Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Marketing & Advertising

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

Cost Per App Install for Marketing & Advertising

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Marketing & Advertising 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.
  • The selected data shows very low costs in Q4 2024 (well below market), followed by an extreme spike in July 2025 and a partial correction in August 2025.
  • Against the global baseline, the selected series is below average in Q4, then swings sharply above market in mid–late summer 2025.
  • Volatility in the selected series is high, driven by a July surge; baseline volatility is moderate with a June peak and elevated September.

Selected data highlights

  • Average and median: The average cost-per-app-install across available months is $28.89, while the median is $1.69, indicating that a July outlier skews the mean upward.
  • Highs and lows: Lowest cost is $0.89 (December 2024). Highest cost is $106.36 (July 2025).
  • Range and volatility: The range spans $105.47 from low to high. Month-to-month changes: October to November -8.8%, November to December -42.1%, December to July +11,845% (spike), July to August -68.1%.
  • Trend from first to last month: From October 2024 ($1.69) to August 2025 ($33.98), costs increased by about +1,915%.
  • Notable movements: A steady Q4 2024 decline culminates in the December low, followed by a dramatic surge in July 2025 and a sizeable pullback in August.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Relative level (overlapping months):
  • October 2024: -72.8% vs baseline
  • November 2024: -89.2%
  • December 2024: -89.6%
  • July 2025: +760.8%
  • August 2025: +126.5%
  • Averages: Over the same five overlapping months, the selected average is $28.89 vs a baseline average of $11.27. However, the selected median ($1.69) is well below the baseline median ($12.35), underscoring that most months sit below market with a single extreme surge.
  • Baseline context (full period provided): The global baseline averages $12.67, with a low of $6.20 (October 2024) and a high of $26.21 (June 2025). From October 2024 to September 2025, the baseline rises by +271%.

Seasonal patterns and volatility signals

  • Q4: Baseline shows a typical holiday lift in November ($14.28) followed by a December cooldown ($8.52). In contrast, the selected data declines through Q4, hitting its lowest point in December.
  • Mid-year: The baseline peaks in June and remains elevated in September, pointing to mid-year pressure. The selected data exhibits an extreme July jump (well above market), then cools in August but remains higher than the baseline.
  • Overall positioning: The selected series is below market in Q4 and far above market in July–August, indicating sharp, non-linear cost dynamics relative to the global trend.

Understanding COST_PER_APP_INSTALL benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Marketing & Advertising 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 Marketing & Advertising 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.