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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Public Safety in Canada

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Cost Per App Install for Public Safety in Canada

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Public Safety in Canada shows cost per app install consistently above market, averaging about 2.8x the global baseline across matched months.
  • Marked volatility is present: a modest uptick from October to November (+5%) followed by a sharp spike by May (+130% vs November; +142% vs October).
  • The global baseline indicates seasonal lift in November (pre‑holiday) with pullbacks in December–January and pronounced spikes mid-year (June) and early fall (September).
  • The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Scope and framing

This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Public Safety and target country Canada compared to the global trend. We summarize monthly medians and compare the selected series against the global baseline over overlapping months.

Public Safety in Canada: trend highlights

  • Average across available months (Oct 2024, Nov 2024, May 2025): 29.30.
  • High/low: high in May 2025 at 47.55; low in October 2024 at 19.65. Range: 27.90.
  • Change from first to last observed month: +142% (19.65 in Oct 2024 to 47.55 in May 2025).
  • Month-to-month movements:
  • Oct → Nov 2024: +5% (19.65 → 20.71).
  • Nov 2024 → May 2025: +130% (20.71 → 47.55).
  • Dispersion: coefficient of variation ~54%, indicating high variability for the period observed.
  • Notable spike: May 2025 stands out as a significant peak, more than double the October–November levels.

Comparison with the global baseline

For the overlapping months (Oct 2024, Nov 2024, May 2025):

  • Averages: 29.30 (Public Safety, Canada) vs 10.30 (global) — approximately 2.84x higher.
  • High/low: 47.55 vs 14.28 (highs), and 19.65 vs 6.20 (lows). Canada remains above market throughout.
  • Relative positioning by month:
  • Oct 2024: 19.65 vs 6.20 — ~3.17x above baseline.
  • Nov 2024: 20.71 vs 14.28 — ~45% above baseline.
  • May 2025: 47.55 vs 10.43 — ~4.56x above baseline.
  • Volatility comparison:
  • Public Safety, Canada: mild increase into November, then a steep surge by May.
  • Global baseline: sharp November lift (+131% Oct → Nov), then a decrease into May (–27% Nov → May).
  • First-to-last change (Oct → May): +142% for Canada vs +69% for the global baseline.

Seasonality signals

  • Global baseline shows a holiday‑period lift in November (6.20 → 14.28), followed by a pullback in December (8.52) and January (6.36).
  • Outside Q4, the baseline exhibits strong mid‑year pressure (June 2025 peak at 26.21) and another rise into September (22.99).
  • The Canadian Public Safety series aligns with a late‑period cost surge, culminating in a pronounced May spike, while remaining above market levels throughout the observed months.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Public Safety and Canada 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 Public Safety industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting Canada, 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.

Canada Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Feb (3rd Mon)Family Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday (federal)
May (Victoria Day)Victoria Day
Jul 1Canada Day
Sep (1st Mon)Labour Day
Oct (2nd Mon)Thanksgiving
Nov 11Remembrance Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), December (holiday shopping, Boxing Day), Back-to-school (August-September), Mother's Day (May)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM might increase during Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving. Black Friday and Cyber Monday see heightened e‑commerce bidding. December holiday period may spike ad costs. Back-to-school and Mother's Day drive retail competition. Provincial holidays might alter weekday inventory availability.

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.