Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Design

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

Cost Per App Install for Design

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads benchmarks: cost per app install

This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Design and target country All countries available compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Key takeaways

  • Data coverage: No Design/All countries available data points were available for the selected period, so comparisons use the global baseline only.
  • Global baseline level: Average cost per app install was 12.67 over the last 12 months, with a low of 6.20 (Oct 2024) and a high of 26.21 (Jun 2025).
  • Trend direction: From Oct 2024 to Sep 2025 the baseline rose by 271%, ending the period at 22.99.
  • Volatility: Month-to-month absolute moves averaged 6.50 (~61% of the prior month), indicating a highly variable market.
  • Seasonality: A clear spike appears in November, with further peaks in June and September; December moderates versus November in this dataset.

Context and framing

  • Scope: Industry is Design and country selection is All countries available. However, no month-level values were reported for the selected segment, so the report summarizes the global baseline to provide directional context against which Design performance could be compared once data becomes available.

Baseline overview (global trend)

  • Average: 12.67 across Oct 2024–Sep 2025.
  • Highs and lows:
  • Highest cost: 26.21 in Jun 2025.
  • Second-highest: 22.99 in Sep 2025.
  • Lowest cost: 6.20 in Oct 2024.
  • Start-to-end change: From 6.20 (Oct 2024) to 22.99 (Sep 2025), a +271% increase.
  • Volatility:
  • Average month-to-month absolute change: 6.50.
  • Largest monthly jump: +15.78 from May to June 2025.
  • Largest monthly drop: −13.86 from June to July 2025.
  • Other notable moves: +8.09 from Oct to Nov 2024; +7.99 from Aug to Sep 2025.

Seasonal patterns

  • Q4 behavior: The baseline shows a pronounced November surge (14.28), followed by a December pullback (8.52), rather than a sustained run-up. January resets lower (6.36).
  • Mid-year acceleration: Costs rise through spring into early summer, peaking in June (26.21), then easing in July (12.35) before climbing again late in Q3 (Sep: 22.99).
  • Quarterly averages in the baseline:
  • Q4 2024: 9.67
  • Q1 2025: 8.20
  • Q2 2025: 16.05
  • Q3 2025: 16.78

This points to higher costs in mid–late year relative to early year in the global trend.

Selected segment vs. global baseline

  • Because the Design industry for All countries available did not report any monthly medians in the period, we cannot quantify how Design compares to the market (e.g., above market, below average, or in line). The figures above should be treated as the global benchmark to reference once Design-specific data is available.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Design and All countries available 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 Design industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. Geographic targeting affects ad costs based on market competition and user engagement in different regions. 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.

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.