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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Software Development in Italy

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Cost Per Lead for Software Development in Italy

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Main takeaways

  • Software Development in Italy posts a cost-per-lead (CPL) average of 39.9 over the period, sitting 6.6% above the global baseline (37.4), indicating above-market costs overall.
  • Volatility is extreme in Italy: average month-over-month absolute change is ~114%, versus ~10% globally.
  • High/low extremes in Italy are wide: a low of 9.8 in December 2024 and a high of 81.5 in June 2025; the baseline ranges from 31.1 to 41.6.
  • Trajectory diverges: Italy’s CPL declines by ~43% from October 2024 to August 2025, while the global trend rises ~19% over the same window.
  • Seasonality differs from the baseline: the global series peaks in November, while Italy dips sharply in December, rebounds in January, and spikes in June.

Scope and context

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

Italy (Software Development) CPL trend highlights

  • Level: Average CPL is 39.9. The period’s high is 81.5 (June 2025) and the low is 9.8 (December 2024), a range of 71.7.
  • Direction: From 47.7 (October 2024) to 27.2 (August 2025), CPL falls by ~43%.
  • Volatility: MoM absolute changes average ~114%. Key swings:
  • November → December: -78.5% (45.4 to 9.8), the sharpest dip.
  • December → January: +~462% (9.8 to 55.0), a dramatic rebound.
  • May → June: +~324% (19.2 to 81.5), the peak surge.
  • Seasonality signals:
  • Q4: Unlike the typical Q4 uplift seen in many markets, December shows a pronounced dip (9.8).
  • Q1: Strong rebound in January (55.0), then easing in February (49.4) and March (24.6).
  • Q2: Mixed April–May but a pronounced spike in June (81.5).
  • Q3: Cooling from June, with July at 35.2 and August at 27.2.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average level: Italy at 39.9 vs. global 37.4 over the same months (October 2024–August 2025), placing Italy 6.6% above market.
  • Highs/lows:
  • Global high is 41.6 (November 2024) and low is 31.1 (October 2024).
  • Italy’s peak (81.5) is nearly double the global peak; its trough (9.8) is ~75% below the global December median (39.6).
  • Direction: Global CPL climbs ~19% from October 2024 (31.1) to August 2025 (37.0), while Italy trends down ~43% over the same span.
  • Volatility: Global MoM absolute changes average ~10%, indicating a steadier market versus Italy’s large swings.
  • Seasonal patterns:
  • Global series shows a Q4 uptick, peaking in November.
  • Italy diverges with a December low, followed by a January rebound and a June spike, then a softer Q3.

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

Italy Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 6Epiphany
Apr 20Easter Sunday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25Liberation Day
May 1Labour Day
Jun 2Republic Day
Aug 15Ferragosto
Nov 1All Saints' Day
Dec 8Immaculate Conception
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26St. Stephen's Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas & post‑Christmas sales (late December), Ferragosto (mid‑August) summer tourism, Back‑to‑school (September)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might increase during spring holidays when Italians engage in travel or leisure. Ferragosto may see travel and hospitality ads face high competition while retail CPMs dip. Late November and December see ad demand surges. 'Ponte' long weekends could affect ad pacing with stronger performance on adjacent weekdays.

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.