Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Retail in Australia

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

Cost Per App Install for Retail in Australia

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Retail and target country Australia compared to the global trend; the analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • Retail in Australia sits far above market levels for most observed months, driven by a sharp November spike, then normalizes to near/below global averages by May.
  • Marked seasonality appears in November (Q4), with a pronounced surge versus both earlier and later months. The global baseline also shows a Q4 bump and a mid-year rise.
  • Volatility in the selected series is high, with an average absolute month-over-month change of roughly 60.7%, compared to 48.7% for the comparable baseline months.

Trend overview: selected series

  • Period covered: Nov 2024, Jan 2025, Apr 2025, May 2025.
  • Average: 174.51. Median: 78.38 (median better reflects typical months given the November outlier).
  • High: 535.01 in Nov 2024. Low: 6.29 in May 2025. Range: 528.72.
  • Month-by-month:
  • Nov 2024: 535.01 (peak).
  • Jan 2025: 80.59 (−85% vs Nov).
  • Apr 2025: 76.16 (−5% vs Jan).
  • May 2025: 6.29 (−92% vs Apr).
  • Change from first to last observed month: −98.8%.

Notable spikes/dips:

  • A dramatic spike in November (535.01), followed by a sharp correction. By May, costs are at their lowest (6.29), signaling a reset from the Q4 peak.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Global baseline (all months provided): average 11.85, high 26.21 (Jun 2025), low 1.98 (Sep 2024).
  • Baseline for the same months as the selected series (Nov 2024, Jan 2025, Apr 2025, May 2025):
  • Average: 10.65; high: 14.28 (Nov 2024); low: 6.36 (Jan 2025).
  • First-to-last change: −26.9% (vs −98.8% in the selected series).
  • Relative positioning in overlapping months:
  • Nov 2024: 535.01 vs 14.28 (≈37.5x above market).
  • Jan 2025: 80.59 vs 6.36 (≈12.7x above market).
  • Apr 2025: 76.16 vs 11.51 (≈6.6x above market).
  • May 2025: 6.29 vs 10.43 (≈40% below market).
  • Averages:
  • Selected average across all four months (174.51) is ≈16.4x the aligned baseline average (10.65), heavily skewed by November.
  • Looking at 2025 only (Jan–Apr–May), the selected average is 54.35 vs 9.44 baseline (≈5.8x above).

Volatility:

  • Selected average absolute month-over-month change: ≈60.7%.
  • Baseline (same months) average absolute month-over-month change: ≈48.7%.
  • The selected series is more volatile, primarily due to the November spike and the subsequent normalization.

Seasonality and patterns

  • Q4 uplift: Both series show elevated costs around November, consistent with holiday-driven demand. The selected series shows an extreme November peak.
  • Mid-year trends: The global baseline climbs into mid-year (peaking in June), while the selected series falls to its lowest point by May, indicating normalization below the global benchmark at that point.

Conclusion

Across the observed window, Retail in Australia trends well above global cost per app install benchmarks, dominated by a November surge, then converges toward and slightly below the global level by May. Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Retail 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 Retail 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.