Best Mobile Ad Networks for App Publishers in 2026 (Android and iOS)
In this guide, a publisher is an app owner who earns by showing ads inside an Android or iOS app, not the owner of a website. The networks are compared on formats, SDK and mediation support, payout terms and store coverage, using each network's own documentation as of October 2026. Most apps run more than one network, so the list reads as a set of building blocks rather than a single winner.
Key Takeaways
- Games: rewarded and interstitial formats fit game loops, and mediation platforms such as AppLovin MAX and Unity LevelPlay support both.
- Utility apps: banner, native and app open formats sit alongside the app's flow without interrupting it.
- Any app: start with one mediation layer, then add networks as separate demand sources.
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What a Mobile Ad Network Does and How It Differs from Mediation
A mobile ad network connects app publishers to advertisers and delivers ads through an SDK, a code package added to the app. The network runs the auction for its own demand, which may include bids from many demand-side platforms. A mediation platform works one level above: it connects several networks to the same app and runs a unified auction between them, so the highest bid wins no matter which network supplied it.
The two are usually combined, not chosen between. An app integrates one mediation SDK, then adds networks as demand sources. Some networks also offer bidding inside mediation, where each network submits a real-time price instead of a fixed estimate. A direct SDK from a single network is simpler but leaves the app with one source of demand. Yango Ads Ad Network is one example of a network that connects through mediation platforms as well as through its own SDK.
How to Choose a Mobile Ad Network
Six checks cover most decisions. Each should be answered from the network's own documentation, not from a third-party roundup.
| Criterion | What to check |
|---|---|
| Formats | Interstitial, rewarded, banner, native, app open and whether each fits the app's screens |
| Platforms and SDK | Android, iOS, Unity, Flutter or React Native support, and integration effort |
| Mediation and bidding | Which mediation platforms the network plugs into and whether it bids in real time |
| Payout terms | Minimum balance, currency, payment cycle |
| Country coverage | Where the network has advertisers, since demand is regional |
| Moderation and stores | Review time for new apps and support for alternative app stores |
Formats and platforms rule networks in or out first. A game built in Unity needs a Unity-compatible SDK before anything else matters, and an app distributed through Huawei AppGallery or RuStore needs a network that supports those stores. Mediation support comes next, because it decides how easily a network can be added later.
Payout terms and country coverage decide the economics. Payments are usually monthly, and the minimum balance determines when a small app is first paid. Demand is regional: a network strong in one region can fill poorly in another, so publishers compare fill and eCPM per country rather than a global average. Independent eCPM benchmarks by format are scarce, so this guide quotes only what networks publish about themselves.
Mobile Ad Networks Compared
Each entry below uses the same template and links to the network's official page. The order does not rank them.
Best for: apps that want Google demand and a familiar console
AdMob lists more than 1 million apps and a presence in 200+ countries, and says it powers 81% of the top 1,000 Android apps. Formats are native, rewarded, banner, video and interstitial, with bidding support. Payments run on a monthly cycle, usually around the 21st if the threshold is met and no hold applies. The threshold varies by currency and payment methods vary by country.
Best for: apps that need a mediation layer with a unified auction
MAX runs a unified auction across connected networks with bidding, in rewarded, app open, interstitial, MREC, banner and native formats. AppLovin states that mediation itself is free, that bidding networks pay AppLovin a fee, and that integration usually takes under a day. Attribution partners include AppsFlyer, Adjust, Singular, Kochava, Tenjin and Branch, and an Ad Review tool screens creatives.
Best for: apps adding SDK-based demand, including from alternative stores
One SDK gives access to 600,000+ advertisers and 70+ DSPs in 100+ countries, with demand from Eastern Europe, the CIS, Asia and the Middle East. Formats are interstitial, rewarded, banner, native, app open and feed, on Android, iOS, Unity, React Native and Flutter. Supported stores include App Store, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery, Xiaomi GetApps, RuStore and Samsung Galaxy Store. It works with Unity LevelPlay, AppLovin MAX, Google AdMob, Appodeal, AdMost, TradPlus and TopOn, and with bidding through MAX, LevelPlay, TopOn and TradPlus. Moderation takes up to two business days, and payouts are monthly in USD with a $150 or €100 minimum.
Best for: Unity games and teams that want built-in A/B testing
LevelPlay is Unity's mediation platform with a unified auction, rewarded, interstitial, banner and native formats, A/B testing, Ad Quality tools and integration through the Unity Editor. Unity Ads is the company's own network, delivered through a single SDK, with the Unity Ads network and Unity Exchange and bidding inside mediation platforms.
Best for: apps looking at an additional global demand source
InMobi Advertising offers ad monetization as a product for app publishers. Payout and format details sit behind its publisher sign-up, so confirm terms on its site before integrating.
Best for: publishers who want an open-standards exchange
Smaato's marketplace now sits within Verve's Brand+ Marketplace. Verve states access to 100+ DSPs in 150+ countries through a mobile SDK, with IAB OpenRTB support, Sellers.json and app-ads.txt, and ad-quality partners GeoEdge, Human and Pixalate.
Best for: teams that want an open-source mediation SDK
Appodeal reports 2,500+ publishers and 50B+ monthly impressions over ten years. Its mediation SDK is open source, with a stated policy of no lock-ins and no black box, and the company is an IAB member.
Ad Formats and the App Types They Fit
Six formats cover almost every in-app placement.
Interstitial
A full-screen ad between two app states, such as between game levels.
Rewarded
An opt-in ad: the user watches in exchange for something in the app, such as a premium feature or an extra life.
Banner
A fixed strip at the edge of the screen, suited to utilities that people leave open.
Native
An ad that takes on the look of the app's own interface, which fits content and social apps.
App open
An ad shown as the app launches or returns to the foreground.
Feed
An ad placed inside scrolling lists, in line with the content around it.
Games lean on rewarded and interstitial placements, while utilities and content apps lean on banner, native and feed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the usual minimum payout for mobile ad networks?
It varies by network and currency. Google AdMob sets a threshold by currency and pays on a monthly cycle, while Yango Ads Ad Network pays monthly in USD with a minimum of $150 or €100. Always check the current threshold and payment methods on the network's own page.
How soon do ads start after integration?
It depends on moderation and integration time. AppLovin says MAX integration usually takes under a day, and Yango Ads states moderation of up to two business days. Ads can start once the app is approved and the SDK is live, though fill can build gradually.
Can an app use several ad networks at once?
Yes. Most apps do, through a mediation platform such as AppLovin MAX or Unity LevelPlay. The platform runs a unified auction and serves the highest bid, so extra networks add competition for each impression without extra code per placement.
Do mobile ad networks support alternative app stores?
Some do. Yango Ads lists App Store, Google Play, Huawei AppGallery, Xiaomi GetApps, RuStore and Samsung Galaxy Store. Others focus on the two main stores, so check store support before integrating if the app ships through Huawei, Xiaomi, Samsung or RuStore.
What is in-app bidding?
In-app bidding lets networks submit a real-time price for each impression inside a mediation auction, instead of a fixed estimate set in advance. The highest bid wins. Mediation platforms such as AppLovin MAX and Unity LevelPlay support it, and AdMob lists bidding as a feature.
Does an app need a minimum amount of traffic?
Requirements differ and are set by each network, so confirm them in its documentation. Publishers adding an extra source can review the Ad Network by Yango Ads for its moderation steps and payout terms before connecting it through mediation.