Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Software Development in India

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

Cost Per Lead for Software Development in India

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Across the available months, cost per lead in Software Development for India is far above market: the selected average is roughly 29,087 versus a global baseline of about 38.66 for the same period—around 750x higher.
  • Volatility is extreme. From November 2024 to January 2025, costs surged by roughly 1,351x, then fell 65% in February, yet remained hundreds of times above the global level.
  • November 2024 aligned more closely with typical patterns (about 15% above the global median that month), but January–February 2025 show unprecedented spikes well beyond seasonal norms.
  • The global baseline shows mild seasonality: higher in Q4 and a normalization in Q1, unlike the sharp surge seen in the selected data.

Scope and context

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

Selected data overview (Software Development, India)

  • Coverage: 3 months with medians reported (Nov 2024, Jan 2025, Feb 2025).
  • Monthly medians:
  • Nov 2024: 47.96
  • Jan 2025: 64,817.76 (high)
  • Feb 2025: 22,395.92
  • Average across available months: ~29,087
  • Low: 47.96 (Nov 2024); High: 64,817.76 (Jan 2025); Range: ~64,770
  • Volatility:
  • Nov → Jan: +~1,351x (extraordinary spike)
  • Jan → Feb: −65% (sharp correction)
  • First-to-last change (Nov → Feb): +~46,600%
  • Notable spike: January 2025 reached an outlier level that dominates the period’s average.

Global baseline overview

  • For the same period (Nov 2024, Jan 2025, Feb 2025), global medians average ~38.66, with a high of 41.58 (Nov) and a low of 35.54 (Jan).
  • Month-to-month shifts are modest:
  • Nov → Jan: −15% (seasonal normalization)
  • Jan → Feb: +9% recovery
  • Over the wider baseline timeline (Oct 2024–Sep 2025), Q4 shows a typical uptick (Nov = 41.58, Dec = 39.63) followed by softer levels in Q1—consistent with common Facebook Ads seasonal patterns.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average level: Selected (~29,087) vs. baseline (~38.66) for the same months → ~750x above market.
  • By month:
  • Nov 2024: 47.96 vs. 41.58 → ~+15% above market (close to global level).
  • Jan 2025: 64,817.76 vs. 35.54 → ~1,824x above market.
  • Feb 2025: 22,395.92 vs. 38.86 → ~577x above market.
  • Volatility context: The selected series shows extreme swings (three to four orders of magnitude), whereas the baseline fluctuates within single-digit to low double-digit percentages, indicating the selected data is far above market and highly volatile relative to global norms.

Seasonality and pattern readout

  • Baseline: clear Q4 elevation and Q1 normalization.
  • Selected (India, Software Development): November sits slightly above the baseline, but January–February diverge dramatically with outsized costs that overshadow seasonal effects.

Understanding cost per lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development and India 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 India, 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.

India Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 26Republic Day
Mar 14Holi
Apr 18Good Friday
May 1Labour Day
Aug 15Independence Day
Oct 2Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
Oct 21Diwali
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

October (Diwali), Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas), July–August (Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPMs might spike significantly during Diwali, especially in electronics, apparel, jewellery, and gifts. Black Friday/Cyber Monday and December could drive elevated ad competition. State-specific festivals might see regional campaign spikes. Bank closures during holidays may push online shopping to cluster in end-of-week periods.

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.