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Facebook Ads CTR Benchmarks for Software Development in Netherlands

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CTR (Click Through Rate) for Software Development in Netherlands

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, this analysis looks at click-through-rate trends for industry Software Development and target country Netherlands compared to the global trend.
  • The Netherlands series sits below market throughout the period: average click-through-rate (CTR) is 0.76% versus a global baseline of 1.81% (58% lower).
  • Seasonal pattern diverges from the global trend. Netherlands peaks in December 2024 (1.10%), while the global median dips through late Q4 and early Q1 before climbing steadily to September.
  • Volatility is higher in the Netherlands: average month-to-month swing is 0.16 percentage points (about 21% of its average), versus 0.05 points globally (~3% of the baseline average).

Selected trend overview: Software Development in the Netherlands

  • Period covered: Oct 2024–Sep 2025 (monthly medians).
  • Average CTR: 0.76%.
  • High: 1.10% in December 2024.
  • Low: 0.55% in April 2025.
  • First-to-last change: from 0.59% (Oct 2024) to 0.76% (Sep 2025), a +27.3% increase.
  • Volatility:
  • Average absolute month-to-month change: 0.16 points.
  • Largest jump: +0.30 points from November to December (+36.9% vs. November).
  • Largest drop: −0.36 points from December to January (−33.3% vs. December).
  • Notable movements:
  • Q4 spike: October (0.59%) to December (1.10%) delivered the period’s strongest upswing.
  • Post-holiday reset: January–April softened to the annual low in April (0.55%).
  • Summer stabilisation: July–August hovered in a tight 0.78%–0.82% band, easing slightly in September (0.76%).

Comparison with the global baseline

  • Average CTR: 0.76% (NL, Software Development) vs 1.81% (global). Netherlands remains below market in every month of the period.
  • Highs vs lows:
  • Netherlands range: 0.55% (Apr) to 1.10% (Dec), amplitude 0.54 points (about 72% of its average).
  • Global range: 1.67% (Feb) to 2.12% (Sep), amplitude 0.44 points (about 24% of its average).
  • Trend shape:
  • Global: softening across late Q4 and early Q1 (lowest in February), then a steady rise through September.
  • Netherlands: opposite Q4 behavior with a December peak, followed by a sharper Q1–Q2 dip and a steady summer recovery.
  • Momentum:
  • First-to-last change: +27.3% Netherlands vs +20.1% global, indicating stronger relative improvement off a lower base.
  • Volatility: 0.16 points average MoM change (NL) vs 0.05 points (global), signaling more month-to-month fluctuation in the Netherlands.

Seasonality to note

  • Global Facebook Ads CTR typically softens around late Q4 and early Q1, then strengthens into late summer.
  • Netherlands (Software Development) diverges with a pronounced December peak and an April trough, before settling into steadier summer performance.

Understanding click-through-rate benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development and Netherlands 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 Software Development industry, Facebook ad costs can be influenced by seasonal trends and market competition. For campaigns targeting Netherlands, 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.

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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.

Netherlands Advertising Landscape

National Holidays

Jan 1New Year's Day
Apr 18Good Friday
Apr 20Easter Sunday
Apr 21Easter Monday
Apr 26King's Day
May 5Liberation Day
May 29Ascension Day
Jun 8Pentecost Sunday
Jun 9Pentecost Monday
Dec 25Christmas Day
Dec 26Boxing Day

Key Shopping Season

Late November–early December (Black Friday/Cyber Monday), December (Christmas and Boxing Day sales), Spring holidays (April–June tourism)

Potential Advertising Impact

CPM and CPC might rise during spring holiday cluster when travel and leisure ads see elevated engagement. Liberation Day (May 5) is mandatory national holiday—ad inventory might shrink. Ad competition increases in late December for holiday promotions. Few summer holidays mean more consistent campaign performance through summer.

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.