Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks in Canada

See how your app install costs compare. Explore mobile acquisition cost benchmarks by industry, region, and platform

Cost Per App Install in Canada

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry All industries available in Canada compared to the global trend, based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • Canada’s costs are markedly above market: the Canadian average is 29.62 vs. the global 11.74, about 2.5x higher across the same months.
  • Volatility is high in Canada, with average month‑to‑month moves of 106% vs. 62% globally. Sharp spikes appear in December, February, April, and especially June.
  • Seasonality stands out: a Q4 spike (December), deep Q1 reset (January), a pronounced Q2–early Q3 surge peaking in June, then a steep July–August pullback. Globally, costs also peak in June but rise more steadily into late summer.

Selected data highlights (Canada)

  • Overall level
  • Average: 29.62
  • High: 91.69 in June 2025
  • Low: 6.34 in August 2025
  • First-to-last change: down 52.7% from October 2024 (13.41) to August 2025 (6.34)
  • Volatility and notable moves
  • Average month-to-month absolute change: 106%
  • Largest increases:
  • February 2025: +328% vs. January (40.38 vs. 9.44)
  • June 2025: +204% vs. May (91.69 vs. 30.16)
  • Steepest declines:
  • January 2025: −75% vs. December (9.44 vs. 38.21)
  • July 2025: −76% vs. June (21.97 vs. 91.69)
  • Seasonal pattern
  • Q4 spike in December (38.21), followed by a sharp January reset (9.44).
  • Strong Q2 ramp culminating in June’s peak (91.69), then a swift drop through July–August (down to 6.34).

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Overall level
  • Global average (same months): 11.74
  • High: 26.21 in June 2025; Low: 6.20 in October 2024
  • First-to-last change: up 142.1% from October 2024 (6.20) to August 2025 (15.00)
  • Relative positioning
  • Canada is above market in 9 of 11 observed months.
  • Notable overages: December 2024 (4.5x global), February 2025 (3.6x), June 2025 (3.5x).
  • Below market: November 2024 (−2%) and August 2025 (−58%).
  • Volatility and seasonality
  • Global average month-to-month absolute change: 61.7% (less volatile than Canada).
  • Global also peaks in June, but maintains higher levels into August (15.00), unlike Canada’s late-summer trough (6.34).
  • Q4 globally shows a jump in November, then a moderation in December—contrasting with Canada’s December spike.

What the trends suggest

  • Canada’s cost per app install sits well above average for most of the period, with sharper swings than the global benchmark.
  • Seasonality is pronounced: costs typically increase in Q4 around holiday periods and reach another peak mid‑year, but Canada’s late‑summer costs diverge notably, falling well below the global level in August.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry All industries available and Canada helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

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 Canada, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. 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.

Why we use median instead of average

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.

Key Factors Affecting Facebook Ad Costs

  • Competition within your selected industry and audience demographics
  • Ad quality and relevance score – higher quality ads can lower costs
  • Campaign objective and bid strategy
  • Timing and seasonality – costs often increase during holiday periods
  • Ad placement (News Feed, Instagram, Audience Network, etc.)

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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The data behind the benchmarks

All data is sourced from over $3B in Facebook ad spend, collected across thousands of ad accounts that use Superads daily to analyze and improve their campaigns. Every data point is fully anonymized and aggregated—no individual advertiser is ever exposed.

This dataset updates frequently as new ad data flows in. It will only get bigger and better.

Canada Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Feb (3rd Mon)Family Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday (federal)
May (Victoria Day)Victoria Day
Jul 1Canada Day
Sep (1st Mon)Labour Day
Oct (2nd Mon)Thanksgiving
Nov 11Remembrance Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), December (holiday shopping, Boxing Day), Back-to-school (August-September), Mother's Day (May)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM might increase during Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving. Black Friday and Cyber Monday see heightened e‑commerce bidding. December holiday period may spike ad costs. Back-to-school and Mother's Day drive retail competition. Provincial holidays might alter weekday inventory availability.

What's a good CPI for iOS vs Android in 2025?

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.

Why is my app install cost higher in some countries?

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.

What creatives drive the lowest CPI on Facebook?

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.

Should I optimize for installs or in-app actions?

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.

How do I lower CPI without tanking app retention or quality?

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.