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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Marketplaces in United States

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Cost Per App Install for Marketplaces in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost per app install benchmarks: Marketplaces in the United States vs. global

This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks. It looks at cost per app install trends for industry Marketplaces and target country United States compared to the global trend.

  • Overall level: United States Marketplaces ran below market on average (10.61 vs. 11.74), but with sharper peaks and troughs.
  • Volatility: United States data was highly volatile (average month‑to‑month absolute change ~90%) versus the global baseline (~62%).
  • Seasonality: A pronounced Q4 spike in November followed by a sharp December dip; mid‑year costs rose into July before easing in August. Globally, costs also rose in November and peaked in June.
  • Relative positioning: United States Marketplaces was below average in 8 of 11 months; above market only in October 2024, November 2024, and July 2025.
  • Net trend: From October 2024 to August 2025, United States costs rose 29%, while the global series rose 142% over the same window.

What we analyzed

  • Metric: cost per app install
  • Industry: Marketplaces
  • Country: United States
  • Period: October 2024 to August 2025
  • Baseline: Global, all industries and countries over the same months

United States Marketplaces: trend highlights

  • Average: 10.61 across 11 months.
  • High: 45.88 in November 2024 (a +539% jump from October).
  • Low: 3.64 in December 2024 (−92% from November).
  • Range: 42.24 between the highest and lowest months.
  • First-to-last change: +29% from October 2024 (7.19) to August 2025 (9.28).
  • Volatility: Average absolute month-to-month change of ~90%. Excluding the November spike, the average level was 7.08, illustrating how one outlier month lifted the period average.
  • Notable movements:
  • Q4: Surged in November, then dropped sharply in December.
  • 2025: Gradual rebuild from January through June, peaking again in July (14.07) before easing in August (9.28).

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average level: Global 11.74 vs. United States 10.61 (United States ~9.6% below market).
  • High/low: Global high in June 2025 (26.21) and low in October 2024 (6.20). The United States high was far higher (45.88 in November), but lows were lower (3.64 in December).
  • Volatility: United States more erratic (90% average MoM change) than the global series (62%).
  • Seasonal patterns:
  • Q4: Both series rise in November. United States Marketplaces averaged 18.90 in Q4 (Oct–Dec) vs. 9.67 globally—about 96% higher, driven by the November spike.
  • H1 2025: United States averaged 6.11 vs. 12.13 globally—about 50% below market, indicating a softer first half relative to the global trend.
  • Relative performance by month: United States exceeded global in 3 of 11 months (October 2024, November 2024, July 2025) and trailed in the remaining 8 months, particularly June and August 2025.

Understanding COST_PER_APP_INSTALL benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Marketplaces and United States 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 Marketplaces industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting United States, advertisers often face higher costs due to high competition and purchasing power. 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.

United States Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 20Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 17Presidents' Day
May 26Memorial Day
Jun 19Juneteenth
Jul 4Independence Day
Sep 1Labor Day
Oct 13Columbus Day
Nov 11Veterans Day
Nov 27Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Thanksgiving & Black Friday weekend), December (Christmas), Back-to-school (July–September), Summer travel season (Memorial Day onwards)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, especially in travel and entertainment. Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend triggers massive spikes in retail ad competition. December ad demand typically peaks—retail campaigns require significantly higher budgets. Back-to-school promotions drive increased competition. Juneteenth may see regional engagement rise.

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.