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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Software Development in New Zealand

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

Cost Per Lead for Software Development in New Zealand

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Cost per lead benchmarks for Software Development in New Zealand vs. global

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

Main takeaways

  • Overall level: New Zealand Software Development CPL averaged 27.66 across Oct 2024–Aug 2025, about 26% below the global baseline average of 37.44 (below market).
  • Central tendency: Median CPL was 16.28 in New Zealand vs. 38.59 globally, reinforcing a materially cheaper lead cost locally.
  • Extremes: New Zealand’s CPL ranged from a low of 7.97 (Dec 2024) to a high of 104.30 (Apr 2025). The baseline was far tighter, from 31.12 (Oct 2024) to 41.58 (Nov 2024).
  • Trend direction: From first to last month, New Zealand CPL fell 57% (46.50 in Oct 2024 to 20.05 in Aug 2025), while the global baseline rose 19% over the same window.
  • Volatility: Typical month‑to‑month change (median absolute) was 54.6% in New Zealand vs. just 7.0% for the baseline—highly volatile locally.
  • Seasonality: The global pattern showed a Q4 uplift (higher in Nov–Dec), while New Zealand dipped sharply in Nov–Dec and spiked in April.

Selected data highlights (New Zealand, Software Development)

  • Average: 27.66; median: 16.28.
  • High: 104.30 in Apr 2025; low: 7.97 in Dec 2024.
  • Notable movements:
  • -73% from Oct to Nov 2024; -36% from Nov to Dec (year‑end dip).
  • +136% from Dec to Jan 2025 (rebound).
  • +845% from Mar to Apr 2025 (sharp outlier spike).
  • -61% Apr to May and -60% May to Jun (normalization).
  • +49% Jul to Aug 2025.
  • From Oct 2024 (46.50) to Aug 2025 (20.05): -56.9% overall.

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Average level: New Zealand at 27.66 vs. global 37.44 (≈26% lower).
  • Median: 16.28 vs. 38.59 (substantially below market).
  • Range: 96.33 in New Zealand vs. 10.45 globally, reflecting far higher dispersion locally.
  • Highs/Lows: New Zealand exceeded the baseline in only 3 of 11 months (Oct 2024, Apr 2025, May 2025); in 8 of 11 months it was below market.
  • Volatility: Typical month‑to‑month absolute change 54.6% (NZ) vs. 7.0% (global).
  • Direction: New Zealand trended down markedly, while the global series edged higher.

Seasonal patterns

  • Global: Costs typically increase in Q4 around holiday periods, visible in the Nov–Dec uplift and relatively steady levels through H1.
  • New Zealand (Software Development): Atypical Q4 dip (Nov–Dec lows) followed by an outsized April spike, then a return toward sub‑baseline levels through mid‑year.

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

New Zealand Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 2Day after New Year's Day
Feb 6Waitangi Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 25ANZAC Day
Jun 2King's Birthday
Jun 20Matariki
Oct 27Labour Day
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), Christmas season (Boxing Day sales), Mid‑year promotions (Matariki in June), Back-to-school (late January/early February)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around Waitangi Day and ANZAC Day as public events increase media consumption. Matariki is new public holiday with growing awareness—advertising may see elevated competition. Late November–December Black Friday/Cyber Monday could drive ad costs significantly. Regional anniversary holidays may cause local inventory shifts.

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.