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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Gaming

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Cost Per Lead for Gaming

February 2025 - February 2026

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Introduction

The Gaming industry’s Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead (CPL) across all countries ran far below the global benchmark in 2025, but with striking month-to-month turbulence. The year opened with relatively elevated CPLs, collapsed into a spring trough, then surged in late summer and again in November before easing into December. It’s a story of bargains punctuated by brief, costly spikes—consistently below the all-industry global market, yet far more volatile.

This analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks. This analysis explores ad performance trends for Gaming in all countries compared to the global benchmark.

The story in the data

Gaming CPL averaged about $18.14 in 2025, less than half the global all-industry average of $41.53. It started at $20.68 in January and ended at $10.30 in December—down roughly 50% across the year. The low arrived in June at $4.15, while the highs clustered late: $42.98 in August (the annual peak) and $40.75 in November.

Momentum swung sharply:

  • January to February lifted from $20.68 to $33.18 (+60%).
  • A steep correction followed: March dropped to $4.58 and June set the floor at $4.15.
  • August spiked nearly 10x off June’s low to $42.98, eased to $29.26 in September, reset to $8.47 in October, then spiked again to $40.75 in November before cooling to $10.30 in December.

Volatility was the defining feature. Average month-to-month absolute movement was about $17.17—roughly 5.5x the global benchmark’s steadier $3.13—signaling a choppier Gaming CPL profile despite lower overall levels.

Seasonal and monthly dynamics

The pattern shows a mixed Q1, a soft Q2, a powerful late-summer wave, and a classic Q4 spike-then-cooldown:

  • Q1 averaged $19.48, with early strength and a March trough.
  • Q2 was the lowest-cost stretch at $7.20 on average (April–June).
  • Q3 rose to $26.02, driven by the August peak and a still-elevated September.
  • Q4 averaged $19.84, with an October reset, a sharp November jump, and a December pullback.

These rhythms differ from the global market, where CPLs generally climbed steadily through the year and peaked into Q4 before a mild December easing.

Country vs. Global

Across every month, Gaming CPL in all countries sat below the global all-industry benchmark:

  • The narrowest gap came in August, just 1% below the market ($42.98 vs. $43.40).
  • The widest gap appeared in June, 90% below market ($4.15 vs. $41.20).

Quarter by quarter, Gaming remained below market levels:

  • Q1: $19.48 vs. $36.20 (about 46% lower)
  • Q2: $7.20 vs. $39.23 (about 82% lower)
  • Q3: $26.02 vs. $44.21 (about 41% lower)
  • Q4: $19.84 vs. $46.48 (about 57% lower)

Trendwise, the global benchmark climbed roughly 21% from January to December, while Gaming declined about 50% over the same span—more volatile and persistently below average.

Closing

In 2025, Facebook Ads benchmarks for Cost Per Lead show Gaming across all countries running well below global CPLs, with sharper swings and pronounced late-summer and November spikes. For performance marketers tracking country-specific ad costs, CPC trends, CPM analysis, and CTR performance alongside CPL, these Gaming benchmarks provide a clear read on how industry ad performance compares to global patterns. Understanding Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead benchmarks for the Gaming industry across all countries helps contextualize engagement costs against the broader market.

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 Gaming industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. Geographic targeting affects ad costs based on market competition and user engagement in different regions. 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.

What is considered a good cost per lead on Facebook in 2025?

A good CPL usually ranges from $10 to $50, depending on your industry and target audience. B2C offers tend to be cheaper, while B2B or high-ticket services may see CPLs over $100.

Why is my CPL higher than industry averages?

Your CPL could be high due to weak creative, irrelevant targeting, or an offer that doesn't resonate. Low engagement or poor conversion rates on your landing page can also drive up costs.

Does campaign objective impact CPL?

Yes. Campaigns optimized for conversions or leads tend to generate cheaper and more qualified leads compared to traffic or engagement objectives. Facebook needs clear signals to find the right users.

How can I generate leads at a lower cost without hurting lead quality?

Focus on improving your offer, targeting the right audience, and using high-converting creative. Test native lead forms, but make sure you're still qualifying users properly.

Should I optimize for leads or conversions if my goal is pipeline growth?

If your goal is sales or revenue, optimizing for deeper funnel conversions is better. Optimizing for leads alone can inflate volume but hurt quality.