Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Public Safety 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 Public Safety in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-app-install benchmarks: Public Safety in South Africa vs. global

This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Public Safety in 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

  • Data availability: No in-market observations are available for Public Safety in South Africa during the period provided, so direct local benchmarks (averages, highs/lows, volatility) cannot be computed. The global baseline is used for directional context.
  • Global level: Across Sep 2024–Sep 2025, global median cost-per-app-install averaged about 11.85. The lowest month was September 2024 at 1.98, and the highest was June 2025 at 26.21.
  • Trend and volatility: From September 2024 to September 2025, global costs rose by roughly +1,061% (1.98 to 22.99). Month-to-month swings were frequent, including large spikes in October (+213% vs. September), November (+130% vs. October), and June (+151% vs. May), and notable dips in December (−40% vs. November) and July (−53% vs. June).
  • Seasonality: The baseline shows a typical Q4 uplift (peaking in November) and elevated costs mid-year, with a pronounced spike in June. Late Q3 (August–September) also remained elevated vs. early-year levels.

Selected market: Public Safety in South Africa

  • Coverage: The selected dataset contains no observations for Public Safety in South Africa in the months provided. As a result, we cannot report a local average, high, low, month-to-month volatility, or first-to-last change for South Africa specifically.
  • Interpretation: With no country-industry data points, relative positioning (“above market,” “below average,” or “in line with overall trends”) cannot be determined for this selection.

Global baseline overview (directional context)

  • Time window: September 2024 to September 2025 (13 monthly medians).
  • Average: 11.85
  • Low and high: 1.98 (Sep 2024) to 26.21 (Jun 2025), a range of 24.23.
  • First-to-last change: +1,061% (1.98 to 22.99).
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • Spikes: Oct 2024 (+213% vs. Sep), Nov 2024 (+130% vs. Oct), Feb 2025 (+79% vs. Jan), Apr 2025 (+68% vs. Mar), Jun 2025 (+151% vs. May), Sep 2025 (+53% vs. Aug).
  • Dips: Dec 2024 (−40% vs. Nov), Jan 2025 (−25% vs. Dec), Mar 2025 (−40% vs. Feb), May 2025 (−9% vs. Apr), Jul 2025 (−53% vs. Jun).
  • Seasonal patterns:
  • Q4 uplift: Costs rose into November before easing in December.
  • Mid-year peak: June delivered the period’s highest CPI.
  • Late Q3 strength: August–September stayed above the annual average.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Because the South Africa–Public Safety selection has no data points, we cannot quantify how local CPI sits relative to the global baseline (above market, below average, or in line). The global series indicates a volatile environment with seasonal peaks in Q4 and a pronounced mid-year spike.

Understanding COST_PER_APP_INSTALL benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Public Safety 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 Public Safety 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.