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Facebook Ads Cost Per Purchase Benchmarks for Software Development in India

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Cost Per Purchase for Software Development in India

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads cost-per-purchase benchmarks: Software Development in India vs global

This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry Software Development and target country India 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: India’s Software Development cost-per-purchase averaged 59.73 across the period, about 21% above the comparable global baseline average of 49.27 (above market).
  • Extremes: Highest month was January 2025 at 104.54; lowest was August 2025 at 7.14. The baseline ranged from 43.19 (November 2024) to 53.89 (February 2025).
  • Volatility: India showed a mean absolute month-to-month change of ~42.5% versus ~4.8% for the baseline, indicating much higher volatility.
  • Relative positioning by month: Above the global baseline in 8 of 11 observed months; notably higher in Q4/Q1 and sharply below in August 2025.
  • Trend over time: From September 2024 to August 2025, India fell by ~85% (from 47.78 to 7.14), while the global baseline was roughly flat to slightly down (~-2% over the same span).
  • Seasonality: Both series show higher costs in late Q4 and through Q1, then easing toward summer.

Selected data (Software Development, India) highlights

  • Average: 59.73 across 11 reported months (Sep 2024–Aug 2025).
  • High/low:
  • High: 104.54 in January 2025.
  • Low: 7.14 in August 2025.
  • Notable spikes/dips:
  • December 2024 surged to 77.31 from 31.67 in November (+144%).
  • January 2025 peaked at 104.54 (+35% vs December).
  • A steady moderation April–June (roughly 49.85–54.18).
  • Sharp drop from June to August (-87%).
  • Change from first to last month: -85% (47.78 in September 2024 to 7.14 in August 2025).
  • Volatility: Mean absolute month-to-month change ~42.5%, with particularly large swings in November–January and June–August.

Comparison to global baseline

  • Average: 49.27 (Sep 2024–Aug 2025), making India’s Software Development CPM 21% higher on average across the same months.
  • High/low:
  • High: 53.89 in February 2025.
  • Low: 43.19 in November 2024.
  • Volatility: Mean absolute month-to-month change ~4.8%, indicating a relatively stable global backdrop compared to India’s swings.
  • Month-by-month positioning vs baseline:
  • Above market in September, October, December, January, February, March, May, and June (e.g., January +100% vs baseline).
  • Below market in November, April, and August (August -84% vs baseline).

Seasonality and patterns

  • Seasonal lift is evident: costs typically rise in late Q4 and carry into Q1. India’s Software Development segment followed this pattern strongly, with notable strength in December–March.
  • A normalization phase followed in spring (April–June), and a pronounced trough appeared in August.
  • The global baseline shows a milder version of the same seasonality: a modest Q4/Q1 uplift followed by gradual softening into early summer.

Understanding cost-per-purchase benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development and India 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 India, 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.

India Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 26Republic Day
Mar 14Holi
Apr 18Good Friday
May 1Labour Day
Aug 15Independence Day
Oct 2Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti
Oct 21Diwali
Dec 25Christmas Day

Key Shopping Season

October (Diwali), Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas), July–August (Raksha Bandhan, Ganesh Chaturthi)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPMs might spike significantly during Diwali, especially in electronics, apparel, jewellery, and gifts. Black Friday/Cyber Monday and December could drive elevated ad competition. State-specific festivals might see regional campaign spikes. Bank closures during holidays may push online shopping to cluster in end-of-week periods.

What's a healthy cost per purchase for ecommerce brands?

It depends on your product price and margins. Most brands aim for $10 to $50. For higher-ticket products, a higher CPA may be acceptable as long as you're maintaining a strong return on ad spend.

How does product price impact CPA benchmarks?

Higher-priced products typically have a higher CPA because people take longer to convert. That's not necessarily a problem if your margin can support it. You should measure CPA in context with AOV and LTV.

Why are my purchase costs going up despite stable ROAS?

Your AOV may be increasing, which helps maintain ROAS even if CPA rises. You could also be facing higher CPMs, lower conversion rates, or creative fatigue.

Should I use manual bidding to control CPA more effectively?

Manual bidding can help if you're struggling to stay within target CPA. It's best used by experienced advertisers who can monitor performance and adjust regularly. It gives more control, but also requires more effort.

How do I scale spend without letting CPA skyrocket?

Increase budget gradually, rotate creative often, and avoid overlapping audiences. Scaling too quickly can lead to audience saturation and rising CPAs.