Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Entertainment in Canada

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

Cost Per App Install for Entertainment in Canada

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for the Entertainment industry in Canada compared to the global trend.
  • Overall, Canada’s Entertainment cost per app install averaged 21.44 across Oct 2024–Aug 2025 versus the global average of 11.74—driven by an exceptional Q4 spike. From December onward, costs were consistently and substantially below global levels.
  • Volatility was high: average absolute month-over-month change was 105% in Canada vs 61.7% globally.
  • Seasonal patterns are visible: a sharp Q4 lift in October–November for Canada, and a mid-year peak in June for the global baseline.

What the time series shows

  • Average and typical levels:
  • Average (Oct–Aug): 21.44; median across months: 1.27.
  • Highs and lows:
  • High: 167.42 in Oct 2024; low: 0.73 in Mar 2025.
  • Trend from start to end:
  • From 167.42 in Oct 2024 to 3.55 in Aug 2025: down 97.9%.
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • Oct→Nov: -70.3%; Nov→Dec: -98.1%.
  • Dec→Jan: +466%; Jul→Aug: +180.3%.

In short, Canada’s Entertainment cost per app install was extremely elevated in Oct–Nov 2024, then reset to very low levels from December onward, with a modest uptick in August 2025.

How it compares to the global baseline

  • Average levels (Oct–Aug):
  • Canada (Entertainment): 21.44; Global: 11.74 → Canada +82.6% on average across the full period.
  • However, from Dec–Aug specifically, Canada averaged 2.08 vs Global 12.07 → 82.8% below global.
  • Highs and lows (Global):
  • High: 26.21 in Jun 2025; low: 6.20 in Oct 2024.
  • Start to end (Oct→Aug): +142.1% (6.20 to 15.00).
  • Monthly positioning vs global:
  • Above market in Oct (≈27× higher) and Nov (≈3.5× higher).
  • Below market Dec–Aug by 76%–96% each month (below in 9 of 11 months overall).
  • Volatility:
  • Canada avg abs MoM change: 105.3%; Global: 61.7% → Canada more volatile.

Seasonal patterns and volatility

  • Q4: Costs typically increase in Q4 around holiday periods. Canada’s Entertainment series shows a pronounced spike in Oct–Nov, followed by an unusual drop in December to 0.95—well below the global December level (8.52).
  • Mid-year: The global trend peaked in June (26.21) before easing in July, consistent with many markets’ mid-year competition.
  • Stability: After December, Canada’s Entertainment costs remained low and relatively steady through July, with a late-summer uptick in August (3.55).

Summary for marketers

Canada’s Entertainment cost per app install displayed an outlier surge in early Q4 2024, then settled far below global benchmarks for the remainder of the period. Median monthly cost (1.27) underscores how atypical the October–November spike was relative to the rest of the year. Understanding COST_PER_APP_INSTALL benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Entertainment 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 Entertainment industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. 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.

Optimize Smarter with Superads

Improve your Facebook ad performance

Instant performance insights – See which ads, audiences, and creatives drive results.

Data-driven creative decisions – Spot patterns to improve ROAS.

Effortless reporting – No spreadsheets, just clear insights.

Get Started for free →

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.