Facebook Ads Insights Tool

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

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 India

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B in Facebook Ads data, cost per app install for SaaS & Cloud Platforms in India sits well above the global baseline: average 24.23 vs 11.85, about 104% higher overall.
  • The India series is highly volatile (average absolute month-to-month move ~90%), compared with ~74% for the baseline.
  • Clear seasonal lift appears around Q4: both series rise into November, consistent with holiday-driven pressure. India then accelerates sharply through Q1–Q2 2025, peaking in April.
  • Notable anomalies: India posts a record high in April 2025 (56.07) and a sharp dip in August 2025 (0.24), briefly dropping far below the global level.

This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry SaaS & Cloud Platforms 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.

India (SaaS & Cloud Platforms) — trend highlights

  • Average across available months: 24.23. High: 56.07 (Apr 2025). Low: 0.24 (Aug 2025).
  • Start-to-end change: from 7.22 (Sep 2024) to 0.24 (Aug 2025), a decrease of 96.7%—driven by the unusually low August reading.
  • Volatility:
  • Large swings: Oct 2024 dips to 2.95, then November jumps to 15.83 (+437% MoM).
  • Q1–Q2 2025 shows a strong run-up: 11.52 (Jan) → 31.64 (Feb) → 43.45 (Mar) → peak 56.07 (Apr), before easing to 39.93 (May) and 43.21 (Jun).
  • August 2025 drops to 0.24 (−99% vs June), a clear outlier relative to earlier levels.
  • Seasonality:
  • Costs rise into November and remain elevated through December, reflecting typical Q4 pressures.
  • A second surge appears from February through April, suggesting sustained competition into early Q2.

Global baseline — trend highlights

  • Average: 11.85. High: 26.21 (Jun 2025). Low: 1.98 (Sep 2024).
  • Start-to-end change (Sep 2024 → Sep 2025): +1,061%.
  • Volatility:
  • Q4 2024 rises into November (6.20 → 14.28), then moderates in December (8.52).
  • 2025 features mid-year spikes: June tops out at 26.21, followed by a step-down to 12.35 (Jul) and renewed strength in August (15.00) and September (22.99).

India vs. global baseline

  • Level: India remains above market for most months, averaging roughly 2.0x the global benchmark. The April 2025 peak (56.07) is more than double the global high (26.21).
  • Volatility: India shows higher month-to-month instability (~90% vs ~74% absolute change), with more pronounced surges (Feb–Apr 2025) and a deeper single-month dip (Aug 2025).
  • Seasonality: Both exhibit Q4 lift, but India’s pattern intensifies in early 2025, while the baseline’s most pronounced spike is in June and late Q3.

Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry SaaS & Cloud Platforms 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 SaaS & Cloud Platforms 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.