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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Software Development in Netherlands

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Cost Per Lead for Software Development in Netherlands

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-lead benchmarks: Software Development in Netherlands vs global trend

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

Key takeaways

  • Overall level: Netherlands Software Development CPL averaged 34.85, about 6.9% below the global baseline average of 37.44 (Oct 2024–Aug 2025), indicating below-market costs on average.
  • Volatility: The Netherlands series was highly volatile (average month-to-month absolute change ~81.8%) versus the baseline’s steadier 10.2%.
  • Trend direction: From the first to last observed month, the Netherlands CPL fell 40.2% (51.96 in Oct 2024 to 31.10 in Aug 2025), while the global baseline rose 19.0% (31.12 to 37.03).
  • Seasonality: Globally, CPL climbed into November–December. In contrast, Netherlands saw an unusually sharp December dip, followed by a January spike.

Selected dataset overview (Software Development, Netherlands)

  • Period covered: Oct 2024 to Aug 2025 (11 months)
  • Average CPL: 34.85
  • High: 53.93 in January 2025
  • Low: 10.76 in December 2024
  • First-to-last change: -40.2% (Oct 2024 to Aug 2025)
  • Volatility: Average month-to-month absolute percent change ~81.8%
  • Notable swings:
  • December 2024: -76% vs November (sharpest dip)
  • January 2025: +401% vs December (sharpest spike)
  • March 2025: -54% vs February
  • April 2025: +147% vs March
  • Q4 (Oct–Dec 2024) average: ~36.07, skewed by the unusually low December outcome

Comparison to global baseline

  • Period aligned to Oct 2024–Aug 2025 for comparability
  • Baseline average CPL: 37.44
  • Baseline high/low: High 41.58 (Nov 2024); Low 31.12 (Oct 2024)
  • Baseline first-to-last change: +19.0% (Oct 2024 to Aug 2025)
  • Baseline volatility: ~10.2% average month-to-month absolute change
  • Relative positioning by month:
  • Above market: Oct (+~67%), Nov (+~9%), Jan (+~52%), Feb (+~4%), Apr (+~18%)
  • Below market: Dec (-~73%), Mar (-~44%), May (-~15%), Jun (-~23%), Jul (-~42%), Aug (-~16%)
  • Net: Below market in 6 of 11 months, especially from March through July

Seasonality and timeline highlights

  • Baseline seasonality: CPLs typically increase in Q4 (notably November–December) and remain relatively steady into mid-year.
  • Netherlands pattern: Diverged in December with a pronounced dip to 10.76, then rebounded sharply in January to 53.93. From March through July, CPL consistently tracked below the global benchmark, with the widest gaps in March and July.

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

Netherlands Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 20Easter Sunday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 26King's Day
May 5Liberation Day
May 29Ascension Day
Jun 8Pentecost Sunday
Jun 9Pentecost Monday
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas and Boxing Day sales), Spring holidays (April–June tourism)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during spring holiday cluster when travel and leisure ads see elevated engagement. Liberation Day (May 5) is mandatory national holiday—ad inventory might shrink. Ad competition increases in late December for holiday promotions. Few summer holidays mean more consistent campaign performance through summer.

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.