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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Manufacturing in South Africa

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Cost Per App Install for Manufacturing in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Main takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Manufacturing and target country South Africa compared to the global trend; the analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • No in-market observations were available for Manufacturing in South Africa during the period provided, so relative positioning versus the global baseline cannot be determined.
  • The global baseline shows high volatility from Oct 2024 to Sep 2025, with a sharp Q4 lift in November and pronounced mid-year spikes (June and September).
  • Across the baseline, the metric rose markedly from start to end of the period (+271%), indicating a clear upward shift in average costs.

Scope and data coverage

  • Metric: cost-per-app-install
  • Industry: Manufacturing
  • Country: South Africa (ZA)
  • Selected data: no monthly datapoints available in the provided period.
  • Baseline: global, Oct 2024–Sep 2025

Selected data (Manufacturing, South Africa)

  • Observations: 0 months provided.
  • As a result, averages, highs/lows, and volatility for the selected segment cannot be computed from the supplied data.
  • Relative positioning versus the global market (above/below/in line) cannot be established from this extract.

Global baseline overview

  • Period: Oct 2024–Sep 2025 (12 months)
  • Average: 12.67
  • Low: 6.20 (Oct 2024)
  • High: 26.21 (Jun 2025)
  • Change from first to last month: +271% (6.20 to 22.99)
  • Volatility:
  • Average absolute month-to-month change: 6.50
  • Average absolute month-to-month percent change: ~61%
  • Notable swings:
  • Nov 2024 surged +131% vs. Oct (holiday lift typical of Q4).
  • Dec 2024 fell -40% from Nov.
  • Jun 2025 spiked +151% vs. May (period high).
  • Jul 2025 dropped -53% vs. Jun.
  • Sep 2025 rose +53% vs. Aug.

Seasonality and patterns in the baseline

  • Q4: Costs rose sharply in November, aligning with heavier competition and holiday-related pressure; December cooled from the November peak.
  • Mid-year: A pronounced spike in June (period high) and another upswing in September suggest elevated competition in parts of Q2–Q3.
  • Overall: The baseline trend ends substantially higher than it began, with frequent, large month-to-month swings.

Comparison: South Africa Manufacturing vs. global

  • Due to the absence of selected data, we cannot quantify whether South Africa Manufacturing sits above market, below average, or in line with overall trends.
  • The global baseline can serve as a directional reference until in-market data points are available, especially noting the Q4 lift and mid-year spikes.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Manufacturing and South Africa 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 Manufacturing industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting South Africa, 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.

South Africa Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 21Human Rights Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Family Day
Apr 27Freedom Day
May 1Workers' Day
Jun 16Youth Day
Aug 9National Women's Day
Sep 24Heritage Day
Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Day of Goodwill

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas & Day of Goodwill), Mid-year retail (June Youth Day promotions)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during long weekends like Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and Heritage Day as leisure and travel-related media consumption increases. Retail CPMs may spike in late November–December for holiday shopping. Youth Day and National Women's Day might drive regional campaigns. Weekend extensions across public holidays may benefit weekend campaigns.

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.