Compare mobile acquisition cost benchmarks by industry, region, and platform.
October 2025 - September 2026
Benchmark observations based on the selected data
The main story: aggregated Cost Per App Install moved from single-digit medians into a pronounced spike by July 2026, producing a nearly tenfold lift at year‑end. Seasonality is visible (a Q4 trough and a Q1 uptick), but the series ends with an extreme outlier that dominates averages and volatility. This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
This analysis explores ad performance trends for Arts in All countries available compared to the global benchmark.
Over 13 months the global median Cost Per App Install averaged about $21.8, with a median month of roughly $14.9. The series started in July 2025 at $9.95 and closed July 2026 at $96.91 — an increase of roughly +875% (nearly tenfold). The low point arrived December 2025 at $9.36; the next notable high was February 2026 at $30.13 before a reversion to mid‑teens for much of spring. The extreme outlier in July 2026 (just under $97) drives the mean well above the median, creating a skewed distribution.
Month‑to‑month moves were large: average absolute monthly change was on the order of ~77% (driven heavily by a +556% jump into July 2026 and a +135% surge into February 2026). Typical mid‑period swings (e.g., +25% Aug→Sep, −45% Feb→Mar) show the baseline alternating between sharp lifts and quick pullbacks.
A clear seasonal rhythm appears: costs softened into Q4 (December low ~ $9.36), followed by a Q1 rebound that produced the February spike (~$30). Spring months settled in the mid‑teens ($14–$20) across March–June, suggesting a quieter period before the abrupt July escalation. Performance typically softens through Q4 as competition rises, with engagement rebounding in early Q1 — here expressed as cost volatility rather than steady directional change. The July 2026 surge is an outlier to the prior seasonal pattern, amplifying overall volatility for the 12‑month window.
Because a separate Arts × All‑countries time series was not supplied, the baseline above serves as the aggregated global benchmark for Cost Per App Install. Relative phrasing: the global benchmark shows periods that would read as “below average” (Dec) and “above market” (Feb and Jul) if compared to a stable industry median. Overall, the baseline is more volatile than conventional CPC trends or CPM analysis often suggest — peaks create a skew that raises mean costs well above the median arts‑industry month.
Understanding Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install benchmarks for the Arts industry in All countries available helps advertisers evaluate engagement trends and compare performance to global patterns.
Facebook advertising cost benchmarks
Facebook advertising costs vary by industry, target audience, ad placement, and campaign objective. In the Arts industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. Geographic targeting affects ad costs through regional competition and user engagement. Campaign objectives affect costs because Facebook optimizes delivery for different goals. The data shows median values across multiple campaigns. Results can vary with ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.
A small share of campaigns has extremely high CPI values. Those outliers can inflate an average. The median is the midpoint across campaigns, so it better represents a typical result.
The data shows industry median benchmarks. Costs can vary with targeting, creative quality, and campaign optimization.
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The dataset includes over $3B in Facebook ad spend from thousands of ad accounts that use Superads to analyze and improve campaigns. Every data point is anonymized and aggregated. It does not expose an individual advertiser.
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iOS CPIs often range from $2 to $5 or more. Android is usually cheaper, between $1 and $3. Your CPI will depend on geo, creative, and optimization goal.
Some regions like the US, UK, and Canada have higher competition and stricter privacy regulations, which drive up costs. Countries with lower purchasing power typically have cheaper CPIs.
Short videos that show app benefits, UGC-style content, and localized messaging tend to perform best. Clear CTAs and fast-paced visuals can lower CPI.
Optimizing for installs increases volume. Optimizing for actions such as signups or purchases brings higher-quality users. Choose based on your goals and the importance of post-install behavior.
Align creative with the app experience, avoid misleading ads, and exclude people who already installed. Test lookalike audiences based on high-quality users rather than all installers.
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