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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Retail in India

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Cost Per App Install for Retail in India

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads benchmarks: cost-per-app-install

This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Retail and target country India 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

  • No in-segment data: The Retail industry in India has no available monthly readings in the selected period, so in-segment averages, highs/lows, and volatility cannot be computed.
  • Global baseline (all industries/countries) averaged 11.85 cost-per-app-install (median 11.36), ranging from 1.98 to 26.21.
  • Volatility was high: the average month-to-month swing was 6.31, roughly 53% of the mean, with notable spikes in June 2025 and September 2025.
  • Seasonal pattern: Q4 showed a holiday-related bump, peaking in November 2024 before easing in December and January.
  • From September 2024 to September 2025, the global baseline rose by about 1,062%, largely due to an exceptionally low starting point in September 2024.

What we analyzed

  • Metric: cost-per-app-install
  • Industry: Retail
  • Country: India
  • Comparison: selected segment versus the global baseline (ALL industries, ALL countries)

Global baseline overview

  • Average: 11.85; median: 11.36.
  • High: 26.21 in June 2025; second-highest: 22.99 in September 2025.
  • Low: 1.98 in September 2024.
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change of 6.31; the largest jump occurred from May to June 2025 (+15.78), followed by a sharp correction in July (-13.86).
  • Seasonal pattern: Q4 costs rose into November 2024 (14.28) before softening in December (8.52) and January (6.36). Costs then oscillated through spring, spiking in June, normalizing in July, ticking up in August (15.00), and rising again in September (22.99).
  • First-to-last month change (Sep 2024 → Sep 2025): +1,062%, highlighting a strong upward trajectory off a low base.

Selected segment: Retail in India

  • Data availability: No monthly observations were recorded for the Retail industry in India in the provided timeframe. As a result, averages, highs/lows, volatility, and month-over-month trends for the selected segment cannot be reported.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Relative position: Not determinable. With no in-segment data for Retail in India, we cannot assess whether the segment is above market, below average, or in line with overall trends.
  • Context: If and when segment data becomes available, it can be benchmarked against the global range (1.98–26.21 over the period) and the observed seasonal lift in Q4, with particular attention to spikes seen in June and early fall.

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

India Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 26Republic Day
Mar 14Holi
Apr 18Good Friday
May 1Labour Day
Aug 15Independence Day
Oct 2Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
Oct 21Diwali
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

October (Diwali), Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas), July–August (Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPMs might spike significantly during Diwali, especially in electronics, apparel, jewellery, and gifts. Black Friday/Cyber Monday and December could drive elevated ad competition. State-specific festivals might see regional campaign spikes. Bank closures during holidays may push online shopping to cluster in end-of-week periods.

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.