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Facebook Ads CTR Benchmarks for Software Development in South Africa

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CTR (Click Through Rate) for Software Development in South Africa

October 2024 - October 2025

Insights

Detailed observation of presented data

Key takeaways

  • This analysis looks at click-through-rate trends for industry Software Development and target country South Africa compared to the global trend, based on $3B worth of advertising data from our dataset, which provides strong directional benchmarks.
  • South Africa’s click-through-rate (CTR) averaged 1.15% from Oct 2024–Aug 2025, about 35% below the global baseline average of 1.78% over the same months.
  • Seasonal softness is evident in December–January, followed by a sharp rebound from March and a mid‑year plateau (May–July). Globally, CTR trends steadily upward through the year.
  • Volatility is high locally (average absolute month‑to‑month swing ~36.8%) versus a steady global pattern (~2.7%).

Scope and dataset

  • Metric: click-through-rate (CTR)
  • Industry: Software Development
  • Country: South Africa
  • Period covered: Oct 2024–Aug 2025
  • Comparison: global baseline over the same months

South Africa (selected data) overview

  • Average CTR: 1.15%; median: 1.12%.
  • High: 1.70% in July 2025; low: 0.49% in January 2025 (range: 1.21 percentage points).
  • Change from first to last month: +78.6% (0.85% in Oct 2024 to 1.52% in Aug 2025).
  • Volatility: average absolute month‑to‑month change of ~36.8%.
  • Notable movements:
  • Q4 into early Q1 softness: 1.02% in November down to 0.64% in December and 0.49% in January.
  • Sharp rebound: February to March jumps from 0.54% to 1.56% (+191%).
  • Mid‑year plateau: May–July holds in a tight 1.60%–1.70% band before a modest August dip to 1.52% (-11% vs. July).

Global baseline comparison

  • Average CTR: 1.78%; median: 1.74%.
  • High: 2.02% in August 2025; low: 1.67% in February 2025 (range: 0.35 percentage points).
  • Change from first to last month (Oct–Aug): +14.7%.
  • Volatility: average absolute month‑to‑month change of ~2.7%.
  • Relative positioning of South Africa vs. global:
  • Consistently below market in every month of the period.
  • The gap is widest in Dec–Feb (South Africa at 29%–38% of the global level) and narrows markedly in Mar–Jul (roughly 89%–90% of global).
  • Even at the peak (1.70% in July), South Africa remains ~16% below the global peak (2.02% in August).

Seasonal patterns

  • The data shows a clear December–January dip in South Africa’s CTR with a strong recovery from March, aligning with common seasonal dynamics in Facebook Ads where holiday-period shifts can soften CTR, followed by improved engagement in late Q1 and sustained mid‑year performance.
  • The global baseline rises steadily from February through August, indicating broadly strengthening engagement into mid‑year, with a pronounced late‑summer peak.

Understanding click-through-rate benchmarks on Facebook Ads in industry Software Development 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 Software Development 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.

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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.

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.