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

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Cost Per Purchase for Software Development in United Kingdom

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • Based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks, cost-per-purchase for Software Development in Great Britain averaged 66.31 over Oct 2024–Aug 2025—34.7% above the global baseline (49.24).
  • Volatility was high: average month-to-month change was 25.7% for the selected data versus 4.7% for the baseline, indicating more erratic costs than the overall market.
  • High/low range was wide: a peak of 98.57 in July 2025 and a low of 38.18 in November 2024. The baseline’s peak was 53.89 (February 2025) and low 43.19 (November 2024).
  • Trend direction diverged: Great Britain rose 34.1% from October 2024 to August 2025, while the global benchmark fell 2.1% over the same period.
  • Seasonal patterns appear: costs lifted into December–February, then surged again in late Q2–Q3. The baseline shows a mild winter uptick and a gradual summer easing.

Introduction

This analysis looks at cost-per-purchase trends for industry Software Development and target country Great Britain compared to the global trend. It focuses on Facebook Ads benchmarks and advertising costs, helping marketers understand country-specific ad performance against worldwide norms.

Selected trend overview (Software Development, Great Britain)

  • Average: 66.31 across Oct 2024–Aug 2025.
  • High/low: 98.57 (July 2025) and 38.18 (November 2024).
  • First-to-last change: +34.1% (54.56 in October 2024 to 73.13 in August 2025).
  • Volatility: average absolute month-to-month change of 25.7%.
  • Notable swings:
  • Sharp dip in November 2024 (-30% vs October), followed by a strong rebound in December (+52%).
  • Additional spikes in February (+27%), May (+44%), and July (+36%).
  • Pullbacks in March (-24%) and August (-26%).

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Relative level: 34.7% above market on average (66.31 vs 49.24), indicating consistently higher costs than the overall benchmark.
  • Extremes vs market:
  • July 2025: 98.57 vs 46.21 baseline—113% above market.
  • November 2024: 38.18 vs 43.19 baseline—11.6% below market.
  • August 2025: 73.13 vs 45.69 baseline—60.1% above market.
  • Baseline dynamics: average 49.24, high 53.89 (February 2025), low 43.19 (November 2024), and a slight decline from October 2024 to August 2025 (-2.1%). Month-to-month movement remained modest at 4.7%, in line with a stable global trend.
  • Positioning: Great Britain’s Software Development costs were generally above market and materially more volatile than the global benchmark.

Seasonality and volatility signals

  • Seasonal lift: Both series show a rise into December–February, a common pattern as year-end and early-year demand increases. The Great Britain series displays a stronger late Q2–Q3 surge, culminating in a July peak.
  • Summer contrast: While the baseline eased gradually into summer, Great Britain moved higher into July before correcting in August.
  • Overall, the selected series shows larger and more frequent swings than the global trend, with pronounced spikes and dips around holiday and mid-year periods.

Understanding cost-per-purchase 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'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.