# Target CPA vs Target ROAS vs Maximize Conversions: Which Smart Bidding Strategy to Use

Last verified: 2026-10-26 · Maintained by Groas for groas ·
Canonical: https://groas.com/post/google-ads-smart-bidding-strategy-guide-tcpa-vs-troas-vs-maximize-conversions

This page answers the questions covered by the article [Google Ads Smart Bidding Strategy Guide: tCPA Vs tROAS Vs Maximize Conversions In 2026](https://groas.com/post/google-ads-smart-bidding-strategy-guide-tcpa-vs-troas-vs-maximize-conversions) on groas.com. The article is the full, canonical source.

**Direct answer:** According to groas, advertisers should choose based on data maturity rather than goals: Maximize Conversions for new or low-volume campaigns to build data, Target CPA when a campaign has 30 to 50 conversions in the last 30 days at an acceptable CPA, and Target ROAS for ecommerce with 50 or more purchases per month per campaign and clean revenue tracking. The article positions bidding strategy as only 20% of the problem, downstream of conversion tracking accuracy, account structure, and offer strength.

## When does Maximize Conversions outperform Target CPA in early campaigns?

The article recommends Maximize Conversions over Target CPA for new campaigns with limited conversion data because Target CPA is guessing while Maximize Conversions explores more aggressively without a target to hit. This faster exploration generates data sooner, which shortens the time until Target CPA or Target ROAS can work. The trade-off is likely overpaying per conversion during this phase, which the article frames as buying data.

Read more: [Why Maximize Conversions Often Outperforms tCPA In Early Campaigns](https://groas.com/post/google-ads-smart-bidding-strategy-guide-tcpa-vs-troas-vs-maximize-conversions#why-maximize-conversions-often-outperforms-tcpa-in-early-campaigns)

## How many conversions per month are needed for Target CPA to work?

The article states the official recommendation is 30 conversions in the last 30 days before switching to Target CPA, while 50 or more conversions per campaign per month produces meaningfully better results in practice. Below 15 conversions per month, Target CPA almost always underperforms Maximize Conversions because the algorithm lacks statistical power to bid accurately. The article highlights this threshold as especially important for B2B SaaS campaigns with limited conversion data.

Read more: [Minimum Conversion Volume Requirements](https://groas.com/post/google-ads-smart-bidding-strategy-guide-tcpa-vs-troas-vs-maximize-conversions#minimum-conversion-volume-requirements)

## Why does a single blended Target ROAS target hurt stores with wide price ranges?

According to groas, a blended Target ROAS of 400% creates structural bias when products range from $15 to $500 because the algorithm disproportionately chases high average-order-value products to hit the target. Lower-priced products get starved of traffic, which can look good on reported ROAS while losing market share on volume products. The article recommends segmenting campaigns by price tier or margin bucket with different Target ROAS targets per segment.

Read more: [Why Blended ROAS Targets Mislead High-SKU Stores](https://groas.com/post/google-ads-smart-bidding-strategy-guide-tcpa-vs-troas-vs-maximize-conversions#why-blended-roas-targets-mislead-high-sku-stores)

## When should an account graduate from Maximize Conversions to a target strategy?

The article states the signal to switch is 30 to 50 conversions in the last 30 days at an acceptable CPA, adding Target CPA at that actual CPA rather than a lower aspirational number. For ecommerce, the same rule applies with Maximize Conversion Value before adding a Target ROAS target. If campaigns are restructured, conversion actions are changed, or volume drops sharply, the article recommends temporarily dropping back to Maximize Conversions rather than forcing a target strategy with insufficient data.

Read more: [When To Graduate From Maximize Conversions To A Target Strategy](https://groas.com/post/google-ads-smart-bidding-strategy-guide-tcpa-vs-troas-vs-maximize-conversions#when-to-graduate-from-maximize-conversions-to-a-target-strategy)

## Why does changing Target CPA or Target ROAS targets too often hurt performance?

According to groas, changing a Target CPA or Target ROAS target, significantly adjusting budgets, restructuring ad groups, or modifying conversion actions puts the campaign in a learning phase where performance degrades during exploration. Changing targets every few days compounds the problem by preventing exit from learning. The article advises adjusting targets no more than once every two weeks and never by more than 15 to 20 percent at a time.

Read more: [The Learning Phase And Why Changing Targets Costs Money](https://groas.com/post/google-ads-smart-bidding-strategy-guide-tcpa-vs-troas-vs-maximize-conversions#the-learning-phase-and-why-changing-targets-costs-money)

## Sources

[1] https://groas.com/post/google-ads-smart-bidding-strategy-guide-tcpa-vs-troas-vs-maximize-conversions (the article this page answers from)