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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Education

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Cost Per App Install for Education

November 2024 - November 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

Education app install costs ran well above the global benchmark and grew markedly over the year, with a clear lift through spring, a sharp back-to-school surge in Q3, and a volatile finish into Q4. The median Cost Per App Install (CPI) for Education across all countries started at $41.47 in November 2024 and ended at $126.91 in November 2025, a +206% rise. Peaks clustered in late summer and early fall, while the lowest points appeared around the year’s turn. 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 Education across all countries compared to the global benchmark.

The story in the data

Across the 13-month window, Education CPI averaged $88.60 per install, ranging from a low of $25.02 in January 2025 to a high of $188.26 in September 2025. The path was choppy: a December–January trough ($27.79 → $25.02) rebounded into March ($68.27), then jumped again in April ($125.88). After a brief correction in May ($68.59), costs surged to $147.90 in June, eased in July ($82.35), and accelerated through August ($132.30) to the September peak. October saw the steepest single-month drawdown (−$111), followed by a November rebound to $126.91.

Volatility was pronounced. The average absolute month-to-month move was roughly $48.85—about 55% of the series mean—signaling large swings in acquisition costs. Three “step-change” increases exceeded $50 (April, June, September), while October delivered the year’s sharpest pullback.

Seasonal and monthly dynamics

Seasonally, Education CPI was softest from late Q4 into early Q1, consistent with lower conversion intensity during holiday and post-holiday periods. Momentum built through spring, with a notable lift in April and early summer. The strongest period was Q3: July–September averaged roughly $135 per install, with the series topping out in September—more than 7.5x the January low. Performance then cooled in October before stabilizing higher in November. This rhythm aligns with Education’s back-to-school window, where competition tends to elevate app install pricing, while early Q1 typically represents a trough.

Country vs. Global

Compared to the global all-industry benchmark, Education across all countries remained decisively above market throughout. The global baseline averaged $15.91 CPI with relatively modest swings (average monthly move: $6.29). In contrast, Education averaged 5.6x higher ($88.60) and was meaningfully more volatile.

The gap widened as the year progressed. In November–December 2024, Education ran about 2.2–2.4x above global levels (+121% to +137%). By spring and late summer 2025, the premium expanded: April (+754% vs. global) and September (+729%) marked the widest differentials at 8.5x and 8.3x, respectively. October briefly narrowed the spread to 3.7x before November re-widened to 7.4x. While the global trend was mostly stable—ending near where it began (−2% from November 2024 to November 2025)—Education climbed steadily overall, up +206% from start to finish.

Closing

In sum, Facebook Ads benchmarks for Cost Per App Install in the Education industry across all countries show elevated and increasingly volatile pricing versus the global baseline, with pronounced seasonality around the back-to-school period. These CPI trends, alongside broader CPM analysis and CTR performance context, help frame country-specific ad costs within industry ad performance norms for Education at a global scale.

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 Education industry, Facebook ad costs can be moderate, with higher costs for professional and specialized courses. Geographic targeting affects ad costs based on market competition and user engagement in different regions. 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.

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.