10 Best Mobile Ad Networks for Publishers in 2025: Maximize Revenue & Growth

Once upon a time, TV was the pinnacle of progress: ads promised to wait on hand and foot and pandered to the lowest common denominator of viewer. But as the hype began to recede, more sophisticated and faster means of interacting with the world around came into view.

Nowadays, smartphones and other mobile devices are shaping our reality, providing a plethora of monetization options for every mobile publisher. It seems easy: pick an ad network and watch your revenue grow… Right?

Let’s see if it’s truly that simple — and explore mobile ad platforms that deliver the highest returns.

What Is a Mobile Ad Network? (Simple Definition + Real-World Analogy)

First and foremost, we'd like to expound on a common point of confusion: are mobile ad networks and app ad networks the same thing? The answer is yes: these are alternate terms that refer to integrated platforms connecting advertisers with app developers or publishers seeking monetization opportunities.

If the explanation seems complex and dense, as if ripped out from a textbook on marketing, here's the illustrative example you've been waiting for. Think of it as a version of a taxi aggregator, Uber, Bolt, Lyft, or anything else, connecting drivers with passengers. The only difference is that mobile/app ad networks connect those with ad space (publishers) to those looking to fill it (advertisers).

How Mobile Ad Networks Work: From Impression to Payout

If you hoped for a clandestine reconnoiter resulting in a folder with a huge CLASSIFIED stamp upon it, this is not the case. On such platforms, marketplaces by nature, an app developer — a mobile ad publisher from this perspective — sells ad inventory, and an advertiser bids to display their ads. These networks streamline the complex process of matching available ad space with relevant, targeted advertisements, enabling efficient monetization for publishers and optimized exposure for advertisers.

This is one side of the process, but there's a more interesting pattern if we pry into the app user's head.

First, the moment a user opens the app, a piece of ad inventory is created and made available for bidding. Then, the app network taps into various demand sources — direct advertisers, DSPs, SSPs, or ad exchanges — and uses the data received from the publisher to identify the most relevant ad.

The steps above were a complicated prelude to the result you've seen yourself on different apps: once the system defines the best ad, the selected creative is delivered to the user. Ta-da!

Why Mobile Ad Networks Are Essential in 2025

It doesn't matter which side you take, advertiser's or publisher's, you're already winning — or at least, saving time and money, but you're already familiar with those. Let's take it one step further: we make up a list of the general benefits and then split the table for publishers and advertisers.

General advantages

• Automation. In the digital era, things are no longer done manually, and mobile marketing ad networks follow suit: programmatic advertising is taking over for a reason.

• Analytics. App ad networks are known for their real-time performance metrics that can help you make a motivated, rational decision and optimize campaigns.

• User acquisition. Precise targeting settings and more refined ad delivery help reach relevant users, which eventually boosts overall ROI.

Now, it’s time to highlight the benefits for advertisers and publishers.

Top 5 Mobile Advertising Business Models Explained

Before we segue into a more detailed discussion dedicated to mobile ad networks ranking and mobile ad networks with highest CPM, let us clarify the most common business models for a better understanding of the entire phenomenon.

CPM (Cost-Per-Mille): When Brand Awareness Matters Most

Let's start with the most effective monetization strategies, known as CPM.

In the CPM model, publishers earn money every time an ad is displayed, and user interaction is not taken into account. Publishers working with this payment model are paid for every 1,000 impressions served on their app, which means that even passive views generate income.

On the other hand, advertisers are charged a fixed rate for every 1,000 impressions, but this leads to wider exposure of their product.

CPC (Cost-Per-Click): Balancing Traffic Quality and Budget

The CPC model is remarkably clear and doesn't require a lengthy explanation: advertisers are charged only when users click on their ads. Advertisers tend to frequently resort to this payment model as they don't have to pay for exposure, and, essentially, this approach seems exceedingly cost-effective from their point of view; it still poses a serious threat to mobile platforms and publishers. Since payment is based solely on clicks, they may end up serving a large number of ad impressions that generate no direct revenue.

CPI/CPA (Cost-Per-Install/Action): Performance-Driven Campaigns

In this section, we will distinguish and describe two similar payment models. Technically, one segues into the other, but it's important to understand the difference.

The first one, CPI, charges advertisers only when users click on ads and install the app.

The second one, CPA, is a more advanced version of CPI. In this model, advertisers pay only when users perform specific actions: signing up for an account, making an in-app purchase, starting a free trial, or subscribing to a service.

Hybrid Models: Flexibility for Niche Goals

Depending on your business goals and preferences, you might not find the previous models enticing in any way: some don't provide the expected level of control over spending and performance, and others can't be sufficiently aligned with your campaign goals. In this case, you might want to combine two approaches — this is what we will essentially call a hybrid model.

• CPM + CPC. In this model, advertisers, who get a broader reach with CPM, are willing to pay extra for CPC — actual clicks.

• CPC + CPM. Advertisers pay per click as intended, but they are not opposed to the idea of paying an additional fee in case the user takes a specific action.

• CPA + CPI. A combination of these two similar models is an ideal approach for mobile app marketers: advertisers pay when the app is installed, but deeper in-app actions are also incentivized.

Critical Factors to Choose the *Right* Mobile Ad Network

As a professional affiliate, you can probably come up with a list twice as long, but we want to discuss the most salient factors, so you can pick the safest platform possible.

• Ad quality. Polished creatives are perfect, but business can't be found on high-resolution pictures — when you choose a platform, you expect a certain level of trust. A reliable ad network should offer vetting tools to review advertiser campaigns and support fraud-prevention standards.

• Size. The following passage doesn't imply that you should always select the largest mobile ad networks and never try new offers on the market. All we mean to say is that as an expert, you need a diverse — and quite extensive — pool of global demand partners. The broader the reach, the higher the chance your inventory gets filled quickly and consistently.

• Support. Quite possible, you've shifted focus and are still learning to interact with the platform. If this platform provides round-the-clock support and solves problems in a prompt fashion, you know you can rely on it.

• Publisher controls. Look for platforms that give you control over your inventory. Features like floor pricing, demand source blacklisting, and ad format filtering allow you to customize which types of ads appear in your app.

• Pricing models. Once you've made up your mind which payment model you prioritize, scrutinize the payment terms and make sure you understand how and when you will get paid.

Top 10 Mobile Ad Networks in 2025 (Tested & Ranked)

Now we are ready to go and enjoy the adventure! Keep your tabs open, perhaps you might want to check out a few companies from our list of the best mobile ad networks for publishers.

AdMob

The cohort of affiliates who use Google services for their daily routine may find themselves more than a little enticed by Google’s mobile advertising subsidiary, one of the top mobile advertising companies, AdMob.

While the program has a few limitations, the most salient of which is the number of ads displayed on the feed during scrolling, overall, it is a remarkable solution that allows affiliates to run ads in various formats (banners, videos, natives, etc.) and place them either manually or automatically, depending on your preferences and expectations. Another perk that defines the platform is that it is possible to connect AdMob to Google Analytics to monitor your campaign performance in real-time.

Facebook Audience Network

Encountering the name of the software, you may erroneously think that the Facebook Audience Network reaches the audience on Facebook and Instagram, and discard the option if you don't work with these sources of traffic. Halt and read before you make such a drastic decision: the rumor has it that using this platform, advertisers can display their ads on third-party mobile apps.

However, this isn't the only advantage we can highlight. Among others, the Facebook Audience Network has a variety of tools to define and narrow down the audience based on a plethora of parameters, including age, location, gender, relationship status, education, occupation, and interests. As for the ad formats, the platform provides a slew of options:

• Images

• Videos

• Carousels

• Slideshows

• Collections

• Lead ads

• Dynamic ads

The company might be lacking a few formats, but either way, the Facebook Audience Network still remains a robust platform for advertising and monetization.

Unity Ads

Have you ever heard of Unity Ads? The iGaming professionals are sure in the know, but we can't maintain the mystery: it is our duty to impart the secret and educate affiliates.

We didn't mention the iGaming experts for effect: the reason is that Unity Ads was created with the purpose of monetizing mobile games through video ads. The result is here to observe: this platform is compatible with both iOS and Android, works across all top game engines, and supports both CPM and CPI campaigns.

Additionally, Unity Ads boasts an intuitive dashboard that delivers real-time reporting, letting you monitor the performance of your campaigns by the hour or day and make informed decisions.

InMobi

InMobi is an advertising solution you should scrutinize if you're a publisher, intending to reach a global audience and monetize your app on both mobile and web platforms, as this platform has a strong presence in various regions, including the US, UK, Europe, South Africa, Japan, India, and Kenya.

InMobi is compatible with Android and iOS, supports CPC and CPI campaigns, and offers a wide range of ad formats: banners, natives, videos, rich media, and interstitial ads. Additionally, publishers can resort to the built-in tools that can define the target audience using the following parameters:

• Device type

• Mobile carrier

• Operating system

• Country

• Channel

• Network operator

• Time of day.

Amazon Publisher Services

Amazon's dominating presence in affiliate marketing should be subject to thorough analysis, but today, we will only focus on one more advertising solution the company provides: Amazon Publisher Services, further abbreviated to APS.

Unsurprisingly, APS comes with exclusive Amazon ad demand and seamless integration with other demand sources and leverages in-app header bidding technologies. At the same time, any publisher working with the platform is given access to advanced analytics, reporting, optimization, and performance tracking tools.

SmartyAds

Another impressive mobile advertising data network we want to cover in this article is undoubtedly SmartyAds, an advertising solution that can provide access to DSPs, premium campaigns, and ad agencies through OpenRTB protocols.

SmartyAds offers a range of ad formats, including video, native, display, and rich media, and works across various devices: mobile, tablet, desktop, and TV. Essentially, this platform delivers an ecosystem with its own SSP, contextual targeting, creative builder, and AI-powered bid optimization.

Apple Search Ads

The former advertising solutions were remarkably versatile and worked with almost any platform imaginable, but it is quite possible that you are targeting a particular group of people — Apple users precisely. In this case, you should consider Apple Search Ads as your next platform of interest.

However, there's not much to say about the software: the approach it uses resembles Google Ads, and the sponsored ads appear at the top of the search results in the App Store on iPhones. That's it, folks.

PubMatic

This article wouldn't be half as good if it failed to bring up another treasure trove for publishers, PubMatic, a company that connects premium publishers with top-tier advertisers through real-time ad transactions.

Although AI and machine learning are no longer a novelty in the world of digital marketing, PubMatic's approach takes it to a whole new level: the developers managed to automate pricing, optimize yield, and create a set of useful features, among which you can discover dynamic ad podding, automated deal management, benchmarking & demand insights, PMP, bid-stream reporting, and 24/7 deal diagnostics. Technically, the company is focused on unifying bidding across channels and aims to provide an omnichannel monetization strategy across formats and devices.

ironSource

Since 2022, ironSource has been an integral part of the Unity family, one of the platforms we mentioned earlier. However, its influence and capabilities are so impressive that we cannot overlook it. Hence, this solution deserves its own section.

First off, ironSource comprises a powerful suite of tools designed to help app developers grow in a professional sense of the word: they are introduced to a bulk of high-quality ads from top global brands via the ironSource and Unity Ads Exchange.

Simultaneously, this platform pays specific attention to user acquisition campaigns, so if you are particularly curious about the subject, you might want to check out the solution for yourself. As developers claim, user acquisition campaigns are backed by data-driven optimization and deep analytics, so you will be able to dissect your campaign, point out the most problematic aspects, and eliminate them in a timely fashion.

AppLovin MAX

Sometimes such lists look like music charts of the 2000s, but this is not the original intention: we simply enumerate the most notable solutions, not putting the best one higher, and shoving the ones we liked the least in the imaginary footer. After all, we are not here to guide your hand: you should weigh the pros and cons, estimate your spend, and then decide which option fits the bill.

With that in mind, let us continue and finalize the list with AppLovin MAX, providing, perhaps, one of the widest selections of ad formats in the market. They work with:

• Native

• Display

• Banner

• Rewarded

• Rich Media

• Playable

• MREC

• Interstitial

Additionally, MAX doesn't impose any particular pattern on you: you are allowed to work the way you used to, optimizing the approach in the process. Not only does the platform offer access to the most competitive demand, but it also provides custom integration options for anyone you work with.

Advanced Tactics to Maximize Revenue

Unfortunately, an app ad network is not enough to increase your revenue and mesmerize customers: the problem is that attention spans are shrinking more and more, and people are no longer paying heed to what they see. That's why you should fuel your creative streak and go beyond the basics without compromising user experience.

Use Hybrid Monetization Models

We've mentioned a few hybrid payment models in one of the paragraphs above, so you should have no difficulties here. Active players certainly recognize the tactic: remember the last time you found yourself at an impasse trying to finish a level in your favorite game? At first, you are convinced you don't need a hint; after a dozen rounds, you are not so sure. When you run out of patience, you press the hint button and watch

a rewarded video instead of paying for the clue.

Optimize User Segments for Ad Targeting

We won't bombard you with the obvious conclusions you're already aware of, but this one is so paramount we cannot neglect it.

Before you take your campaign one step forward, segment your users based on various parameters: behavior, GEO, and LTV. It is important because high-value users tend to make in-app purchases, while those in the category of lower LTV are better monetized through ads. These revelations make a real difference, letting you customize the ad frequency and formats for each segment.

Implement Frequency Caps and UX Controls

Reduced attention spans are only half the problem. The other half is fatigue: people hate watching ads frequently. Luckily, you can avoid ad fatigue by applying frequency caps and smart pacing. As a result, you will get longer sessions and more monetization opportunities.

Use Creative Optimization for User Acquisition and Monetization

Another fundamental truth that doesn't get emphasized enough. Test your creatives, update them when needed, and analyze their performance to engage more people and drive conversions.

Future-Proofing Your Strategy: 2025 Trends

Tarot reading isn't an option, but sometimes you have to take a glimpse of the foreseeable future to stay ahead of the curve. Consider us your personal Madame Lenormand who's aware of the key trends shaping 2025.

• AI-Powered Automation. If we use the teen drama/synopsis language, AI and machine learning are the heartthrobs of the class, as they automate monetization decisions, optimize yield, and troubleshoot issues in real time.

• Omnichannel monetization. We've hinted at it earlier, but it is now time to say it loud and clear: omnichannel monetization is the new sexy! Users move across devices and platforms — they start with their phones in the morning and power up their computers in the evening, so it is only logical for you to follow suit and run campaigns across desktop, mobile, and CTV.

• First-party data. You may have noticed that third-party data is becoming less available, so first-party data is being brought to the foreground. That means that user behavior, the length of the sessions, and other relevant characteristics are super valuable today and can help you target audiences through direct deals.

Key Takeaways: Actionable Insights for Publishers

Time to sum things up and roll out the list of takeaways.

1. Diversify monetization. We've mentioned this before and provided an illustrative example with a game you can't accomplish, but we'll repeat: you can combine ads with in-app purchases or subscriptions.
2. Divide your audience into segments. Use different parameters (behavior, GEO, LTV, interest, and more) to tailor user ad experience and improve retention rate.
3. Prioritize user experience. This is a wise step in any campaign: manage ad frequency and pick the formats that keep users engaged, not fazed.
4. Automate your campaigns. AI-powered tools can optimize a few tasks, save time and money, and analyze the metrics you didn't even think possible.
5. Focus on omnichannel monetization. Explore the opportunities and expand beyond mobile: remember, there's desktop, CTV, and other platforms where users spend time.

Mobile Ad Networks FAQ

Quite possibly, we haven't specified certain aspects within the body of the article, so we decided to add another section where we answer the most common questions.

How do I avoid ad network scams?

Eliminate the possibility of scam at the very beginning of your undertaking: choose only reputable ad networks that have proven track records and transparent reporting. If something seems off — say, the promise sounds too good to be true, or the platform requires large upfront payments — refrain from using it.

Can I use multiple networks simultaneously?

Yes! Not only can you, but you should: it's a common practice as it increases competition for your ad inventory, improves fill rates, and maximizes your revenue.

What’s the #1 mistake new publishers make?

Sometimes publishers focus on immediate revenue and inundate the app with a slew of (un)skippable ads without considering user experience. Yes, it might work in the short run, but eventually it will lead to poor retention and negative reviews, so prioritize a positive user experience.

How do iOS/Android privacy changes impact revenue?

Privacy updates can seriously affect your revenue. For example, the recent policy changes (Apple's ATT and Android's Privacy Sandbox) restricted access to user identifiers. It doesn't sound like much, but in reality, this mild alteration hindered the processes of tracking and targeting. In turn, it may reduce ad effectiveness and lower your revenue if you solely rely on third-party data.