Facebook Ads Insights Tool

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

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

Cost Per App Install for Nonprofit in United States

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, this analysis looks at cost per app install trends for the Nonprofit industry in the United States versus the global trend on Facebook Ads.
  • Overall level: the United States Nonprofit median cost per app install averaged 393.61 across the observed months—about 47x above the global baseline average (8.37). The median month was 167.29 versus a global median of 6.87 (~24x higher).
  • Volatility: month-to-month absolute changes averaged 390.67 in the selected data versus 5.73 in the baseline, indicating extreme variability.
  • Seasonality: the global baseline shows a clear Q4 build (peaking in November) and a softer January, whereas the selected data shows an October-to-November rise, a January spike, a sharp February dip, and a rebound in March.
  • Trend: from September 2024 to April 2025, the selected series fell 90.7%, while the global baseline increased 481% over the same window.

What the selected United States Nonprofit series looks like

  • Average: 393.61; median: 167.29.
  • High: 1,604.20 in September 2024 (a clear outlier).
  • Low: 0.77 in February 2025.
  • First to last change: down 90.7% from September 2024 (1,604.20) to April 2025 (149.18).
  • Volatility: average month-to-month absolute shift of 390.67. Notable moves include:
  • Down 91.7% from September to October.
  • Up from 133.05 in October to 289.75 in November.
  • Up to 411.04 in January, then a collapse to 0.77 in February.
  • A sharp rebound to 167.29 in March, easing to 149.18 in April.
  • Typical range outside the September and February outliers sits between roughly 133 and 411 (October–April).

How it compares to the global baseline

  • Across overlapping months (Sep 2024–Apr 2025), the selected average (393.61) was ~47x the global average (8.37). Using medians, the gap is ~24x (167.29 vs 6.87).
  • Highs and lows:
  • Selected high: 1,604.20 (Sep 2024) vs global high: 14.28 (Nov 2024).
  • Selected low: 0.77 (Feb 2025) vs global low: 1.98 (Sep 2024).
  • Relative positioning by month:
  • Above market in 6 of 7 months: Sep (~810x), Oct (~21x), Nov (~20x), Jan (~65x), Mar (~24x), Apr (~13x).
  • Below market only in February (0.77 vs 11.36; ~93% below).
  • Volatility comparison: the selected month-to-month absolute change (390.67) dwarfs the global baseline (5.73), underscoring far greater instability in the United States Nonprofit series.

Seasonal patterns in context

  • Global seasonality is evident: costs typically rise into Q4, peaking in November (14.28), then soften in January before firming again in February and April.
  • The selected United States Nonprofit data partially mirrors the Q4 uptick (October to November rise) but diverges with an elevated January and an exceptional February trough, followed by a strong March recovery.

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