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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Marketing & Advertising in Australia

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Cost Per App Install for Marketing & Advertising in Australia

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads benchmarks: cost per app install trends

This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Marketing & Advertising and target country Australia 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

  • Australia (Marketing & Advertising) ran well below the global baseline across Q4 2024, averaging roughly 86% lower cost per app install.
  • Selected costs declined steadily through Q4, ending December 47.2% below October, while the global baseline spiked sharply in November before easing in December.
  • Volatility was moderate in Australia (average month-to-month change 25%), versus very high in the global baseline (85% average month-to-month change).
  • Seasonal effects: the global pattern shows a Q4 surge (notably November), whereas Australia’s selected series trended down into December.

About the data

  • Metric: cost per app install (monthly medians).
  • Selected segment: Marketing & Advertising in Australia.
  • Baseline: global all-industry, all-country median.

Selected data highlights (Australia, Marketing & Advertising)

  • Average (Oct–Dec 2024): 1.37
  • High: 1.69 in October 2024
  • Low: 0.89 in December 2024
  • Change from first to last month: -47.2% (1.69 → 0.89)
  • Month-to-month movements:
  • Oct → Nov: -8.8% (1.69 → 1.54)
  • Nov → Dec: -42.1% (1.54 → 0.89)
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change of 25.4%, with the main dip in December.

Comparison with the global baseline (overlapping months)

  • Global average (Oct–Dec 2024): 9.67 (vs. Australia 1.37), placing Australia about 86% below the global level.
  • High/low:
  • Baseline high: 14.28 in November 2024
  • Baseline low: 6.20 in October 2024
  • Even Australia’s high (1.69) sits well below the baseline low (6.20).
  • Trend:
  • Baseline rose +130.6% from October to November (6.20 → 14.28), then fell -40.3% into December (14.28 → 8.52), netting a +37.6% increase across the quarter.
  • Australia moved in the opposite direction, declining each month and finishing December 47.2% below October.
  • Volatility comparison:
  • Australia: 25.4% average month-to-month absolute change.
  • Baseline: 85.5% average month-to-month absolute change.

Seasonal context

  • Global patterns typically show Q4 pressure around major shopping periods. The baseline reflects this with a pronounced spike in November.
  • Australia’s selected series did not follow the global Q4 upswing; instead, it eased through November and dropped sharply in December.
  • Additional context from the global baseline beyond the overlap: costs remained elevated in 2025 with notable highs, peaking at 26.21 in June 2025, indicating sustained variability globally even after Q4.

Summary

For Marketing & Advertising in Australia, cost per app install was consistently below market in Q4 2024, with a clear downward trajectory and moderate volatility, diverging from the global pattern that spiked in November. Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Marketing & Advertising and Australia 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. For campaigns targeting Australia, advertisers typically see good engagement rates despite moderate costs. 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.

Australia Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 27Australia Day (observed)
Apr 18‑21Easter weekend
Apr 25Anzac Day
Jun 9King's Birthday
Oct 6Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late December (Christmas and Boxing Day), Early December (Cyber Monday), January (Back-to-school), May (Mother's Day)

Potential Advertising Impact

Ad costs could spike around major holidays, especially Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas. Increased budgets and earlier scheduling may be necessary. Retailers should consider planning promotions around back-to-school and Mother's Day to maximize campaign effectiveness.

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.