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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for SaaS & Cloud Platforms in Canada

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

Cost Per App Install for SaaS & Cloud Platforms in Canada

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry SaaS & Cloud Platforms and target country Canada compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Main takeaways

  • Overall level: Canada’s SaaS & Cloud Platforms median cost-per-app-install averaged $8.49 across the period, 28% below the global baseline average of $11.85. Median values underscore this gap: $5.40 (selected) vs. $11.36 (baseline).
  • Volatility: Typical month-to-month movement in Canada averaged about 20% when excluding one August outlier, indicating relatively stable performance. Including that spike, volatility jumps to 88%. The global baseline was more volatile overall (≈74% average monthly swing).
  • Seasonality: The global baseline showed a classic Q4 lift, peaking in November, while Canada’s SaaS costs eased through Q4 2024 before troughing in late winter/early spring and then normalizing.
  • Relative positioning: Canada was below market most months, briefly “above market” in September 2024 and August 2025, and roughly in line in October 2024 and January 2025.

Overview of the selected trend

  • Average: $8.49; Median: $5.40.
  • High/low: High at $45.25 (Aug 2025); Low at $3.36 (Mar 2025). Excluding the August anomaly, the effective high is $9.45 (Sep 2024).
  • Trend over time: From $9.45 (Sep 2024) to $6.95 (Sep 2025), a 26.5% decrease.
  • Volatility: Month-to-month absolute changes averaged about 20% outside August. Notable swings included a +54% lift in June 2025 after spring lows, followed by a brief normalization in July.
  • Notable spike: August 2025 surged to $45.25 (≈8.8x July), then reverted to $6.95 in September, suggesting a one-off disturbance rather than a persistent shift.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Baseline average: $11.85; Median: $11.36; High: $26.21 (Jun 2025); Low: $1.98 (Sep 2024).
  • First-to-last change: Baseline climbed from $1.98 (Sep 2024) to $22.99 (Sep 2025), a +1,062% rise, driven by multiple step-ups across the year.
  • Relative monthly positioning:
  • Above market: Sep 2024 ($9.45 vs. $1.98), Aug 2025 ($45.25 vs. $15.00).
  • In line: Oct 2024 ($6.59 vs. $6.20), Jan 2025 ($6.46 vs. $6.36).
  • Below average: All other months, most notably Feb–Jul 2025 where Canada’s medians ranged $3.36–$5.40 against the global $6.87–$26.21.

Seasonality and pattern signals

  • Q4 dynamics: The baseline exhibited the typical holiday lift, with a jump into November and elevated levels through December. Canada’s SaaS costs, by contrast, declined through Q4 2024, then reached their lowest levels Feb–Apr 2025 ($3.36–$3.55).
  • Mid-year movements: Both series rose into summer, but the global baseline spiked sharply in June (highest point), while Canada saw a moderate June rebound and a singular August spike before normalizing in September.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry SaaS & Cloud Platforms and Canada 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 SaaS & Cloud Platforms industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting Canada, 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.

Canada Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Feb (3rd Mon)Family Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday (federal)
May (Victoria Day)Victoria Day
Jul 1Canada Day
Sep (1st Mon)Labour Day
Oct (2nd Mon)Thanksgiving
Nov 11Remembrance Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday and Cyber Monday), December (holiday shopping, Boxing Day), Back-to-school (August-September), Mother's Day (May)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM might increase during Canada Day, Labour Day, and Thanksgiving. Black Friday and Cyber Monday see heightened e‑commerce bidding. December holiday period may spike ad costs. Back-to-school and Mother's Day drive retail competition. Provincial holidays might alter weekday inventory availability.

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.