Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Consulting in South Africa

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

Cost Per App Install for Consulting in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Consulting and target country South Africa compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • There is no available selected data for Consulting in South Africa during the period, so relative positioning against the global benchmark (above market, below average, or in line) cannot be determined.
  • Globally, cost per app install shows pronounced seasonality and volatility: sharp spikes in November 2024 and June 2025, with elevated levels again in September 2025.
  • Overall global costs rose from October 2024 to September 2025 by about 271%, with an average month-to-month swing of roughly 61%.

Selected segment overview (Consulting, South Africa)

  • Data availability: No monthly medians were recorded for the selected segment (Consulting, South Africa) over the period provided. As a result, in-segment averages, highs/lows, and volatility cannot be calculated, and a direct comparison to the global baseline is not possible.

Global baseline trend for cost per app install

  • Coverage: Oct 2024–Sep 2025 (12 months).
  • Average: 12.67 across the period.
  • High/low:
  • Highest month: June 2025 at 26.21.
  • Lowest month: October 2024 at 6.20.
  • Peak-to-trough spread: ~4.2x.
  • First-to-last change: From 6.20 (Oct 2024) to 22.99 (Sep 2025), up ~271%.
  • Volatility:
  • Average absolute month-over-month change: ~60.9%.
  • Biggest spike: +151% from May to June 2025.
  • Biggest drop: -53% from June to July 2025.
  • Seasonal patterns:
  • Q4 2024 average: 9.67, characterized by a sharp November spike (14.28) followed by a December moderation (8.52) — consistent with holiday-driven auction pressure.
  • Q1 2025 average: 8.20, the softest quarter.
  • Q2 2025 average: 16.05, lifted by June’s peak.
  • Q3 2025 average: 16.78, above the full-period average, with September rising to 22.99.
  • Distribution relative to average:
  • 4 of 12 months sat above the period average (Nov, Jun, Aug, Sep); 8 were below, indicating that the higher-cost months were notably elevated rather than evenly distributed.

Comparison: selected segment vs global baseline

  • With no selected data for Consulting in South Africa, a direct numerical comparison (averages, highs/lows, and volatility) is not available.
  • For context only, the global baseline indicates:
  • Typical Q4 cost pressure (notably in November).
  • A low in early Q1, followed by material increases into late Q2 and late Q3.
  • Significant month-to-month variability that marketers often associate with major sales periods and competitive auction dynamics.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Consulting and South Africa 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. In the Consulting industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting South Africa, 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.

South Africa Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 21Human Rights Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Family Day
Apr 27Freedom Day
May 1Workers' Day
Jun 16Youth Day
Aug 9National Women's Day
Sep 24Heritage Day
Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Day of Goodwill

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas & Day of Goodwill), Mid-year retail (June Youth Day promotions)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during long weekends like Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and Heritage Day as leisure and travel-related media consumption increases. Retail CPMs may spike in late November–December for holiday shopping. Youth Day and National Women's Day might drive regional campaigns. Weekend extensions across public holidays may benefit weekend campaigns.

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.