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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Software Development in Australia

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Cost Per Lead for Software Development in Australia

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Over Oct 2024–Aug 2025, Software Development in Australia ran below market on Facebook Ads cost-per-lead: average 26.75 vs a global baseline of 37.44 (28.6% lower).
  • Volatility was high. The selected series’ average month‑to‑month absolute change was 16.87 compared to 3.59 globally, with a wide range from 9.36 (Dec) to 48.31 (Aug).
  • Seasonality diverged from the global pattern: the baseline shows a typical Q4 lift, while Australia spiked in November, dipped sharply in December, then surged again in April and August.
  • From first to last month, Australia’s cost-per-lead rose 89% (Oct to Aug) versus a 19% rise in the global baseline. Australia was above the global level in only 3 of 11 months (Nov, Apr, Aug).

This analysis looks at cost-per-lead trends for industry Software Development and target country Australia compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

Overview of the selected trend (Software Development, Australia)

  • Average: 26.75
  • High/low: 48.31 in Aug 2025 (high); 9.36 in Dec 2024 (low)
  • Range: 38.95
  • Volatility: average month‑to‑month absolute change of 16.87
  • Direction: +89% from Oct 2024 (25.53) to Aug 2025 (48.31)
  • Notable swings:
  • Nov 2024 jump: +17.71 from Oct
  • Dec 2024 dip: −33.88 from Nov (series low)
  • Apr 2025 surge: +30.21 from Mar
  • Aug 2025 surge: +34.38 from Jul (series high)

Comparison with the global baseline

  • Baseline average (same period): 37.44
  • Baseline high/low (same period): 41.58 in Nov 2024 (high); 31.12 in Oct 2024 (low)
  • Note: the baseline later dips to 20.63 in Sep 2025 (outside the comparison window).
  • Baseline volatility: 3.59 average month‑to‑month absolute change
  • Direction: +19% from Oct 2024 (31.12) to Aug 2025 (37.03)
  • Relative positioning:
  • Australia was below the global baseline in 8 of 11 months; above in Nov (+1.67), Apr (+8.69), and Aug (+11.28).
  • On average, Australia’s cost-per-lead was 10.69 lower than the global level.

Seasonality and pattern signals

  • Global baseline: clear Q4 uplift, peaking in November and remaining elevated in December—consistent with holiday‑period pressure on advertising costs.
  • Australia (Software Development): atypical Q4 pattern—November spike followed by an abrupt December trough; subsequent surges in April and again in August indicate intermittent spikes rather than steady seasonal build.
  • Stability: the global series remained concentrated in the low‑to‑high 30s for most months, while Australia oscillated sharply between low teens and high 40s.

What this means for benchmarking

Across Oct 2024–Aug 2025, Software Development in Australia shows below‑average cost-per-lead overall but with significantly higher volatility and intermittent spikes relative to the global trend. Understanding cost-per-lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development and Australia 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 Australia, advertisers typically see good engagement rates despite moderate costs. 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.

Australia Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 27Australia Day (observed)
Apr 18‑21Easter weekend
Apr 25Anzac Day
Jun 9King's Birthday
Oct 6Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late December (Christmas and Boxing Day), Early December (Cyber Monday), January (Back-to-school), May (Mother's Day)

Potential Advertising Impact

Ad costs could spike around major holidays, especially Easter, Anzac Day, and Christmas. Increased budgets and earlier scheduling may be necessary. Retailers should consider planning promotions around back-to-school and Mother's Day to maximize campaign effectiveness.

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.