CPA vs RevShare Calculator

By Ray Truelead, Head of Affiliates · Updated 2026-08-19

Compare estimated income under CPA, RevShare and Hybrid using your own numbers, plus the break-even point where RevShare starts to out-earn a flat CPA payment. This uses generic, educational inputs — it does not assume any specific program's terms.

Number of FTDs

CPA per FTD ($)

Avg. monthly NGR per player ($)

RevShare (%)

Number of months

Hybrid CPA ($) optional

Hybrid RevShare (%) optional

Enter FTDs plus at least one commission model above and press "Compare models" to see a result here.

Show the formulas used

CPA income = FTDs × CPA per FTD

RevShare income = FTDs × (RevShare % ÷ 100) × Avg. monthly NGR × Months

Hybrid income = (FTDs × Hybrid CPA) + (FTDs × (Hybrid RevShare % ÷ 100) × Avg. monthly NGR × Months)

Break-even months = CPA per FTD ÷ (RevShare % ÷ 100 × Avg. monthly NGR) — the number of months of RevShare it takes to match the CPA payment on one player

Real affiliate agreements may also include negative carryover, deductions, caps, minimum deposit thresholds, qualification rules, attribution windows, and player or GEO restrictions — none of which this simplified calculator models. Confirm actual terms with any specific program before relying on this estimate.

These calculations are estimates for planning purposes only. Actual affiliate earnings depend on the affiliate agreement, player activity, traffic quality, deductions, attribution rules and other commercial terms.

What CPA means

Cost Per Acquisition (CPA) is a fixed, one-time payment for each qualifying referred player, usually triggered by a first deposit. It's predictable but capped — a player who stays for years pays you the same amount as one who deposits once and leaves.

What RevShare means

Revenue Share (RevShare) pays an ongoing percentage of each referred player's net gaming revenue, for as long as they remain active. See What Is RevShare? for the full mechanics, including how net revenue is typically defined.

What Hybrid means

Hybrid combines a smaller upfront CPA with a reduced ongoing RevShare on the same player — a hedge between immediate cash flow and long-term upside. See CPA vs RevShare vs Hybrid for a full comparison.

When CPA may be preferable

CPA tends to suit paid media, short campaigns tied to a single event, or high-churn traffic where you want certainty per player rather than betting on retention you can't control.

When RevShare may be preferable

RevShare tends to suit loyal, organic or content-driven traffic where referred players stay active for months, letting the recurring percentage compound well past what a one-time CPA would have paid.

Why player retention matters

The whole CPA-vs-RevShare decision reduces to one variable: how long your referred players keep playing. The break-even calculation above tells you the exact retention period at which RevShare starts winning — below it, CPA wins; above it, RevShare wins.

Why actual agreements differ

Real-world deals frequently include mechanics this calculator doesn't model: negative carryover (a losing month can offset future RevShare), deductions for bonuses or fees, monthly caps, minimum qualifying deposits, attribution-window rules, and GEO or traffic-source restrictions. Always confirm the specific terms of any program directly before committing traffic based on a calculator estimate.

Example calculation

Example / estimate — hypothetical numbers, not DBBET data.

30 FTDs at a hypothetical $100 CPA = $3,000 immediately. The same 30 FTDs at a hypothetical 40% RevShare with $50 average monthly NGR per player: $50 × 0.40 = $20/player/month × 30 players = $600/month. Break-even = $100 ÷ $20 = 5 months. Past month 5, RevShare has out-earned the CPA option on this cohort. Try these numbers in the calculator above.

FAQ

Which model should I pick, CPA or RevShare?

It depends on how long your referred players stay active. This calculator's break-even figure shows how many months of RevShare it would take to match a given CPA payment on the same player — compare that to your own typical player retention.

Does this reflect DBBET's actual commercial terms?

No. This is a generic educational calculator using whatever numbers you enter. It does not assume or apply any specific DBBET rate — see the DBBET Affiliate Program page for DBBET's own verified terms.

Why might my real earnings differ from this estimate?

Real affiliate agreements often include negative carryover, deductions, caps, minimum deposit thresholds, qualification rules, attribution windows, and player or GEO restrictions that this simplified calculator does not model.