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August 2025 - August 2026
Detailed observation of presented data
Australia’s Cost Per App Install (CPI) showed a stop‑start year compared with the global benchmark: a sharp early lift, several months of lower‑mid range installs costs, and a steady climb into mid‑single digits by June 2026. 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 All industries in Australia compared to the global benchmark.
Australia started the period at a low CPI of $3.48 in July 2025, jumped to a local peak of $16.70 in August, then dipped back into the $4–$10 range for most of the year before finishing at $10.75 in June 2026. The 12‑month median in Australia averaged roughly $8.37. The low point was $3.48 (July 2025); the high point was $16.70 (August 2025). Month‑to‑month movement averaged an absolute change of about $3.18 — meaningful swings but less dramatic than the global benchmark.
By contrast, the global baseline (same 12‑month window) averaged about $15.58, with a high of $30.13 in February 2026 and a low around $9.36 in December 2025. The global series carried a sharper swing pattern (average monthly absolute change ≈ $5.10), driven by a pronounced February spike and other two‑way moves.
The Australian series reads like a short, intense summer blip followed by a more stabilized autumn and winter. The August 2025 spike stands out as an isolated lift: CPI rose nearly fivefold from July to August, then declined in September and held in the mid‑single digits through December. Early Q1 showed modest increases again, with CPI drifting from about $6.40 in December to $8.63 in January and then climbing to a steady $9.7–$10.7 band by spring and early summer.
On the global side, seasonality included a sharp February peak — a notable deviation from the otherwise elevated autumn and spring months — and a December trough in the baseline. Performance typically softens through Q4 as competition rises, with engagement rebounding in early Q1; these rhythms are visible in the global benchmark and only partially echoed in Australia.
Australia’s CPI averaged about 46% below the global benchmark over the period. Month‑by‑month the gap varied: Australia trailed global medians by roughly 27% at the narrowest (June 2026) and by about 74% at the widest (February 2026). The exception was August 2025, when Australia’s CPI exceeded the global level by about 34% — a local above‑market spike amid an otherwise below‑average year. Overall, Australia was generally below average and less volatile in absolute dollar swings than the global baseline, which experienced larger punctuated moves (including a late outlier in the baseline: a $96.91 reading in July 2026 outside the 12‑month comparison window).
This data‑driven narrative on Cost Per App Install benchmarks for All industries in Australia sits alongside Facebook Ads benchmarks, CPC trends, CPM analysis, and CTR performance in the broader set of country‑specific ad costs and industry ad performance benchmarks — useful context for comparing Australia’s CPI trajectory to global patterns.
Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs
Facebook advertising costs vary based on many factors including industry, target audience, ad placement, and campaign objectives. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. For campaigns targeting Australia, advertisers typically see good engagement rates despite moderate costs. Different campaign objectives lead to varying costs based on how Facebook optimizes for your specific goals. The data shown represents median values across multiple campaigns, and individual results may vary based on ad quality, audience targeting, and campaign optimization.
We use the median CTR because the underlying distribution of click-through rates is highly skewed, with a small share of campaigns achieving extremely high CTRs. These outliers can inflate a simple average, making it less representative of what most advertisers actually experience. By using the median—which sits at the midpoint of all campaigns—we provide a more rigorous and realistic benchmark that reflects the true underlying data model and helps you set attainable performance expectations.
Note: This data represents industry median values and benchmarks. Your actual costs may vary based on specific targeting, ad creative quality, and campaign optimization.
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Late December (Christmas and Boxing Day), Early December (Cyber Monday), January (Back-to-school), May (Mother's Day)
Ad costs could spike around major holidays, especially Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas. Increased budgets and earlier scheduling may be necessary. Retailers should consider planning promotions around back-to-school and Mother's Day to maximize campaign effectiveness.
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 showing app benefits, UGC-style content, and localized messaging tend to perform best. Clear CTAs and fast-paced visuals help lower your CPI.
Optimizing for installs gets volume, but optimizing for actions like signups or purchases brings higher quality users. It depends on your goals and how much post-install behavior matters.
Align your creative with the app experience, avoid misleading ads, and exclude users who already installed. You can also test lookalike audiences based on high-quality users, not just all installers.
Discover detailed cost benchmarks for different Facebook advertising metrics:
Average cost per click benchmarks across industries
Cost per thousand impressions across different markets
Benchmark click-through rates for Facebook ads
Cost per lead across different markets
Average cost per purchase benchmarks across industries
See how much it costs to get users to install an app