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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for E-commerce in Australia

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

Cost Per App Install for E-commerce in Australia

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-app-install benchmarks: E‑commerce in Australia vs global

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

  • Overall level: Australia sits well above market. Across overlapping months (Nov 2024–Aug 2025), Australia’s average cost-per-app-install is about 96.51, versus the global baseline at 12.71 (~7.6x higher). Excluding the extreme November spike, Australia still averages 41.70 (~3.3x above baseline).
  • Seasonality: A pronounced Q4 surge appears in November (535.01), followed by a step-down into the new year. Mid‑year shows a lift in June and a low in July. This aligns with typical holiday/seasonal dynamics where costs often rise in Q4.
  • Volatility: Australia is highly volatile. Average month-to-month absolute change is ~75.79; even excluding November it’s ~21.70, still above the baseline’s ~6.93.

Selected dataset summary (E‑commerce, Australia)

  • Coverage: Nov 2024, Jan–Aug 2025.
  • Average: 96.51 across the period.
  • High/low: Highest in November 2024 at 535.01; lowest in July 2025 at 10.17.
  • First-to-last change: From 535.01 (Nov 2024) to 16.11 (Aug 2025), a decline of ~97%.
  • Notable swings:
  • Nov 2024 to Jan 2025: −84.9% (535.01 → 80.59)
  • Apr to May 2025: −65.7% (59.95 → 20.58)
  • May to Jun 2025: +113.0% (20.58 → 43.81)
  • Jun to Jul 2025: −76.8% (43.81 → 10.17)

From January onward, costs range mostly between 10–60, with the median months clustering in the 40–60 band before dropping in May–July and ticking up in August.

Comparison to global baseline

  • Average level: Australia 96.51 vs global 12.71 (+659%). Ex‑November, Australia 41.70 vs 12.71 (+228%).
  • High/low baseline (same months): High at 26.21 in June 2025; low at 6.36 in January 2025; average month‑to‑month change ~6.93.
  • Monthly positioning:
  • Australia sits above the global trend in most months: November (~37.5x), January (~12.7x), February (~4.0x), March (~8.3x), April (~5.2x), May (~2.0x), June (~1.7x), August (~1.1x).
  • July 2025 is below market: 10.17 vs 12.35 (≈18% below baseline).
  • Trend vs baseline:
  • Australia falls sharply from November into Q1, while the baseline stays relatively steady.
  • Both show a mid‑year rise into June; Australia then dips further in July before a modest August rebound, whereas the baseline moderates after June.

Seasonal and volatility patterns

  • Q4 intensity: A clear November spike signals elevated holiday‑period competition.
  • Mid‑year behavior: Both series show a June lift; Australia’s swing is larger, followed by a July trough and mild August recovery.
  • Stability: The global baseline is comparatively stable; Australia shows outsized month-to-month moves even after Q4.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry E‑commerce and Australia 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 E-commerce industry, Facebook ad costs can be varied, with peaks during holiday seasons and competitive product categories. For campaigns targeting Australia, advertisers typically see good engagement rates despite moderate costs. 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.

Australia Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 27Australia Day (observed)
Apr 18‑21Easter weekend
Apr 25Anzac Day
Jun 9King's Birthday
Oct 6Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late December (Christmas and Boxing Day), Early December (Cyber Monday), January (Back-to-school), May (Mother's Day)

Potential Advertising Impact

Ad costs could spike around major holidays, especially Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas. Increased budgets and earlier scheduling may be necessary. Retailers should consider planning promotions around back-to-school and Mother's Day to maximize campaign effectiveness.

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.