{
  "schema_version": "1.1",
  "id": "google-ads-average-ctr-3-17-percent-cpc-2-69",
  "slug": "google-ads-average-ctr-3-17-percent-cpc-2-69",
  "url": "https://groundedkit.com/claims/google-ads-average-ctr-3-17-percent-cpc-2-69/",
  "api_url": "https://groundedkit.com/api/claims/google-ads-average-ctr-3-17-percent-cpc-2-69.json",
  "claim": "The average Google Ads click-through rate is 3.17% and the average cost per click is $2.69",
  "commonly_cited_as": "\"Average Google Ads CTR is 3.17% (search) and 0.46% (display)\"",
  "verdict": "outdated",
  "verdict_definition": "Source found and quoted correctly, but old enough that the market has changed.",
  "confidence": "high",
  "rating": {
    "value": 3,
    "best": 5,
    "worst": 1
  },
  "origin": {
    "publisher": "WordStream",
    "title": "Google Ads Benchmarks for YOUR Industry (data as of 2018)",
    "year": "2018"
  },
  "quote": "As of 2018, the industries with the lowest average click-through rates including Technology, B2B, and Consumer Services. The average click-through rate in Google Ads across all industries is 3.17% for search and 0.46% for display. ... The average cost per click in Google Ads across all industries is $2.69 for search and $0.63 for display.",
  "method": "Averages across WordStream client accounts (US, 20 industries), as of 2018.",
  "drift": [
    "Age: 2018 data still circulates as current; WordStream's 2025 figures are 6.66% CTR and $5.26 CPC",
    "Scope: one vendor's client accounts"
  ],
  "interest": "WordStream (LocaliQ, part of Gannett) sells search and social ad management services and software.",
  "safe_rephrasing": "WordStream's 2018 client data showed a 3.17% average search CTR and $2.69 CPC; its 2025 benchmarks report 6.66% and $5.26, so use the newer figures with the year.",
  "sources": [
    {
      "title": "WordStream — Google Ads industry benchmarks (2018 data)",
      "url": "https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2016/02/29/google-adwords-industry-benchmarks",
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "title": "WordStream — Google Ads Benchmarks 2025",
      "url": "https://www.wordstream.com/blog/2025-google-ads-benchmarks",
      "primary": true
    }
  ],
  "kind": "stat_check",
  "as_of": "WordStream client data as of 2018",
  "last_checked": "2026-10-16",
  "stale": false,
  "date_reviewed": "2026-10-16",
  "license": "CC BY 4.0",
  "license_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"
}