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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Software Development in Italy

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Cost Per App Install for Software Development 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 Software Development 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.
  • Italy’s Software Development costs are consistently below market: the selected data averages 2.32 versus the global baseline’s 9.53 across the same months (about 76% lower).
  • Seasonal patterns diverge from the global norm: globally, costs rise sharply in Q4 and escalate into summer, while Italy trends down through Q4, then spikes in Q1 before easing again.
  • Volatility is high but slightly calmer than the baseline: average absolute month-over-month change is ~58% in Italy vs. ~64% globally.

Italy, Software Development: cost-per-app-install summary

  • Coverage: Sep 2024–Aug 2025 (11 monthly medians).
  • Average: 2.32
  • High: 6.47 in March 2025
  • Low: 0.45 in July 2025
  • Range: 6.02
  • Change from first to last month: down 56% (1.64 in Sep 2024 to 0.72 in Aug 2025)

Trend highlights:

  • Q4 2024 steadily eased: 1.64 (Sep) → 1.39 (Oct) → 1.21 (Nov) → 0.98 (Dec).
  • A sharp Q1 surge: +118% from Dec to Jan (0.98 → 2.13) and +178% from Jan to Feb (2.13 → 5.93), peaking in March at 6.47.
  • Spring-to-summer deflation: 3.64 (Apr) → 0.92 (May) → trough at 0.45 (Jul), with a partial rebound in Aug (+61% to 0.72).
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change ≈ 58%, marked by the Feb spike and May drop (-75% from Apr).

Comparison to the global baseline (same months)

  • Average: 9.53 (global) vs. 2.32 (Italy)
  • High: 15.00 in August 2025 (global) vs. 6.47 in March 2025 (Italy)
  • Low: 1.98 in September 2024 (global) vs. 0.45 in July 2025 (Italy)
  • First-to-last change: global +658% (1.98 → 15.00) versus Italy -56%
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change ≈ 64% globally vs. 58% in Italy

Relative positioning by month:

  • Italy is below market in every overlapping month. Differences are most pronounced in late 2024 (e.g., November: 1.21 in Italy vs. 14.28 global) and again in mid-2025 (e.g., July: 0.45 vs. 12.35).

Seasonality and pattern insights

  • Global seasonality shows pronounced Q4 inflation (notably October to November), followed by elevated costs through spring and into late summer.
  • Italy’s Software Development installs do not mirror that Q4 climb; instead, costs fall through December, surge in Q1 (Jan–Mar), and then compress into early summer, reaching the yearly low in July before a modest August uptick.
  • Overall, Italy remains well below average and slightly less volatile than the global benchmark, while exhibiting a distinct Q1 spike and a mid-year trough.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development 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 Software Development 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.