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LTV per Click Calculator

Compare a one-time affiliate offer against a recurring one on lifetime value per click — the number EPC misses when a single click keeps paying every month. Enter both offers and see which earns more, and when the recurring payout overtakes the one-time one.

LTV per Click

One-time offer

Per customer $19.60 · per click $0.588

Recurring offer

Per customer $69.60 · per click $2.088

LTV per click — winner
Recurring · 3.6× more
$2.088 recurring vs $0.588 one-time per click · recurring overtakes the one-time payout at ~month 4

Recurring only pays while the customer stays — the “months retained” input is your churn estimate. Track your effective rate per cohort and revise it with actuals.

Why EPC undercounts recurring offers

EPC is usually computed on the first commission a click produces. That's the whole story for a one-time program — but a recurring program keeps paying every month the referred customer stays subscribed, so EPC quietly stops counting after month one. For subscription offers the honest metric is lifetime value per click, and it changes which offers are actually worth promoting.

One-time vs recurring commission over timeA lower recurring rate can out-earn a big one-time$0$25$50$75$1000mo6mo12mo18moOne-time $49 × 40% = $19.60Recurring $29/mo × 20%overtakes by ~month 4
A one-time commission is collected once; a recurring one compounds every month the customer stays. Here a 20% recurring rate on a $29/mo tool overtakes a 40% one-time payout on a $49 product in about four months — and keeps climbing. The catch: recurring only pays while they stay, so churn erodes the top of the curve.

How this calculator works

  • One-time offer: LTV per customer = price × commission %. LTV per click = that × conversion %.
  • Recurring offer: LTV per customer = monthly price × commission % × months retained. LTV per click = that × conversion %.
  • Winner & crossover: we show which offer earns more per click and the month the recurring payout overtakes the one-time one.

Mind the churn

Recurring only pays while the customer stays, so the months retained input is really your churn estimate — and it sets the ceiling on the whole calculation. Sticky products behave like annuities; churny ones erode the advantage fast. Some programs also cap the recurring term at 12 or 24 months, and refunds can claw back commissions. For the full picture, read recurring commissions and LTV.

Frequently asked questions

What is LTV per click?

Lifetime value per click is what a click is worth once you count every commission it produces, not just the first. For a recurring program a single referred customer keeps paying each month, so LTV per click = price × commission rate × months retained × conversion rate. It's the honest version of EPC for subscription offers, which EPC undercounts because it stops counting after the first payment.

Why can a recurring offer beat a one-time one at a lower rate?

Because recurring commissions compound. A 20% cut of a $29/month tool held for a year is about $69.60 per customer, which beats a one-time 40% cut of a $49 product ($19.60) — despite the lower headline rate. The calculator shows the crossover month where the recurring payout overtakes the one-time one.

How do I account for churn?

Use the 'months retained' input as your churn estimate — the average number of months a referred customer keeps paying. Recurring only pays while they stay, so a churny audience shortens the window and lowers LTV per click. Start conservative and revise it with your actual cohort retention.

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