Facebook Ads Insights Tool

Facebook Ads CTR Benchmarks for SaaS & Cloud Platforms in South Africa

See how your CTR stacks up. Explore industry, regional, and campaign-type benchmarks with Superads.

CTR (Click Through Rate) for SaaS & Cloud Platforms in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Facebook Ads click-through-rate benchmarks: SaaS & Cloud Platforms, South Africa vs global

This analysis looks at click-through-rate trends for industry SaaS & Cloud Platforms and target country South Africa compared to the global trend. The analysis is based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.

  • Overall level: South Africa’s average click-through-rate (CTR) is 1.50%, sitting below the global average of 1.81% (about 17% lower). Excluding a single outlier in July, South Africa’s average is 0.92%, positioning it well below market for most months.
  • Direction of travel: From October 2024 to September 2025, South Africa declines 18% (0.89% to 0.73%), while the global baseline rises 20% (1.76% to 2.12%).
  • Volatility: South Africa shows high volatility due to a July spike. Average month-to-month change is 1.41 percentage points (pp); excluding July, volatility normalizes to 0.15 pp, still above the global baseline’s 0.05 pp.
  • Seasonality: Global CTR trends strengthen steadily from late Q1 through Q3, peaking in September. South Africa sees modest Q1 gains, a mid-year dip (June low), a singular July spike, then a return to sub‑1% levels—less aligned with the global seasonal climb.

Selected data highlights: SaaS & Cloud Platforms in South Africa

  • Average: 1.50%; median: 0.91% (illustrates the July outlier).
  • High/low: Highest in July 2025 at 7.81%; lowest in June 2025 at 0.70%.
  • Notable movements:
  • Q4 2024 averages 0.87%, remaining tightly clustered (0.83%–0.89%).
  • Q1 2025 rises to 1.12% on average, with gains into March (1.23%).
  • April–June softens sharply: April down 25% vs March; June hits the series low (0.70%).
  • July surges to 7.81% (+1,020% vs June), then normalizes in August (0.78%) and September (0.73%).
  • First-to-last change: -18% (0.89% to 0.73%).

Comparison to the global baseline

  • Level: South Africa is below market in 11 out of 12 months; only July sits far above the global trend. Removing July, South Africa’s average (0.92%) is roughly half the global average (1.81%).
  • High/low: Global peaks at 2.12% (September 2025) and bottoms at 1.67% (February 2025). The baseline range is tight and steadily upward, unlike South Africa’s sharp mid-year swing.
  • Volatility: Global average absolute month-to-month change is 0.05 pp—an order of magnitude steadier than South Africa (0.15 pp without July, 1.41 pp with July).
  • Trend: The global series gradually climbs from February onward, reflecting stronger CTRs into mid/late year. South Africa diverges with a mid-year decline, a one-month spike, and reversion below 1%.

Seasonal and quarterly context

  • South Africa:
  • Q4 2024: Stable, sub‑1% CTRs (avg 0.87%).
  • Q1 2025: Gradual improvement (avg 1.12%).
  • Q2 2025: Weakening into a June low.
  • Q3 2025: Distorted by a July spike; August–September return to ~0.75%.
  • Global:
  • Softness through early Q1, then a steady rise from Q2 through Q3, culminating at 2.12% in September.

Understanding click-through-rate benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry SaaS & Cloud Platforms and South Africa helps advertisers make more efficient budget and creative choices.

Understanding the Data

Insights & analysis of Facebook advertising costs

Click-Through Rate (CTR) is the percentage of impressions that resulted in a click on the Facebook ad. In the SaaS & Cloud Platforms industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting South Africa, 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. 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. 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.

Optimize Smarter with Superads

Improve your Facebook ad performance

Instant performance insights – See which ads, audiences, and creatives drive results.

Data-driven creative decisions – Spot patterns to improve ROAS.

Effortless reporting – No spreadsheets, just clear insights.

Get Started for free →

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.

South Africa Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Mar 21Human Rights Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 21Family Day
Apr 27Freedom Day
May 1Workers' Day
Jun 16Youth Day
Aug 9National Women's Day
Sep 24Heritage Day
Dec 16Day of Reconciliation
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Day of Goodwill

Key Shopping Season

Late November (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas & Day of Goodwill), Mid-year retail (June Youth Day promotions)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during long weekends like Human Rights Day, Freedom Day, and Heritage Day as leisure and travel-related media consumption increases. Retail CPMs may spike in late November–December for holiday shopping. Youth Day and National Women's Day might drive regional campaigns. Weekend extensions across public holidays may benefit weekend campaigns.

What is CTR and why does it matter for Facebook ads?

CTR (Click-Through Rate) is the percentage of people who click your ad after seeing it. It's calculated by dividing total clicks by total impressions, then multiplying by 100. A high CTR indicates your ad resonates with your audience and helps improve your relevance score, which can lower your overall costs.

What's the average CTR for Facebook ads in 2025?

The average Facebook ad CTR across industries sits around 0.90-1.10%. But there's significant variation. Your specific industry, audience targeting, and campaign objectives should determine your benchmark.

Why is my Facebook ad CTR consistently low?

Low CTR usually stems from poor audience targeting, weak creative, or a disconnect between your ad content and audience needs. Your ad might simply not be standingo out enough. Check if your visuals grab attention, your copy addresses clear pain points, and your audience targeting aligns with people genuinely interested in your offer.

Is CTR still a reliable metric for ad performance in 2025?

Yes—but only in context. High CTR is a signal that your creative works, but it doesn't guarantee conversions. Use it alongside other metrics like conversion rate to get the full picture.