🏆 OVERALL WINNER
TikTok For Business
Wins 9 of 15 categories. Best engagement rates, lowest CPCs, and the most generous new advertiser offer at $6,000.
Meta Ads
Wins 4 of 15 categories. Best overall reach with 3B+ users, strongest retargeting tools, and most mature ad ecosystem.
Google Ads
Wins 2 of 15 categories. Best for high-intent search traffic and B2B lead generation, but highest CPCs across all formats.
Full Platform Comparison
Data sourced from industry benchmarks, TikTok For Business reports, Meta Q4 2026 earnings, and Google Ads benchmarks.
| Metric | 🎵 TikTok For Business | 📘 Meta Ads | 🔍 Google Ads |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Advertiser Credit | Up to $6,000 FREE WINNER | $500 (limited markets) | $500 (new accounts) |
| Average CPC | $0.50–$1.00 WINNER | $0.94–$2.50 | $1.00–$4.00+ |
| Average CPM | $6–$10 WINNER | $8–$14 | $2–$5 (Display) |
| Avg. Engagement Rate | 5–18% WINNER | 0.5–1.2% | N/A (Search) |
| Monthly Active Users | 1.7 Billion | 3.0B (Facebook) WINNER | 4.3B (Search) |
| Gen Z Audience (18–24) | 62% of users WINNER | 25% of users | 18% of searches |
| Purchase Intent Lift | +89% avg WINNER | +30% avg | +45% avg (Search) |
| Ad Recall Rate | 2× industry avg WINNER | 1.1× avg | 1.3× avg |
| Creative Ease | Native UGC style WINNER | Image + Video mixed | Text + Display |
| E-commerce Integration | TikTok Shop (growing) | Facebook Shops + IG WINNER | Google Shopping |
| Minimum Daily Budget | $20/day WINNER | $1/day (campaign) | No minimum |
| Search Intent Targeting | Interest-based only | Interest + behavior | Keyword-level intent WINNER |
| Avg. Video View Cost | $0.01–$0.03/view WINNER | $0.02–$0.05/view | $0.02–$0.05/view |
| Audience Growth Speed | Viral FYP algorithm WINNER | Organic reach declining | N/A |
| Overall ROI for SMBs | Highest (2026) WINNER | Moderate (increasing costs) | Moderate (high CPC) |
TikTok For Business
Where TikTok Wins
- Lowest CPCs in social advertising ($0.50–$1.00)
- Highest engagement rates of any major platform
- Best Gen Z and Millennial audience access
- Strongest discovery/purchase funnel (67% impulse buy rate)
- Most generous new advertiser offer ($6,000 vs $500)
- FYP algorithm enables viral reach without followers
- Sound-on environment increases message retention
- Lower creative production barrier (phone-shot works)
When to Use Meta or Google
When Other Platforms Win
Choose Meta When:
- Your target audience is 35–65+
- You need advanced retargeting (Facebook Pixel matures)
- B2C e-commerce with established brand presence
Choose Google When:
- Targeting high-intent search queries
- B2B or professional service industry
- Local service businesses needing MAP results
TikTok is the Best Platform to Start With
Lower CPCs, higher engagement, and the only platform offering up to $6,000 in free credits for new advertisers. Start today and double your budget from day one.
Claim Your $6,000 Free Credits