market, CPI offers are your gateway. You get paid each time a user installs a mobile app or game through your link.
- Example: You promote a new mobile game on TikTok. A user clicks your link, goes to the App Store, and installs the game. You get paid.
- Payout: Varies widely based on the app and country ($0.50 – $5.00+).
- Note: Some offers have further requirements, like “Install + Register” or “Install + Reach Level 5,” which will have much higher payouts.
3. CPS (Cost Per Sale): The Original Affiliate Model
This is the classic affiliate marketing offer, but it’s also common on CPA networks. You get paid only when a user makes a purchase.
- Example: You promote a dietary supplement. A user clicks your link and buys a $50 bottle. You get a commission (either a fixed fee, e.g., $40, or a percentage, e.g., 50%).
- Payout: Typically the highest of all offer types, but also the hardest to convert.
- When to use it: When you have an audience that trusts you and is ready to buy, or when you are skilled at writing persuasive sales copy.
Which Offer Type Should You Start With?
For over 90% of beginners, the answer is CPL (Cost Per Lead), specifically Single Opt-In (SOI) offers.
They allow you to focus on learning the fundamentals—driving traffic, building a bridge page, and tracking clicks—without the difficult challenge of convincing someone to spend money. The immediate feedback from these easy conversions is incredibly motivating and will help you build the confidence and cash flow to tackle more complex offers later.
