Hey! Great question — understanding pricing models can really help you run smarter ad campaigns, especially with VPN traffic where targeting can get a bit tricky.

Most VPN ad exchanges offer these main pricing models:

1. CPC (Cost Per Click): You pay only when someone actually clicks your ad. This is great if you’re focused on driving traffic and want control over budget. I’ve used this model a lot when promoting a VPN app—it’s less risky when you’re still testing creatives.

2. CPM (Cost Per Mille / 1000 Impressions): You pay based on how many times your ad is shown, whether users click or not. This works well for brand awareness, but you’ll want to make sure your ad is well-targeted and visually strong.

3. CPA (Cost Per Action): You pay when a user completes a specific action—like installing your app or signing up. It’s performance-based, but fewer exchanges offer this for VPN apps, and it usually requires stricter tracking setups.

4. CPI (Cost Per Install): This is specifically for mobile apps. You pay only when someone installs your app. It’s popular for app marketers but can get expensive if your targeting is too broad.

I’ve been testing out 7Search PPC recently—they support CPC and CPM, and the cool thing is you can start with really small bids and scale from there. It’s helped me figure out what creatives and GEOs work before committing to bigger campaigns.

One tip: start with CPC if you’re new, and then once you see what’s converting well, consider testing CPM for broader reach or CPA for deeper funnel goals.