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

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 Canada

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry E-commerce and target country Canada compared to the global trend; the analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • E-commerce in Canada ran well above market in Q4 2024 (200x+ in September; 20–44x in October–December), then dropped sharply in January–February 2025 before rebounding in March and again in August.
  • Volatility in Canada was very high: average month-to-month absolute change was ~203% versus ~75% globally.
  • Across the full period, Canada’s average cost per app install (116.07) was about 10.6x higher than the global baseline (10.92).

Overview of E-commerce in Canada (selected data)

  • Average and level: The average cost per app install from September 2024 to August 2025 was 116.07.
  • Highs and lows:
  • High: 466.53 in September 2024.
  • Low: 4.79 in February 2025.
  • Range: ~97x swing between peak and trough, indicating extreme dispersion.
  • Trend and seasonality:
  • Q4 2024 showed consistently elevated costs: 466.53 (Sep), 125.52 (Oct), 268.46 (Nov), 373.25 (Dec).
  • A sharp correction followed in January (4.84) and February (4.79), with a rebound in March (56.95). Summer stayed relatively low until a notable August uptick (44.70).
  • Percentage change from first to last month: -90.4% (466.53 in September 2024 to 44.70 in August 2025).
  • Volatility:
  • Average absolute month-to-month change: ~203%.
  • Largest moves: -98.7% from December to January; +1,088% from February to March; +559.8% from July to August.

Global baseline (for comparison)

  • Average and level: Global average across the same months was 10.92.
  • Highs and lows:
  • High: 26.21 in June 2025.
  • Low: 1.98 in September 2024.
  • Trend and seasonality:
  • The baseline rises into November, eases in December–January, spikes in June, and remains moderate through summer.
  • Percentage change from first to last month: +659% (1.98 in September 2024 to 15.00 in August 2025).
  • Volatility: Average absolute month-to-month change was ~75%, materially lower than Canada’s E-commerce series.

How Canada compares to the global trend

  • Overall level: Canada averaged 116.07 vs. 10.92 globally (+10.6x). The gap was most pronounced in Q4 2024:
  • September: >200x above global.
  • October: ~20x above.
  • November: ~19x above.
  • December: ~44x above.
  • Periods below market:
  • January (-24% vs. global), February (-58%), April (-8%), June (-62%), July (-45%).
  • Periods above market:
  • March (~8x above global), May (~2x), August (~3x).
  • Seasonality alignment:
  • Both series show higher costs around late-year periods, with Canada exhibiting an outsized Q4 spike and a distinct August lift, while the global series peaks in June.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry E-commerce and Canada 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 Canada, 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.

Canada Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Feb (3rd Mon)Family Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday (federal)
May (Victoria Day)Victoria Day
Jul 1Canada Day
Sep (1st Mon)Labour Day
Oct (2nd Mon)Thanksgiving
Nov 11Remembrance Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), December (holiday shopping, Boxing Day), Back-to-school (August-September), Mother's Day (May)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM might increase during Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving. Black Friday and Cyber Monday see heightened e‑commerce bidding. December holiday period may spike ad costs. Back-to-school and Mother's Day drive retail competition. Provincial holidays might alter weekday inventory availability.

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.