Google Ads is rolling out a new Cost Slider in Performance Max (PMax) campaign reporting, giving advertisers visibility into how much of their spend is going to each channel.
Why we care. This toggle surfaces Share of Cost data – the percentage of total PMax spend each network or placement consumes – offering advertisers a clearer path to optimizing spend.
How it works. Flip the Cost Slider on, and Google calculates and displays each channel’s share of total campaign spend.
The feature was first spotted and shared by Thomas Eccel, head of Google Ads at JvM IMPACT, via LinkedIn.
The upside. Eccel outlined three main benefits:
- Cost transparency: See exactly how budget is distributed across channels.
- Optimization insights: Compare spend share with conversion share to flag channels overspending without returns.
- Scaling opportunities: Spot underfunded, high-ROAS placements and push for incremental conversions.
The big picture. When first introduced, PMax was criticized for its “black box” nature. This toggle update, and several other updates released this year, look to be working to quieten those assumptions. A simple toggle that breaks out channel-level spend could help advertisers make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Search Engine Land is owned by Semrush. We remain committed to providing high-quality coverage of marketing topics. Unless otherwise noted, this page’s content was written by either an employee or a paid contractor of Semrush Inc.
