Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Gaming

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

Cost Per App Install for Gaming

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads benchmarks: cost per app install trends

This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Gaming and target country all countries available 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: Gaming across all countries averaged $7.10 per app install versus a $12.67 global baseline, sitting about 44% below market across the period.
  • Seasonality: Costs were very low through Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, rose steadily in Q2, and peaked in August 2025. The global baseline spiked earlier, in June, and remained elevated into September.
  • Volatility: The Gaming series moved by an average $4.34 month-to-month (about 61% of its mean), while the baseline moved $6.50 (51% of its mean). Both exhibit substantial swings, with outsized mid-year spikes.
  • Relative position: Gaming was below the global average in 11 of 12 months; August 2025 was the single exception, when Gaming costs nearly doubled the baseline.

Selected series overview (Gaming, all countries)

  • Average: $7.10 across Oct 2024–Sep 2025.
  • High/low: Low of $0.82 in January 2025; high of $29.13 in August 2025. Range: $28.31.
  • First-to-last change: From $2.48 (Oct 2024) to $14.26 (Sep 2025), up roughly +475%.
  • Notable movements:
  • Q4 2024: October $2.48, November $1.10, December $1.52 — persistently low.
  • January dip to $0.82, then a gradual rise through spring: April $6.57, May $6.35, June $7.64.
  • July $10.62 followed by an August surge to $29.13 (+174% vs July), then a September pullback to $14.26 (-51% vs August).
  • Month-to-month absolute change averaged $4.34, highlighting pronounced mid-year volatility.

Baseline comparison (global, all industries and countries)

  • Average: $12.67, with a low of $6.20 (October 2024) and a high of $26.21 (June 2025). First-to-last change: +271%.
  • Seasonality patterns differ:
  • Baseline rose sharply in November ($14.28), eased in early Q1, and then spiked in June ($26.21).
  • Post-spike normalization in July ($12.35) with elevated values into August ($15.00) and September ($22.99).

Relative performance by month

  • Gaming was below market October 2024 through July 2025 and again in September 2025, with the largest discounts in November 2024 (-92%) and January 2025 (-87%).
  • August 2025 was above market by about +94% ($29.13 vs $15.00).
  • The most pronounced divergence points:
  • Baseline spike in June (up ~+151% vs May) vs. Gaming’s peak arriving later in August.
  • Both series show mid-year surges, but the timing and magnitude differ.

What this means for benchmarking

Across all countries available, Gaming’s cost per app install was consistently below the global baseline for most of the year, with a distinct late-summer spike. Costs tended to be lowest in Q4 and early Q1 and increased toward mid-year, echoing broader patterns where costs often rise ahead of key commercial periods.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Gaming and all countries available 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 Gaming industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. 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.