Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Retail in Germany

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

Cost Per App Install for Retail in Germany

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for the Retail industry in Germany compared to the global trend. It is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • Retail Germany sits well above market in November 2024 and modestly above market in January 2025. The average across the two observed months is 22.2x the global baseline for the same months.
  • A sharp seasonal spike is visible in November (Q4), followed by a steep normalization in January. The baseline shows a softer Q4 and a mid‑year peak in June.
  • Volatility in the selected data is extreme across the observed window, driven by the November surge and January reset.

What we analyzed

  • Metric: cost per app install (median by month)
  • Industry: Retail
  • Country: Germany
  • Comparison: Retail Germany (selected data) vs. global baseline (all industries, all countries)

Selected data highlights (Retail, Germany)

  • Average across observed months: 228.85
  • High: 448.56 (November 2024)
  • Low: 9.15 (January 2025)
  • Change from first to last observed month: −98% (from 448.56 in Nov-2024 to 9.15 in Jan-2025)
  • Notable movements:
  • November 2024 stands out as an exceptional spike.
  • By January 2025, costs revert close to broader market levels.

With only two months available, the series shows very high volatility, reflecting a pronounced Q4 surge followed by post-holiday normalization.

Global baseline context

  • Overall average (Sep-2024 to Sep-2025): 11.85
  • High: 26.21 (June 2025)
  • Low: 1.98 (September 2024)
  • Change from Sep-2024 to Sep-2025: +1,061%
  • Seasonal patterns:
  • Q4 rises into November (14.28) but softens in December (8.52) and January (6.36).
  • The strongest spike occurs mid‑year in June (26.21), with elevated late-summer/early-fall levels (August 15.00; September 22.99).

How Retail Germany compares to the global baseline

  • November 2024: 448.56 vs. 14.28 globally — about +3,041% above market (31.4x).
  • January 2025: 9.15 vs. 6.36 globally — about +44% above market (1.44x).
  • Average across overlapping months (Nov & Jan): 228.85 vs. 10.32 globally — about +2,118% above market (22.2x).
  • Month-to-month direction in overlapping months:
  • Selected data fell −98% from Nov to Jan.
  • Baseline fell −55% from Nov to Jan.

Seasonality and volatility signals

  • Selected data indicates a strong Q4 spike (November) typical for holiday-driven demand, with costs normalizing in January.
  • The global baseline shows a more muted Q4 and a pronounced mid‑year surge, suggesting that Retail Germany in November was far above overall trends, while January aligned more closely with broader market levels.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Retail and Germany 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 Germany, 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.

Germany Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
May 1Labour Day
May 29Ascension Day
Jun 9Whit Monday
Oct 3German Unity Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas shopping (late December), Back-to-school (August/September), Spring promotions (Easter period)

Potential Advertising Impact

Media consumption might rise during Easter, Ascension Day, and Pentecost, especially for travel campaigns. Late November and December bring pronounced spikes in retail advertising. German Unity Day often triggers localized campaigns. Regional holidays may create unique local competition. Sunday/holiday retail restrictions may contract ad inventory.

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.