Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Entertainment in India

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

Cost Per App Install for Entertainment in India

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Scope: This analysis looks at cost per app install (CPI) trends for industry Entertainment and target country India 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: Across observed months, India’s Entertainment CPI averages 21.72, versus the global baseline’s 10.38. However, this average is skewed by a single March 2025 spike; the median CPI in India is 0.29, far below the global median (10.43).
  • Volatility: India shows extreme volatility driven by a March surge to 141.82. Average absolute month-over-month change is about 1,380% in India vs roughly 57% globally (over the same months).
  • Seasonality: The global baseline shows typical Q4 elevation (notably November) and strength into late summer. India deviates from this pattern with very low Q4 CPIs and an unusual spike in March 2025.
  • Positioning vs market: India is below market in most observed months (Oct–Dec 2024, Feb, May, Aug 2025), but massively above market in March 2025.

Selected trend overview (Entertainment, India)

  • Average: 21.72; Median: 0.29.
  • High/low: High at 141.82 in March 2025; low at 0.13 in December 2024. Range: 141.69.
  • Start-to-end change: From 0.28 in October 2024 to 0.24 in August 2025, a –14% change.
  • Notable movements:
  • October → November: +186%.
  • November → December: –83%.
  • December → February: +6,321%.
  • February → March: +1,572%.
  • March → May: –99.8%.
  • Excluding March 2025, the average is 1.70, reflecting consistently low CPIs outside the spike.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average (same months): 10.38; Median: 10.43.
  • High/low (same months): High at 15.00 in August 2025; low at 6.20 in October 2024. Start-to-end change: +142% (Oct 2024 to Aug 2025).
  • Relative positioning by month:
  • Oct 2024: 0.28 vs 6.20 (well below market).
  • Nov 2024: 0.79 vs 14.28 (well below market).
  • Dec 2024: 0.13 vs 8.52 (well below market).
  • Feb 2025: 8.48 vs 11.36 (below market).
  • Mar 2025: 141.82 vs 6.87 (far above market).
  • May 2025: 0.29 vs 10.43 (well below market).
  • Aug 2025: 0.24 vs 15.00 (well below market).
  • Volatility comparison: India’s CPI swings are dominated by a single outlier month; the global series remains within a narrower 6.20–15.00 range over the same period.

Seasonality and timing

  • Global pattern: The baseline indicates higher CPIs in Q4 (with a sharp rise in November) and elevated levels into late summer. This aligns with common seasonal cost pressures around major shopping periods and mid-year demand.
  • India (Entertainment): Q4 2024 CPIs remain very low (0.13–0.79), not mirroring global seasonality. The standout feature is an off-season spike in March 2025, followed by a quick reversion to sub-0.30 levels by May and August.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Entertainment and India 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 India, 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.

India Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 26Republic Day
Mar 14Holi
Apr 18Good Friday
May 1Labour Day
Aug 15Independence Day
Oct 2Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
Oct 21Diwali
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

October (Diwali), Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas), July–August (Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPMs might spike significantly during Diwali, especially in electronics, apparel, jewellery, and gifts. Black Friday/Cyber Monday and December could drive elevated ad competition. State-specific festivals might see regional campaign spikes. Bank closures during holidays may push online shopping to cluster in end-of-week periods.

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.