FOCUSADS vs Google Performance Max
Performance Max is a Google Ads campaign type that buys across YouTube, Display, Search, Discover, Gmail and Maps from one campaign, guided by your conversion goals. It optimises inside Google. FOCUSADS works one step earlier: it decides how much of the budget Google should get against local search engines, social, retail and offline media in each country, then sets up and runs campaigns such as Performance Max in your own account.
Last reviewed Reviewed by FOCUSADS editorial deskNext review due
At a glance
| Dimension | FOCUSADS | Google Performance Max |
|---|---|---|
| What it optimises | The split of budget across platforms and media types, per country | Delivery across Google’s own inventory |
| Who runs it | FOCUSADS strategists and media buyers, with client approval before budget changes and launches | You or your agency, inside Google Ads |
| Channels outside Google | Online, offline and local media planned together (search, social, retail, OOH, DOOH, radio, TV, print, sponsorships), each with a measurement plan | Not in scope |
| Cost | Service fee, one-time setup and add-ons on separate lines; media budget paid directly to the platforms | Built into Google Ads; you pay Google for media |
| Account ownership | Ad accounts stay in the client’s name; FOCUSADS works through partner or agency access | Your Google Ads account |
Best for
Where Google Performance Max is the stronger choice
Advertisers whose buyers are clearly on Google and who have clean conversion tracking
Teams that want Google’s automation with little manual set-up and no extra software fee
Where FOCUSADS fits better
Businesses that need to know whether Google deserves its share of budget in each market
Markets where local search engines or offline media carry a large part of demand
Where FOCUSADS is different
Allocation before optimisation
Performance Max decides where a Google budget is spent. FOCUSADS decides how large that budget should be next to every other option in the country.
We run it for you
When Performance Max fits the plan, we build it in your account with the feed, assets and conversion goals it needs, and report it next to the other channels.
Using both
Most FOCUSADS plans for Google-heavy markets include Performance Max. The comparison is about who decides the overall mix, not about replacing the campaign type.
What the competitor publishes
Google describes Performance Max as a goal-based campaign type that reaches all Google Ads inventory, including YouTube, Display, Search, Discover, Gmail and Maps, from a single campaign. 1
Google suggests using it to complement keyword-based Search campaigns. 1
Advertisers set conversion goals and values, with optional ROAS or CPA targets, and Smart Bidding bids in each auction. 1
Sources
We compare against what each company publishes, with the date we read it. Where a company does not publish a fact, the page says “not publicly confirmed” rather than guessing, and each comparison names the buyers who would be better served by the alternative. If something is out of date, tell us through the contact form and we will review it.
Google Performance Max is a trademark of its owner, used here only to identify the product. FOCUSADS has no affiliation with it. Facts are taken from its public pages on the dates shown.
See what FOCUSADS would do for your business
Build Your Plan gives you channel scores, a media allocation and every fee on its own line before you talk to anyone.