Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks in Canada

Introduction

Canada’s app install costs traced a dramatic arc over the past 12 months: well above the global benchmark in most months, sharply volatile through mid‑year, and ultimately finishing close to where they began. Spikes in December, February, and a pronounced June peak defined the year, while October closed with one of the lowest points. 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 Canada compared to the global benchmark.

The story in the data

For all industries in Canada, median Cost per App Install (CPI) averaged 35.95 across the period, versus a global average of 15.10—about 138% higher. The year opened at 13.99 in November 2024 and ended at 13.52 in October 2025, a marginal 3% decline, masking the turbulent path between those bookends.

Highs and lows were pronounced. January marked the low at 11.20, then CPI jumped to 46.80 in February. The year’s high hit in June at 90.66—more than 8x January’s trough. Other notable crests included December (49.91), April (37.79), August (44.92), and September (48.06). Month-to-month volatility averaged 31.6 points, roughly five times the global swing of 6.2, underscoring how choppy Canadian app install costs were relative to the broader market.

Key movements tell the story: a December surge from 13.99 to 49.91, a sharp January reset to 11.20, another February lift to 46.80, a June spike to 90.66, and a steep October pullback to 13.52. Excluding June, Canada’s average would ease to about 31.0, highlighting how outsized that single month was.

Seasonal and monthly dynamics

Seasonality appears in relief. Holiday demand lifted December materially, followed by a Q1 trough in January and a swift rebound in February. Spring costs built into June’s peak, reflecting intensified competition for installs. After a July correction (21.97), costs re‑accelerated through late summer—August and September held in the mid‑40s to high‑40s—before an October reset.

Quarterly rhythm reinforces the pattern: Q1 averaged about 26.8 (driven by the Jan–Feb whiplash), Q2 climbed to 52.9 with the June crest, and Q3 settled at 38.3—elevated but below peak. October’s retreat put early Q4 back near the year’s floor.

Canada vs. Global

Relative to Facebook Ads benchmarks globally, Canada ran above market in 10 of 12 months. The narrowest gap came in November 2024 (12% below global), while October 2025 was 29% below. Everywhere else, Canada was higher—often substantially so. December stood 341% above global levels; February was 274% higher; June was 225% higher; and September maintained a 106% premium. Globally, CPI trended up (+21%) from November to October, while Canada finished roughly flat (−3%) but with far greater amplitude: a 79.5‑point range in Canada versus 20.8 globally.

In short, Canada’s country-specific ad costs for app installs were materially higher and more volatile than the global benchmark, with prominent peaks in December, February, and June and a late-year reset.

Understanding Facebook Ads benchmarks for cost per app install across all industries in Canada—alongside broader CPC trends, CPM analysis, and CTR performance—helps quantify country-specific ad costs and compare industry ad performance to global patterns.