Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Nonprofit in South Africa

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

Cost Per App Install for Nonprofit in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost per app install benchmarks — Nonprofit in South Africa vs. global baseline

This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Nonprofit and target country South Africa 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

  • Nonprofit in South Africa sits well above market: the average cost per app install (CPI) in the selected data is 878.79, roughly 74x higher than the global baseline average of 11.85 over the same period.
  • The selected series shows a sharp decline from September 2024 into early 2025 (-69% from first to last observed month), suggesting costs have been normalizing after a high early peak.
  • Baseline costs rise into mid–late year, peaking in June 2025 and staying elevated through September, pointing to a mid-year seasonal lift globally.
  • Volatility: the selected series’ month-to-month shifts across available consecutive months average about 37% in absolute terms, versus the baseline which exhibits frequent swings ranging from -53% to +213%.

Selected market overview (Nonprofit, South Africa)

  • Average CPI: 878.79 across three observed months.
  • High/low: peaked at 1,604.20 in September 2024; lowest at 496.03 in February 2025 (range: 1,108.17).
  • Trend and volatility:
  • September 2024 to January 2025: -66.6% (1,604.20 → 536.15).
  • January 2025 to February 2025: -7.5% (536.15 → 496.03).
  • First-to-last change: -69.1%.
  • Notable pattern: a very high September followed by sustained declines into early 2025 suggests a cooling phase and early-year stability at a lower level.

Global baseline comparison

  • Baseline average CPI (Sep 2024–Sep 2025): 11.85.
  • High/low: highest at 26.21 in June 2025; lowest at 1.98 in September 2024 (range: 24.23).
  • First-to-last change: +1,061% (1.98 in Sep 2024 to 22.99 in Sep 2025).
  • Seasonality and volatility:
  • Strong mid-year spike: +151% from May to June (10.43 → 26.21), followed by a -53% correction in July.
  • Late-summer/early-fall remains elevated (August 15.00; September 22.99).
  • Q4 2024 mixed: November lifted (14.28) then December eased (8.52).
  • Relative positioning of the selected market versus baseline (by month):
  • Sep 2024: ~810x above market (1,604.20 vs. 1.98).
  • Jan 2025: ~84x above market (536.15 vs. 6.36).
  • Feb 2025: ~44x above market (496.03 vs. 11.36).
  • The gap narrows over time but remains substantially above global levels.

What the patterns suggest

  • The selected series indicates a high September level with subsequent declines into January–February, while the global benchmark shows its strongest costs mid-year (June) and elevated late summer/early fall.
  • Overall, Nonprofit in South Africa remains above market throughout the observed months, though the differential diminishes from September into early 2025.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Nonprofit and South Africa 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 Nonprofit industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting South Africa, advertisers should consider local market factors and user behavior. 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.

South Africa Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 21Human Rights Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Family Day
Apr 27Freedom Day
May 1Workers' Day
Jun 16Youth Day
Aug 9National Women's Day
Sep 24Heritage Day
Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Day of Goodwill

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas & Day of Goodwill), Mid-year retail (June Youth Day promotions)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during long weekends like Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and Heritage Day as leisure and travel-related media consumption increases. Retail CPMs may spike in late November–December for holiday shopping. Youth Day and National Women's Day might drive regional campaigns. Weekend extensions across public holidays may benefit weekend campaigns.

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.