Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks in India

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

Cost Per App Install in India

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-app-install benchmarks: monthly trends and global comparison

This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry All industries available 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.

Key takeaways

  • India’s cost-per-app-install (CPI) is below market overall: average 5.37 versus the global 10.79, and below the global baseline in 9 of 11 months.
  • The India series is highly skewed by two spikes (January and especially June). The median in India is just 0.30, underscoring typically low CPIs outside of those peaks.
  • Seasonal pattern diverges from global norms: India remains very low through Q4, then surges in January and June; the global trend rises in Q4 and peaks in June.
  • From September 2024 to August 2025, India’s CPI rose 36% (0.15 to 0.20), while the global baseline rose 658% (1.98 to 15.00).

India overview (All industries available)

  • Range: low of 0.13 (December 2024) and high of 43.21 (June 2025).
  • Central tendency: average 5.37; median 0.30 (May 2025), showing a long right tail due to outliers.
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • January 2025: jump to 9.05 from 0.13 in December (+7,000%+ month over month).
  • June 2025: surge to 43.21 (+14,500% vs. May), the series high.
  • August 2025: normalization to 0.20 (−99.5% from June).
  • Month-to-month volatility is elevated, with extended periods of sub-0.50 CPIs punctuated by brief, extreme surges.

Comparison with the global baseline

  • Average and median:
  • India average 5.37 vs. global 10.79 (about 50% below market).
  • India median 0.30 vs. global median 10.43, indicating India is typically far cheaper for app installs.
  • Highs and lows:
  • India high 43.21 (June) vs. global high 26.21 (June).
  • India low 0.13 (December) vs. global low 1.98 (September).
  • Relative positioning by month:
  • India is below the global baseline in 9 of 11 observed months.
  • Above-market months in India: January (9.05 vs. 6.36 global) and June (43.21 vs. 26.21 global).
  • Trend direction:
  • India: +36% from first to last observed month (September to August).
  • Global: +658% over the same window, with a broad climb through late 2024 and a strong mid-2025 peak.

Seasonality and volatility signals

  • Global seasonality shows higher CPIs in Q4 (notably November) and a pronounced peak in June.
  • India diverges from that pattern in Q4 2024, staying very low through December, then experiencing sharp spikes in January and June before reverting to sub-0.25 levels by August.
  • Overall, India’s CPI distribution is characterized by low baselines with intermittent large surges, whereas the global series is consistently higher and more seasonally aligned with Q4 and mid-year peaks.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry All industries available 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. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. 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.

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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.

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.