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Facebook Ads Cost Per App Install Benchmarks for Venture Capital & Investment in South Africa

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

Cost Per App Install for Venture Capital & Investment in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Scope: This analysis looks at cost-per-app-install trends for industry Venture Capital & Investment and target country South Africa compared to the global trend; the analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • Data coverage: No monthly observations were available for the selected segment (Venture Capital & Investment in South Africa) in the provided period, so relative positioning versus the market cannot be quantified.
  • Global baseline signal: The worldwide benchmark shows pronounced volatility with a strong Q4 uplift, a sharp mid-year spike, and elevated levels into late Q3.
  • Seasonality: Costs typically rise in Q4; in the baseline, October–November stepped up notably, while the highest spike occurred in June.

About the selected segment (South Africa, Venture Capital & Investment)

  • The selected_data series contains no values for the period provided. As a result:
  • Averages, highs/lows, and month-to-month change for the segment cannot be calculated.
  • Positioning versus the baseline (above market, below average, or in line) cannot be determined from the data provided.

Global baseline: Facebook Ads cost-per-app-install benchmarks

  • Overall level:
  • Average: 11.85 over 13 months.
  • Median: 11.36.
  • High: 26.21 in 2025-06.
  • Low: 1.98 in 2024-09.
  • First-to-last change: +21.01 from 2024-09 to 2025-09, a rise of roughly +1,062%.
  • Volatility:
  • Average absolute month-to-month change: ~6.31, which is about 53% of the overall average—indicative of a highly dynamic cost environment.
  • Largest single-month upswing: +15.78 from 2025-05 to 2025-06.
  • Largest single-month downswing: -13.86 from 2025-06 to 2025-07.
  • Seasonality and notable movements:
  • Q4 pattern: Costs increased from October (6.20) to November (14.28), then eased in December (8.52), consistent with the typical Q4 holiday-driven uplift.
  • Q1 stabilization: Lower averages in January–March (6.36–11.36), suggesting a reversion after peak seasonal demand.
  • Mid-year spike: A pronounced surge in June 2025 (26.21, the period high), followed by a partial correction in July (12.35).
  • Late-year elevation: August (15.00) and September 2025 (22.99) remained above the overall average, indicating persistent late-summer to early-fall pressure.

Comparison: selected segment vs. global baseline

  • Due to the absence of selected_data for Venture Capital & Investment in South Africa, we cannot quantify whether this segment is above market, below average, or in line with overall trends.
  • Marketers can use the global baseline as directional context: the market saw elevated costs in Q4, a significant mid-year spike in June, and heightened levels into late Q3, alongside substantial month-to-month variability.

Understanding cost-per-app-install benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Venture Capital & Investment and South Africa 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 Venture Capital & Investment industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting South Africa, 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.

South Africa Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 21Human Rights Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Family Day
Apr 27Freedom Day
May 1Workers' Day
Jun 16Youth Day
Aug 9National Women's Day
Sep 24Heritage Day
Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Day of Goodwill

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas & Day of Goodwill), Mid-year retail (June Youth Day promotions)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during long weekends like Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and Heritage Day as leisure and travel-related media consumption increases. Retail CPMs may spike in late November–December for holiday shopping. Youth Day and National Women's Day might drive regional campaigns. Weekend extensions across public holidays may benefit weekend campaigns.

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.