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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Manufacturing

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

Cost Per App Install for Manufacturing

February 2025 - February 2026

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

Global cost-per-install for Facebook Ads told a restless story over the past 13 months: a low starting point, a sharp early-summer surge, a late-year cool-down, and a fresh January rebound. Across all countries, median Cost Per App Install (CPI) averaged about $13.58, with a wide range from $7.10 in January 2025 to a high of $23.76 in June. Month-to-month swings were meaningful, with average absolute changes of roughly $4.50, and several standout pivots shaping the year’s rhythm.

This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks. This analysis explores ad performance trends for Manufacturing across all countries compared to the global benchmark. Because the selected geography aggregates all countries and the available series reflects the global median, the gap to the benchmark is effectively neutral in this view; industry-specific divergence is not visible in the provided time series.

Section 1: The story in the data

The year opened at a bargain-level $7.10 CPI in January 2025, climbed to $11.63 in February, and retraced to $8.92 in March—an early-quarter wobble. Momentum accelerated through spring: April rose to $13.51 and May held at $12.32 before CPI spiked to $23.76 in June, the period’s highest reading and more than triple January’s low.

That peak didn’t last. July fell sharply to $10.77 (down nearly $13 from June), then costs rebuilt into a mid-teens band: $15.61 in August, $16.17 in September, and $16.39 in October. The final quarter softened from that peak—$14.57 in November and a notable dip to $10.43 in December—before January 2026 rebounded to $15.39. From the first to the last observed month, CPI effectively more than doubled (+117%), underscoring a market that ended materially above where it began.

Quarterly averages illustrate the arc:

  • Q1 2025 averaged $9.22,
  • Q2 jumped to $16.53 (+79% vs. Q1),
  • Q3 eased to $14.18,
  • Q4 settled at $13.80,
  • and January 2026 printed above the 2025 average at $15.39.

Section 2: Seasonal and monthly dynamics

The pattern resembles a classic install market cadence, but with a twist in late Q4. Q1 set the year’s floor, with softer CPIs that firmed into spring and culminated in a pronounced June spike. The market rebalanced in Q3, finding a mid-teens equilibrium that persisted into October. Rather than intensifying into December, CPI loosened—December marked one of the softer months of the year—before re-tightening in January.

Monthly volatility averaged about $4.50, with extreme whipsaws in May–July (a +$11.43 jump into June, followed by a −$12.99 correction in July). Outside of that window, shifts were more measured, especially August through November, where movements narrowed to within roughly $0.22–$4.96.

Section 3: Country vs. Global

With the country set to “all countries,” the selected view aligns with the global benchmark in geography. In the available data, the series presented is the global median itself, so the relative gap between Manufacturing across all countries and the overall market cannot be quantified here. Trend-wise, the market-level CPI rose steadily from Q1 to Q2, then moderated through Q3 and Q4, ending with a January lift—an arc that frames how industry ad performance likely navigated broader auction dynamics. Any above- or below-market positioning for Manufacturing is not separately captured in this dataset.

Closing

For performance marketers and creative strategists, these Facebook Ads benchmarks for cost per app install highlight a year defined by a June surge, a late-year cooldown, and a January reset, with average CPI near $13.58 and substantial midyear volatility. Understanding cost-per-install trends for the Manufacturing industry across all countries helps contextualize Facebook Ads performance against global patterns and seasonality.

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 Manufacturing 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.