Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks

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

Cost Per App Install

June 2025 - June 2026

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

Cost-per-app-install (CPI) for All industries in All countries tracked the global benchmark almost perfectly across this 13‑month window, but it told a story of pronounced swings: a steep spike in February 2026 and a deep trough in December 2025 bookended a choppy year. 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 All industries in All countries compared to the global benchmark.

The story in the data

The series started at $18.36 in June 2025 and finished at $11.65 in June 2026 — a net decline of about 36.6%. Monthly medians averaged $15.54 over the period. The high-water mark was February 2026 at $30.13, roughly 94% above the period average; the low was December 2025 at $9.35, about 40% below the average. That gives a high/low spread of roughly 3.2x.

Movements were uneven. Early summer fell quickly from $18.36 (Jun) to $9.95 (Jul), then climbed through autumn into a moderate plateau near $15–16 (Sep–Oct). November dipped to about $14.86, then December hit the year’s low of $9.35. January staged a recovery to $12.83 before the series surged by $17.30 month-over-month to the February peak. After February, CPI eased back into the mid-teens (March–May) with a mild uptick in April ($19.33) and settled to $11.65 in June 2026. Average absolute monthly movement was roughly $5.6, underlining meaningful month-to-month volatility driven largely by the Jan→Feb and Feb→Mar reversals.

Seasonal and monthly dynamics

A clear seasonal rhythm appears: late‑year softness with a December trough, followed by an early‑year rebound and an outsized February spike. Q4 showed softer medians (Oct–Dec ranged from ~$16.43 down to $9.35), while Q1 registered both rebound and disruption (Jan ~$12.83, Feb ~$30.13). Spring months (Mar–May) returned to a mid‑range band around $14–19 before easing into early summer. The pattern reads as a winter trough, an anomalous winter peak in February, then consolidation in spring.

Country vs. Global

Because the selected time series is identical to the baseline, All countries moved in lockstep with the global benchmark — month-to-month deviations were effectively 0%. In relative terms there was no persistent gap above or below the market: the global trend and the All countries series shared the same peaks, troughs, averages and volatility profile. That alignment makes this CPI series a direct reflection of the global picture rather than a divergent country-specific narrative.

Understanding COST_PER_APP_INSTALL benchmarks for All industries in All countries complements broader Facebook Ads benchmarks and sits alongside CPC trends, CPM analysis and CTR performance when mapping industry ad performance and country‑specific ad costs.

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. Different industries see varying ad costs due to market competition, user demographics, and conversion value. 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.