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

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

Cost Per Lead for Software Development in United States

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at cost-per-lead trends for industry Software Development and target country United States compared to the global trend; the analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • United States Software Development cost-per-lead (CPL) averaged $46.01, which is about 28% above the global baseline average of $36.04.
  • Volatility is materially higher in the selected data: average month-to-month absolute change was $9.02 vs $4.75 globally.
  • Seasonally, the selected series eased through Q4 2024, spiked in January, trended up into summer (peaking in July), then reset sharply in August–September. The global baseline also dipped into September, but less sharply.

United States Software Development CPL overview

  • Average across the period: $46.01
  • High: $68.18 in July 2025
  • Low: $14.55 in September 2025
  • Range: $53.63
  • Change from first to last month (Oct 2024 to Sep 2025): -63.2%

Notable moves:

  • October to December 2024 steadily eased from $39.54 to $34.53 (-12.7%).
  • January 2025 jumped to $51.12 (+48.1% vs December), then climbed into summer, reaching $68.18 in July (+72.5% vs October).
  • A sharp reset followed: -40.9% from July to August ($68.18 to $40.31) and -63.9% from August to September ($40.31 to $14.55).
  • Volatility: average absolute month-over-month change was $9.02, with the largest single-month dollar drop in July to August (-$27.87).

How the United States Software Development series compares to the global baseline

  • Relative level:
  • Selected average: $46.01 vs baseline $36.04 (+27.7% above market).
  • The selected series ran above the global baseline in 9 of 12 months, below it in November, December, and September.
  • Seasonal alignment:
  • Q4 2024: the selected series declined into December, while the global baseline peaked in November ($41.58) and then moderated—both ended Q4 in the mid-to-high $30s.
  • January 2025 delivered a pronounced spike in the selected data (to $51.12) versus a more modest baseline reset ($35.54).
  • Mid-year: the selected series rose steadily to a July peak ($68.18), far above the global July level ($38.67, +76% difference).
  • Late summer/early fall: both series declined into September, though the selected series fell more sharply (to $14.55) than the baseline (to $20.63).
  • Stability:
  • Volatility was roughly 1.9x higher in the selected series (average MoM change $9.02 vs $4.75 globally).
  • Ranges underscore that gap: $53.63 selected vs $20.95 global.

Monthly highlights

  • Lowest point occurred in September 2025 at $14.55 (selected) versus $20.63 globally—selected was 29% below market here.
  • Highest relative premium appeared in July 2025: $68.18 selected vs $38.67 global (+76%).
  • Baseline’s strongest month was November 2024 ($41.58), while the selected data was comparatively lower in November–December before surging in January.

Understanding cost-per-lead benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development and United States 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 States, advertisers often face higher costs due to high competition and purchasing power. 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 States Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Jan 20Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Feb 17Presidents' Day
May 26Memorial Day
Jun 19Juneteenth
Jul 4Independence Day
Sep 1Labor Day
Oct 13Columbus Day
Nov 11Veterans Day
Nov 27Thanksgiving Day
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Thanksgiving & Black Friday weekend), December (Christmas), Back-to-school (July–September), Summer travel season (Memorial Day onwards)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise around major holidays like Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day, especially in travel and entertainment. Black Friday/Thanksgiving weekend triggers massive spikes in retail ad competition. December ad demand typically peaks—retail campaigns require significantly higher budgets. Back-to-school promotions drive increased competition. Juneteenth may see regional engagement rise.

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.