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Facebook Ads Cost Per Lead Benchmarks for Software Development in United Kingdom

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Cost Per Lead for Software Development in United Kingdom

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Overall level: Software Development in Great Britain posts an average cost per lead of 36.94 across Oct 2024–Aug 2025, effectively in line with the global baseline at 37.44 (about 1.4% lower).
  • Volatility: The selected series is highly volatile (average month-to-month move 16.61; average absolute swing 73.96%), far above the baseline’s steadier pattern (3.59 and 10.19%).
  • Extremes: Record low in December (10.62) followed by a sharp rebound to a high in January (52.73). The baseline peaks in November (41.58) and bottoms in October (31.12).
  • Trajectory: From October to August, Great Britain declines 37.8%, while the baseline rises 19.0% over the same span—placing recent months below market.

Scope and context

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

Selected series: Software Development, Great Britain

  • Average across the period: 36.94
  • High/low:
  • High: 52.73 in January 2025
  • Low: 10.62 in December 2024
  • Range: 42.11
  • First-to-last change: 51.66 in October 2024 to 32.11 in August 2025 (down 37.8%).
  • Notable movements:
  • November → December: steep drop (-75.5%) to the series low.
  • December → January: sharp rebound (+396.6%) to the series high.
  • April shows a secondary spike (50.47) before a steady easing through July, with a modest uptick in August.

Baseline comparison (global, same months)

  • Average across the period: 37.44 (slightly above the selected 36.94).
  • High/low:
  • High: 41.58 in November 2024
  • Low: 31.12 in October 2024
  • Range: 10.45
  • First-to-last change: 31.12 in October 2024 to 37.03 in August 2025 (up 19.0%).
  • Volatility is markedly lower than the selected series, with gentle month-to-month shifts.

Relative positioning and monthly context

  • Above market: October, November, January, February, April, and May. The largest positive spread appears in October (+20.53) and January (+17.19).
  • Below average: December, March, June, July, and August. The widest negative gaps are in December (-29.01), July (-10.08), and March (-10.01).
  • On balance, the selected average is 0.51 below the baseline. Early period months skew above market; the back half of 2025 trends below average.

Seasonality and pattern read

  • Baseline seasonality shows a familiar Q4 uplift, peaking in November and easing in January—consistent with higher holiday-period ad costs and a post-holiday normalization.
  • Great Britain (Software Development) diverges from that pattern with a pronounced December dip and a January spike, then a gradual normalization—ending below market through much of the summer.

Understanding cost per lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development and Great Britain 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 United Kingdom, advertisers experience moderate to high costs with strong performance in urban areas. 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.

United Kingdom Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 22nd January (Scotland)
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Easter Monday
May 5Early May Bank Holiday
May 26Spring Bank Holiday
Aug 25Summer Bank Holiday
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday surge), Late December (Christmas & Boxing Day promotions), Early May holiday weekend promotions

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might increase around early May and late August bank holidays as people engage in leisure travel or retail browsing. During Black Friday/Cyber Monday, retail CPMs could spike sharply in fashion, electronics, and online shopping. Late December typically sees peak CPMs, with e‑commerce budgets needing early ramp-up.

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.