Creative Performance

What is Installs Per Mille (IPM)?

IPM measures the number of app installs generated per 1,000 ad impressions, combining click-through and conversion efficiency into a single creative performance metric.

Installs Per Mille (IPM): Full Definition

Installs per mille (IPM) collapses the full acquisition funnel, impression to click to install, into one number. Unlike CTR (which only measures clicks) or CVR (which only measures post-click conversion), IPM captures the combined efficiency of creative persuasiveness and post-click experience.

IPM is particularly popular in mobile gaming and app advertising because it directly connects creative performance to acquisition output. A creative with high CTR but low post-click CVR will have a low IPM. A creative with modest CTR but a highly optimized app store page or landing page will punch above its weight in IPM.

Platforms like Unity, ironSource, and Mintegral commonly report IPM as the primary creative ranking metric because it normalizes performance across different audience sizes and bid strategies.

Why Installs Per Mille (IPM) matters

IPM is the single most actionable metric for ranking creative performance in mobile app UA. It tells you which specific creatives are most efficient at converting impressions into installs, enabling creative teams to double down on winners and cut losers quickly. A creative with 2x the IPM of another at the same CPM delivers 2x the install volume for the same budget.

Formula

IPM = (Installs ÷ Impressions) × 1,000

Example

A hyper-casual game tests three video creatives: Creative A achieves IPM of 8.2, Creative B 14.5, and Creative C 6.1. The team scales Creative B's budget 3x while sunsetting Creative C.

Frequently asked questions

IPM benchmarks vary widely by genre. Hyper-casual games often target 10–25+ IPM. Mid-core and RPG games typically see 2–8 IPM. A creative above your category average indicates a strong hook-to-install pipeline.

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