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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Media in Australia

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

Cost Per App Install for Media in Australia

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks, cost-per-app-install (CPI) in the selected series is far above market levels in early Q1, then collapses in March.
  • Average CPI for the selected series (Jan–Mar 2025) is 306.62, roughly 37x higher than the global baseline average for the same months (8.20).
  • January and February are exceptionally elevated (66x and 44x above the global benchmark), while March drops 56% below the global level.
  • Volatility is extreme in the selected series: average month-to-month swing is ~284 vs ~4.75 for the global baseline, indicating ~60x higher variability.
  • The global baseline shows a moderate Q4 bump (November), a reset in Q1, and higher readings mid-year (June) and early Q3 (September).

What this analysis covers

This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Media and target country Australia compared to the global trend.

Selected time-series highlights (Jan–Mar 2025)

  • Levels:
  • Average: 306.62
  • Median: 420.82
  • High: 496.03 (February 2025)
  • Low: 3.01 (March 2025)
  • Range: 493.02
  • Month-to-month movement:
  • Jan → Feb: +17.9%
  • Feb → Mar: −99.4%
  • First to last (Jan → Mar): −99.3%
  • Interpretation: The series begins at an unusually high CPI in January, rises further in February, then plunges to a very low March reading, signaling outsized short-term volatility.

Global baseline benchmarks

  • Full-period view (Oct 2024–Sep 2025):
  • Average: 12.67
  • High: 26.21 (June 2025)
  • Low: 6.20 (October 2024)
  • Range: 20.02
  • Seasonal pattern: noticeable uptick in November (14.28), moderation in December–January, with higher points in June (26.21) and September (22.99).
  • Q1 focus (Jan–Mar 2025, for comparability):
  • Average: 8.20
  • High/Low: 11.36 (Feb) / 6.36 (Jan)
  • MoM: +78.6% (Jan → Feb), −39.5% (Feb → Mar)
  • Net Jan → Mar: +8.0%

Comparison to the global trend

  • Level comparison (Jan–Mar 2025):
  • Average CPI: 306.62 vs 8.20 (≈37x above market).
  • By month:
  • January: 420.82 vs 6.36 (≈66x above market).
  • February: 496.03 vs 11.36 (≈44x above market).
  • March: 3.01 vs 6.87 (≈56% below market).
  • Volatility:
  • Selected average absolute MoM change ≈ 284 vs baseline ≈ 4.75, highlighting much higher short-term variability than the overall market pattern.
  • Seasonality alignment:
  • The global series shows a modest Q4 increase (November) and a measured Q1 reset, with larger mid-year peaks. The selected series does not mirror this pattern in Q1, instead showing a spike-then-drop.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Media 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 Media 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.