Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Design

Introduction

Cost per app install (CPI) moved through a pronounced arc over the period: a low start, a sharp mid‑year surge, a cooling into December, and a fresh lift into January 2026. For the Design industry aggregated across all countries, the available view aligns with the global benchmark, so the pattern you see here reflects the market’s baseline rhythm. Volatility centered on a dramatic June spike and a swift correction in July before settling into mid‑teens territory.

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 Design in all countries compared to the global benchmark.

Section 1: The story in the data

CPI opened at $7.10 in January 2025 and closed at $15.39 in January 2026—an increase of roughly 117%. The average across the 13 months landed at $13.58, with a wide range between the low in January ($7.10) and the high in June ($23.76). The largest month‑to‑month moves clustered around that peak: May to June jumped by about $11.43 (+93%), then June to July retraced by roughly $12.99 (−55%). On average, absolute month‑over‑month movement was about $4.50, signaling a fairly active auction environment.

After the June high ($23.76), CPI reset to $10.77 in July, then climbed back into a tighter band: August to November held between $14.57 and $16.39, followed by a notable December dip to $10.43 before the January 2026 rebound ($15.39). Roughly half the months sat above the $13.58 average (August, September, October, November, and January 2026), and half below (January through May, July, December), underscoring a year defined by one outsized mid‑year spike rather than a constant grind higher.

Section 2: Seasonal and monthly dynamics

Seasonality was visible in the quarterly cadence. Q1 2025 was the trough (average $9.22), Q2 accelerated (average $16.53) with the June surge, and Q3 stabilized in the mid‑teens (average $14.18). Q4 softened overall (average $13.80), though dynamics were uneven: October remained elevated ($16.39) and November eased ($14.57) before December’s drop ($10.43). Performance typically softens through Q4 as competition rises, with engagement patterns and budgets resetting around the turn of the year; here, January 2026 lifted back to $15.39.

Section 3: Country vs. Global

For Design across all countries, CPI tracked the global Facebook Ads benchmarks one‑to‑one. Average parity ($13.58 vs. $13.58), peak parity ($23.76 vs. $23.76), and identical monthly movements mean no persistent premium or discount to the market. Volatility was likewise identical, with average absolute monthly change around $4.50. In relative terms, the “gap” to the global series was effectively 0% in each month.

Closing

Taken together, this provides a clear read on Facebook Ads cost per app install benchmarks for the Design industry across all countries: a low Q1, a pronounced Q2 spike centered on June, steadier mid‑teens in Q3, a softer Q4, and a January rebound. While CPC trends, CPM analysis, and CTR performance add context to country‑specific ad costs, CPI here offers the direct signal on install efficiency for Design globally, aligned with the overall market baseline.