Multi-touch attribution platform pricing across providers.
Inputs
5-15% typical from better attribution
Platform comparison
Platform
Monthly cost
Annual cost
ROI vs cost
Best for
Recommendation
About this calculator
Multi-touch attribution platform decisions feel high-stakes because the platforms cost $500-5,000/month and the choice locks you into integrations, data structures, and team workflows. The actual decision is simpler than it feels: at sub-$50K monthly spend, native platform reporting is enough. At $100K-1M spend, Triple Whale or Northbeam pay for themselves quickly. Above $1M, the question is which platform fits your team\'s analytical sophistication, not whether to have one.
This calculator compares major platforms (Triple Whale, Northbeam, Hyros, plus DIY) at your spend level. The model assumes attribution insight produces 5-15% ROAS lift (typical for cross-channel optimization) and computes the value created versus monthly platform cost. At healthy ad spend levels, the math is decisively in favor of MTA — most platforms pay for themselves within 30-60 days of optimization gains.
The platform-specific recommendations: Triple Whale for typical ecommerce (best UI, fastest onboarding, deep Shopify/Klaviyo integration). Northbeam for sophisticated paid teams that want advanced MTA modeling and post-iOS14 conversion modeling. Hyros for high-AOV / long-cycle purchases (B2B, info products, premium DTC) where first-party tracking on 30-90 day journeys matters. DIY for under $50K spend or operators who specifically need flexible custom attribution.
Pair with the Click vs View Attribution Gap calculator (the underlying problem MTA solves), Tracking Gap Estimator (post-iOS14 measurement loss), and Conversion Lag Calculator (which informs attribution windows). Most successful brands use MTA for budget allocation decisions and platform-native reporting for in-platform optimization — they answer different questions.
Frequently asked questions
When is MTA worth the cost?
Once you spend $100K+/month on paid ads. Below that, GA4 + Shopify + Meta CAPI native data is enough. Above that, MTA platforms reveal cross-channel attribution patterns (e.g., Meta-discovered customer who converts via Google search) that native attribution misses.
Triple Whale vs Northbeam — which is better?
Triple Whale: better UI, faster onboarding, integrated with Klaviyo/Shopify deeply. Northbeam: more sophisticated MTA modeling, better for advanced attribution analysis, post-iOS14 modeling. Most ecommerce brands use Triple Whale; sophisticated paid teams often prefer Northbeam.
Hyros — when does it win?
Hyros excels for high-AOV / long-cycle purchases (B2B, premium DTC, info products). The first-party tracking is the most aggressive in the space; click-to-purchase tracking works on customer journeys 30-90 days long. For low-AOV impulse DTC, Triple Whale is sufficient.
Can I DIY attribution?
Yes for under $50K/month spend. GA4 + Meta CAPI + Shopify + UTM discipline + a spreadsheet works. Above $50K spend, you're leaving meaningful insight on the table — MTA platforms identify channel patterns that aren't apparent in single-platform reports.
Should I use MTA + native ads platforms simultaneously?
Yes always. Use MTA for cross-channel decisions (where to allocate budget). Use native platform reporting (Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads) for in-platform optimization (which campaigns/creatives to scale within a platform). They answer different questions.