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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for SaaS & Cloud Platforms in South Africa

See how your CPL compares. Explore lead generation cost benchmarks by industry, region, and campaign type

Cost Per Lead for SaaS & Cloud Platforms in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost per lead (CPL) trends for industry SaaS & Cloud Platforms and target country South Africa compared to the global trend, and is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • Overall, South Africa’s CPL sits above market: the period average is 63.03 versus the global baseline’s 37.48 (+68%).
  • Seasonality is pronounced: elevated CPLs in Q4 and January, a sharp trough in March–May, and a significant spike in June.
  • Volatility is high: average month-to-month absolute change is about 41.8 in South Africa versus 3.8 globally (≈11x higher).

Overview of South Africa (SaaS & Cloud Platforms)

  • Average and median:
  • Average CPL: 63.03
  • Median CPL: 69.55
  • Highs and lows:
  • Highest month: June 2025 at 170.87
  • Lowest month: May 2025 at 3.17
  • Range: 167.70
  • Trend from first to last month:
  • October 2024 to July 2025: from 78.48 to 62.85 (−19.9%)
  • Notable spikes and dips:
  • Q4 and January are elevated (Oct–Jan: 76.25–85.39).
  • Deep trough March–May (5.14 → 4.02 → 3.17).
  • Sudden spike in June to 170.87, followed by normalization in July (62.85).
  • Volatility:
  • Average month-to-month absolute change: ~41.8, indicating sharp swings.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Level comparison:
  • Average CPL: 63.03 (South Africa) vs 37.48 (global), with South Africa +68% above market.
  • Median CPL: 69.55 vs 38.63, placing South Africa above average for most months.
  • In 7 of 10 months, South Africa’s CPL is above the global level; the exceptions are March, April, and May.
  • Highs and lows:
  • Global high in the same period: 41.58 (Nov 2024); South Africa’s June peak (170.87) is ~4.1x higher.
  • Global low: 31.12 (Oct 2024); South Africa’s May trough (3.17) is ~90% lower.
  • Trend from first to last month:
  • Global: 31.12 (Oct 2024) to 38.67 (Jul 2025), +24.3%.
  • South Africa: −19.9% over the same span, reflecting a divergent trajectory due to the mid-year trough and spike.
  • Volatility and seasonality:
  • Global CPLs remain relatively steady (avg MoM change ~3.8), with a mild Q4 lift (notably November).
  • South Africa shows stronger seasonality: higher CPLs in Q4 and January, a marked dip in March–May, and a June spike before returning closer to earlier levels in July.

Seasonal pattern summary

  • Q4 and early Q1 (holiday and new-year periods) show higher CPLs in South Africa, in line with broad seasonal pressures seen globally.
  • South Africa then diverges with an unusually low March–May and a sharp June surge.

Understanding COST_PER_LEAD benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry SaaS & Cloud Platforms 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 SaaS & Cloud Platforms 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 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.