CAC by Channel Calculator
Compare customer acquisition cost across up to three channels, plus the blended CAC — and see which channel wins customers cheapest.
How it works
Channel CAC = channel spend ÷ channel customers · Blended CAC = total spend ÷ total customers
Customer acquisition cost per channel divides what you spent on a channel by the customers it produced, exposing which channels win customers cheaply and which are quietly expensive. The blended CAC — total spend over total customers — is what most people quote, but it hides wide gaps between channels. Comparing channel CAC to the lifetime value each channel brings in is the real test: a pricier channel can still be worth it if its customers are more valuable and stick around longer.
Worked example
Spending $8,000 on Channel A for 200 customers is a $40 CAC; $5,000 on Channel B for 80 is $62.50; $3,000 on Channel C for 40 is $75. Together, $16,000 won 320 customers — a $50 blended CAC — with Channel A the cheapest at $40.
Frequently asked questions
What is CAC by channel?
It is the acquisition cost calculated separately for each marketing channel — spend on that channel divided by the customers it produced. It reveals which channels are efficient and which are dragging up your average.
Why does blended CAC hide problems?
A blended figure averages a cheap channel and an expensive one into a single number that looks fine while masking a channel losing money. Breaking CAC out by channel is how you spot where to cut or double down.
Is the cheapest channel always the best?
Not necessarily. Judge each channel on CAC against the lifetime value of the customers it brings in. A higher-CAC channel that delivers more valuable, longer-retained customers can beat a cheap channel on profit.
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Educational estimate, not financial advice.