> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.upstackdata.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Blended Trial Starts: Cross-Channel Trial Tracking

> Track free trial starts attributed to your ads across Meta, Google, and TikTok. Monitor cross-channel trial acquisition performance.

<Tip>
  Blended Trial Starts measures the total number of free trial activations attributed to your ads across all connected advertising platforms.
</Tip>

## Formula

<Info>
  **Blended Trial Starts** = **SUM** ( Trial Start Events ) **ACROSS** All Channels
</Info>

### Formula Components

| Metric                                                                                          | Definition                                     |
| ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| [**Meta Trial Starts**](/reference/metrics/advertising/meta-ads/start-trials/meta-start-trials) | Free trials attributed to Meta Ads campaigns   |
| **Google Trial Starts**                                                                         | Free trials attributed to Google Ads campaigns |
| **TikTok Trial Starts**                                                                         | Free trials attributed to TikTok Ads campaigns |

| Metadata        |                                                                                                                             |
| --------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Type**        | Number                                                                                                                      |
| **Data Source** | [Meta Ads](/sources/catalog/facebook-ads), [Google Ads](/sources/catalog/google-ads), [TikTok Ads](/sources/catalog/tiktok) |
| **Aggregation** | Sum                                                                                                                         |

***

## Example

Your campaigns generated **847 free trial starts** across all channels last month:

| Channel     | Trial Starts | Share    |
| ----------- | ------------ | -------- |
| Meta Ads    | 412          | 49%      |
| Google Ads  | 289          | 34%      |
| TikTok Ads  | 146          | 17%      |
| **Blended** | **847**      | **100%** |

***

## How It Works

Blended Trial Starts aggregates trial activation events reported by each connected advertising platform. When a user starts a free trial that's attributed to an ad within the platform's attribution window, each platform records a trial start event. This metric sums those events across Meta, Google, and TikTok to give you a unified view of trial acquisition performance.

***

## When to Use

| Scenario                       | Action                                                                                                                                           |
| ------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Measuring trial volume         | Track overall free trial acquisition across all paid channels                                                                                    |
| Comparing channel efficiency   | Pair with [Blended Cost Per Trial Start](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/start-trials/blended-cost-per-trial-start) to see cost per trial |
| Budget allocation              | Identify which platforms drive the most trial signups per dollar spent                                                                           |
| Trial-to-subscription tracking | Compare to [Blended Subscriptions](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/subscriptions/blended-subscriptions) for conversion insights           |

***

## Related Metrics

| Metric                                                                                                                            | Relationship                                     |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| [Blended Cost Per Trial Start](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/start-trials/blended-cost-per-trial-start)                  | Cost efficiency of acquiring trials              |
| [Blended Subscriptions](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/subscriptions/blended-subscriptions)                               | Later funnel stage — trials that convert to paid |
| [Blended Completed Registrations](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended/completed-registrations/blended-completed-registrations) | Related acquisition metric — account signups     |

[See all Blended Conversions metrics →](/reference/metrics/advertising/blended)