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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Gaming in Italy

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Cost Per App Install for Gaming in Italy

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B worth of aggregated ad spend, Gaming app install costs in Italy sit well below the global benchmark across all overlapping months, by roughly 70–96%.
  • The selected series averages 1.75 per install across observed months, versus 11.27 globally over the same months (about 85% below market).
  • Costs were very low in Q4 2024, dipped in December, then surged into mid–late summer 2025, ending August at the period high.
  • Seasonal patterns are evident: both series show a November lift and December pullback; the global baseline also spikes in early summer (June), while Italy’s costs escalate into July–August.
  • Volatility is meaningful: the selected series jumps +625% from December 2024 to July 2025 and +67% from July to August.

What this analysis covers

This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Gaming and target country Italy compared to the global trend. It uses median monthly values and focuses on the months provided for each series.

Trends in the selected series (Gaming, Italy)

  • Average across observed months: 1.75
  • Median across observed months: 0.70
  • High: 4.45 in 2025-08
  • Low: 0.37 in 2024-12
  • First-to-last change: from 0.56 in 2024-10 to 4.45 in 2025-08, up about +690%.
  • Notable month-to-month moves (across available points):
  • 2024-10 to 2024-11: +24%
  • 2024-11 to 2024-12: −48% (low point)
  • 2024-12 to 2025-07: +625% (sharp rebound into summer)
  • 2025-07 to 2025-08: +67% (peak)
  • Seasonal view:
  • Q4 2024: modest November uptick followed by a December dip.
  • Summer 2025: strong escalation into July–August, culminating in the series high.

Global baseline context

  • Average (full baseline period, 2024-10 to 2025-09): 12.67
  • High: 26.21 in 2025-06; Low: 6.20 in 2024-10
  • First-to-last change: from 6.20 in 2024-10 to 22.99 in 2025-09 (+271%).
  • Volatility highlights: +130% from October to November 2024, −40% in December 2024, +151% in June 2025, −53% in July 2025, +53% in September 2025.
  • Seasonal view: a pronounced November lift, December normalization, and a major early-summer spike in June.

How Italy compares to the global benchmark

  • Averages (overlapping months only): 1.75 (Italy) vs 11.27 (global), Italy about 85% below market.
  • By month (Italy vs global):
  • 2024-10: 0.56 vs 6.20 (≈91% below)
  • 2024-11: 0.70 vs 14.28 (≈95% below)
  • 2024-12: 0.37 vs 8.52 (≈96% below)
  • 2025-07: 2.66 vs 12.35 (≈78% below)
  • 2025-08: 4.45 vs 15.00 (≈70% below)
  • Positioning: Italy’s Gaming cost-per-app-install remains below average in every overlapping month, even at its August peak, indicating consistently more efficient acquisition costs relative to the global baseline.

Seasonality and volatility summary

  • Both series show a Q4 pattern: global costs climb in November and ease in December; Italy mirrors this trend at a much lower level.
  • The global market surges in early summer (June), while Italy’s costs intensify later into July–August.
  • Volatility is present in both series, but the largest single move in the selected data is the +625% jump from December 2024 to July 2025.

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