Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Software Development in United Kingdom

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

Cost Per App Install for Software Development in United Kingdom

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Great Britain, Software Development cost per app install averaged 3.13 across the last 12 months—about 71% below the global baseline average of 10.92.
  • Costs were highly volatile month to month (average absolute change ≈77%), similar to the baseline (≈75%).
  • The selected series peaked in October 2024 (6.20) and bottomed in June 2025 (0.65); the baseline peaked much higher in June 2025 (26.21).
  • End-to-end change was modest in the selected series (+12% from Sep 2024 to Aug 2025) versus a steep rise in the baseline (+658%).
  • Seasonal shape diverged from the global pattern: a sharp October spike locally, a December low, and a deep early-summer trough, while the baseline surged in Q4 and again dramatically in June.

Introduction

This analysis looks at cost per app install trends for industry Software Development in Great Britain compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks for Facebook Ads benchmarks, advertising costs, and country-specific app install pricing.

Selected data trends (Software Development, Great Britain)

  • Average: 3.13 across Sep 2024–Aug 2025.
  • High/low:
  • High: 6.20 in October 2024.
  • Low: 0.65 in June 2025.
  • Start-to-end change: from 1.87 (Sep 2024) to 2.10 (Aug 2025), a +12% increase.
  • Volatility: large month-to-month swings (≈77% average absolute move). Notable changes:
  • +231% from September to October 2024 (1.87 → 6.20).
  • -67% from November to December 2024 (4.69 → 1.56).
  • -83% from May to June 2025 (3.85 → 0.65), followed by +96% in July and +64% in August.
  • Seasonal pattern: a pronounced spike in October, softening into December, recovery through March, and a deep trough in June before rebuilding into late summer.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Level: The selected series averaged 3.13 vs. 10.92 for the baseline—about 71% below market overall. The selected series was below the baseline in 11 of 12 months and roughly in line only in October 2024 (+0.1% vs. baseline).
  • High/low:
  • Baseline high: 26.21 in June 2025 (selected: 0.65 the same month, ≈97% lower).
  • Baseline low: 1.98 in September 2024 (selected: 1.87, ≈5% lower).
  • Start-to-end change: baseline climbed from 1.98 (Sep 2024) to 15.00 (Aug 2025), a +658% increase, indicating a strong upward trend globally versus a relatively flat local finish.
  • Volatility: both series are similarly volatile (≈75–77% average absolute month-to-month change).
  • Seasonality vs. baseline:
  • Baseline shows typical Q4 inflation (notably November–December) and a pronounced June surge.
  • Great Britain, Software Development deviates with a single October spike, a December dip, and an unusually low June.

What this means for benchmarking

Overall, cost per app install in Software Development for Great Britain is consistently below average compared to the global benchmark, with brief alignment in October and a sizable divergence mid-year—especially in June, when the global market spikes while local costs hit their annual low. Understanding cost per app install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development and Great Britain 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 United Kingdom, advertisers experience moderate to high costs with strong performance in urban areas. 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.

Optimize Smarter with Superads

Improve your Facebook ad performance

Instant performance insights – See which ads, audiences, and creatives drive results.

Data-driven creative decisions – Spot patterns to improve ROAS.

Effortless reporting – No spreadsheets, just clear insights.

Get Started for free →

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.

United Kingdom Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 22nd January (Scotland)
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
May 5Early May Bank Holiday
May 26Spring Bank Holiday
Aug 25Summer Bank Holiday
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday surge), Late December (Christmas & Boxing Day promotions), Early May holiday weekend promotions

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might increase around early May and late August bank holidays as people engage in leisure travel or retail browsing. During Black Friday/Cyber Monday, retail CPMs could spike sharply in fashion, electronics, and online shopping. Late December typically sees peak CPMs, with e‑commerce budgets needing early ramp-up.

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.