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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Retail in Italy

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Cost Per App Install for Retail in Italy

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 Italy 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 Italy sits far above market for most observed months. In October–November 2024 it ran 47–67x above the global baseline; by January 2025 it was still ~44% higher than global.
  • Strong seasonal lift is visible in November (Q4 holiday period) for both Italy and the global benchmark. Italy then shows a sharp reset in January.
  • Volatility in Italy is extreme across the observed points, with a +60.5% jump from October to November 2024, followed by a −98.6% drop by January 2025.

Overview of the selected series (Retail, Italy)

Data points available: Oct 2024, Nov 2024, Jan 2025.

  • Average across observed months: 364.31
  • Median across observed months: 416.04
  • High: 667.74 (Nov 2024)
  • Low: 9.15 (Jan 2025)
  • Range: 658.60
  • Change from first to last observed month: −97.8% (416.04 in Oct 2024 to 9.15 in Jan 2025)
  • Month-to-month movement:
  • Oct → Nov 2024: +251.71 (+60.5%)
  • Nov 2024 → Jan 2025: −658.60 (−98.6%)

Seasonality:

  • Clear Q4 surge: average for Oct–Nov 2024 is 541.89, before a sharp January normalization to 9.15. This pattern aligns with typical holiday inflation in Q4.

Global baseline benchmarks

  • Overlapping months (Oct 2024, Nov 2024, Jan 2025):
  • Average: 8.94
  • High: 14.28 (Nov 2024)
  • Low: 6.20 (Oct 2024)
  • Oct → Nov: +130.5%; Nov → Jan: −55.5%; Oct → Jan: +2.65%
  • Full period provided (Sep 2024–Sep 2025) for additional context:
  • Average: 11.85
  • High: 26.21 (Jun 2025)
  • Low: 1.98 (Sep 2024)
  • First to last month: +1061% (1.98 → 22.99)

Seasonality:

  • The global series also shows a Q4 lift (Nov), with further peaks in mid-year (June) and late Q3 (September), underscoring recurring seasonal cost pressures.

How Italy compares to the global baseline

  • Overall level (overlapping months): Italy’s average (364.31) is about 41x above the global average (8.94), clearly above market.
  • By month:
  • Oct 2024: 416.04 vs 6.20 (≈67x above market)
  • Nov 2024: 667.74 vs 14.28 (≈47x above market)
  • Jan 2025: 9.15 vs 6.36 (≈44% above market)
  • Volatility: Italy’s swings are far larger than the global pattern. The global series rises in November and eases off into January, while Italy spikes dramatically in November and drops to a much lower level in January.

Summary

Retail in Italy shows exceptionally high cost per app install relative to the global benchmark, with a pronounced Q4 spike and a steep January normalization. Seasonal dynamics align with broader market patterns, but the absolute levels and volatility in Italy are notably higher. Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Retail and Italy 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 Italy, 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.

Italy Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 6Epiphany
Apr 20Easter Sunday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25Liberation Day
May 1Labour Day
Jun 2Republic Day
Aug 15Ferragosto
Nov 1All Saints' Day
Dec 8Immaculate Conception
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26St. Stephen's Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas & post‑Christmas sales (late December), Ferragosto (mid‑August) summer tourism, Back‑to‑school (September)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might increase during spring holidays when Italians engage in travel or leisure. Ferragosto may see travel and hospitality ads face high competition while retail CPMs dip. Late November and December see ad demand surges. 'Ponte' long weekends could affect ad pacing with stronger performance on adjacent weekdays.

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.