Facebook Ads Insights Tool

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

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 Italy

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-app-install benchmarks: monthly trends and comparison

This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry E-commerce and target country Italy 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

  • Overall level: E-commerce in Italy ran well above market. The selected average was 152.54, about 12.6x higher than the global baseline average of 12.14 across the same months. Median levels were 56.95 vs 11.51 (≈5.0x).
  • Volatility: Month‑to‑month absolute change averaged 138% in the selected series vs 62% in the baseline—over 2x more volatile.
  • Seasonality: A pronounced Q4 spike appears in October–November 2024, followed by a reset in January. A secondary mid‑year rise occurs around June–July 2025.
  • Trajectory: From the first observed month (Oct 2024) to the last (Aug 2025), cost-per-app-install fell by about 89%, yet remained above market every month.

About the data

  • Metric: cost-per-app-install (monthly medians).
  • Scope compared: E-commerce in Italy (“selected”) versus the global baseline, using overlapping months from Oct 2024 to Aug 2025.

Selected trend overview

  • Average: 152.54; median: 56.95.
  • High/low: Peak in Nov 2024 at 667.74; trough in Jan 2025 at 9.15.
  • First-to-last change: 416.04 in Oct 2024 to 45.30 in Aug 2025 (−89%).
  • Volatility: Average absolute month-to-month change of 138%, with major swings:
  • Oct→Nov 2024: +60%.
  • Nov 2024→Jan 2025: −98.6% (sharp reset after Q4).
  • Jan→Mar 2025: +523% rebound.
  • Apr→May 2025: −50%.
  • May→Jun 2025: +296%.
  • Seasonal patterns observed in the data:
  • Q4 spike: Oct–Nov levels far exceed the rest of the period.
  • Mid‑year uptick: Jun–Jul 2025 elevated (65.97 and 61.74) before easing in Aug (45.30).

Focusing on 2025 only (Jan–Aug), the selected average was 41.30 versus the baseline’s 12.68—about 3.3x above market outside the Q4 spike.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average and median levels: Selected average 152.54 vs baseline 12.14 (≈12.6x); selected median 56.95 vs baseline median 11.51 (≈5.0x). The selected series was above market in every observed month.
  • High/low comparison: Selected peak (667.74 in Nov 2024) was ~25.5x the baseline’s highest overlapping month (26.21 in Jun 2025). Even the selected low (9.15 in Jan 2025) sat ~48% above the baseline low (6.20 in Oct 2024).
  • Volatility: Selected average absolute month-to-month change was 138% vs 62% baseline—significantly more turbulent.
  • Seasonality alignment: Both series show higher costs around November and a rise into June, but the selected series amplifies these moves, remaining consistently above market.

Understanding COST_PER_APP_INSTALL benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry E-commerce and Italy 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 Italy, 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.

Italy Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 6Epiphany
Apr 20Easter Sunday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25Liberation Day
May 1Labour Day
Jun 2Republic Day
Aug 15Ferragosto
Nov 1All Saints' Day
Dec 8Immaculate Conception
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26St. Stephen's Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas & post‑Christmas sales (late December), Ferragosto (mid‑August) summer tourism, Back‑to‑school (September)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might increase during spring holidays when Italians engage in travel or leisure. Ferragosto may see travel and hospitality ads face high competition while retail CPMs dip. Late November and December see ad demand surges. 'Ponte' long weekends could affect ad pacing with stronger performance on adjacent weekdays.

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.