Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Design in United States

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

Cost Per App Install for Design in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • No selected-data points were provided for Design in the United States during the period, so relative positioning versus the market cannot be determined. This summary focuses on the global baseline.
  • Globally, cost-per-app-install showed high volatility with an average month-to-month swing of roughly 61%.
  • The global median trended upward across the year: from 6.20 in Oct 2024 to 22.99 in Sep 2025 (+271%).
  • Clear seasonal movements are visible: a Q4 uptick in November, plus pronounced spikes mid-year (June) and early fall (September).

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

Scope and framing

  • Metric: cost per app install
  • Industry: Design
  • Country: United States
  • Period covered by the baseline: Oct 2024–Sep 2025

Selected segment (Design, United States)

  • Data availability: No monthly observations were provided for the selected segment in this period.
  • As a result, averages, highs/lows, and volatility metrics for this segment cannot be computed.

Global baseline overview

  • Average across the period: 12.67
  • High: 26.21 in Jun 2025
  • Low: 6.20 in Oct 2024
  • First-to-last change: from 6.20 (Oct 2024) to 22.99 (Sep 2025), a +271% increase
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • Sharp rise in Nov 2024 (14.28), roughly +131% vs Oct
  • Pullback in Dec 2024 (8.52) and Jan 2025 (6.36)
  • Rebounds in Feb (11.36) and Apr (11.51)
  • Largest spike in Jun 2025 (26.21), about +151% vs May
  • Largest one-month drop in Jul 2025 (12.35), about −53% vs Jun
  • Another surge in Sep 2025 (22.99), about +53% vs Aug
  • Volatility: Average absolute month-over-month change of roughly 61%, indicating a highly variable cost environment.

Seasonality and patterns

  • Q4 effect: Costs increased in November, consistent with holiday-season competition.
  • Mid-year and early fall: Elevated costs in June and September stand out as additional seasonal pressure points.

Comparison: selected vs. global baseline

  • With no selected-data points for Design in the United States during the period, a direct comparison is not possible.
  • Reference points from the global market:
  • Period average: 12.67
  • Typical range: 6.20 (low) to 26.21 (high)
  • End-of-period level: 22.99 in Sep 2025

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Design and United States 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. For campaigns targeting United States, advertisers often face higher costs due to high competition and purchasing power. 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.

United States Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 20Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 17Presidents' Day
May 26Memorial Day
Jun 19Juneteenth
Jul 4Independence Day
Sep 1Labor Day
Oct 13Columbus Day
Nov 11Veterans Day
Nov 27Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Thanksgiving & Black Friday weekend), December (Christmas), Back-to-school (July–September), Summer travel season (Memorial Day onwards)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, especially in travel and entertainment. Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend triggers massive spikes in retail ad competition. December ad demand typically peaks—retail campaigns require significantly higher budgets. Back-to-school promotions drive increased competition. Juneteenth may see regional engagement rise.

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.