Are you a marketer trying to go through the puzzle to find the best gaming ad network? No doubt that the gaming industry has seen quite a boom in the last decade, thanks to the accessibility that smartphones offer to indulge in these fun games on the go.
With nearly 3 billion gamers worldwide, these gaming ad networks offer a unique opportunity to reach a vast, engaged audience. According to a report by GameBiz Consulting, there were 1.8 billion active mobile gamers worldwide in 2021, a number expected to reach close to 2.3 billion by 2027. This makes gaming ad networks a lucrative opportunity for brands as well as affiliates.
The gaming industry has seen explosive growth in recent years, and with it, the importance of gaming ad networks has risen. These networks are the building blocks for game monetization, providing developers with the tools to generate revenue and advertisers with a platform to reach a vast, engaged audience.
In this article on best gaming ad networks, we will explore an extensive analysis of the best gaming ad networks in 2024. Along with that, we'll also be looking forward to the other aspects as well such as what are the parameters that you need to cover while choosing the suitable gaming ad network for yourself.
🕹️ Detailed Analysis of 11+ Best Gaming Ad Networks
In the below-mentioned list, I have included some of the best gaming ad networks, one can look forward to.
| Gaming Ad Networks | User Ratings | USP of the Ad Network |
|---|---|---|
| Unity Ads | 4.7 Stars | Offers Easy integration with high eCPM. |
| Media.Net | 4.2 Stars | High-quality contextual ads with Programmatic feature with next-gen, cross-format header bidding platform with server-side enablement. |
| Chartboost | 4.17 Stars | Over 60 billion annual global impressions and over 700 million worldwide monthly active users, with 90 million of those being in the US. |
| AppLovin | 3.7 Stars | Over 2 billion mobile and CTV devices worldwide are used by businesses in over 130 countries. |
| Persona.ly | 3.4 Stars | Processes over 1.8M ad auctions per second and analyzes 60 data points before serving each impression. |
| AdMob | 4.3 Stars | Best-performing networks location-wise and ad formats from over 100+ networks around the world |
| Start.io | 4.7 Stars | Network of 500K active mobile apps, 30 billion software downloads (SDK), and 2.4 billion MAUs. |
| InMobi | 4.2 Stars | Exclusive access to 200+ DSPs and over 5,000 programmatic buyers. |
| Vungle | 4.2 Stars | Liftoff's re-targeting optimizes user LTV and provides advantages for a diverse range of apps. |
| Meta Ads | 4.4 Stars | Ads can be displayed across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network, ensuring extensive exposure of your gaming ads. |
| Digital Turbine | 3.8 Stars | Premier monetization platform with the perfect equilibrium between high eCPMs and enhanced user experience across all ad types. |
| Network N | N/A | Manages 6 billion monthly ad impressions with a reach of 107 Million users. |
Some of the Gaming ad networks have delivered their services to globally renowned games like Angry Birds, and CandyCrush. Now without any further adieu, let's explore these gaming ad networks and choose the best one suitable for you.
#1 Unity Ads
Making its place at the #1 position in our article, Unity Ads is a mobile advertising platform that allows developers to monetize their games through various ad formats and extensive targeting capabilities. Unity Ads is built with the basics of game monetization in mind, offering a variety of ad formats to suit different game types and user preferences. The platform provides interstitial ads, rewarded video ads, and banner ads, each designed to enhance the user experience while maximizing revenue.
It is integrated with the Unity game engine, making it a popular choice for many mobile game developers.
Unity Ads Key Highlights
- Unity Ads offers tools and analytics for app creators to help them achieve their objectives.
- You can create in-app ads, and in-app purchases (IAPs), and market your app to a potential audience through Unity Ads.
- The service provides solutions for monetizing your app, either through integrating IAPs into your game economy or by placing ads strategically.
- Unity Ads also helps in successful user acquisition by allowing creators to choose the type of campaign based on their business goals – scale, engagement, or performance.
- Unity Ads offers an expansive ecosystem with the Unity Ads Exchange. Ads also aid in managing your user acquisition strategy and keep you in control.
- Through a single SDK, Unity Ad Exchange connects creators to over 60 demand sources in a fair first-price auction.
#2 Media.Net
Securing #2 in our list of best gaming ad networks, Media.Net has been a popular choice among marketers. It is a leading ad network that offers a wide range of ad formats and monetization options. It serves billions of impressions daily, making it a reliable choice for game developers looking to monetize their apps. Media.Net specializes in contextual and native ads, ensuring that the advertisements displayed are relevant to the user's interests. This relevance not only enhances the user experience but also increases the effectiveness of ad campaigns, leading to higher revenue generation for developers.
On the other hand, considering the advertisers, Media.Net also partners with DSPs, trading desks, and media buying platforms to offer access to premium inventory.
Media.Net Key Highlights
- Media.Net offers various ad formats, including display ads and native ads. It also provides a robust targeting system, allowing advertisers to reach their desired audience effectively.
- Media.Net partners with Demand Side Platforms (DSPs), trading desks, and media buying platforms to offer large-scale, premium publisher inventory across channels and formats.
- The platform offers exclusive access to the Yahoo!, Bing Network, providing a rich source of search demand worth billions to monetize your content through contextual ads.
- Through its Marketplace, Media.Net allows you to leverage competitive demand from various sources – search, direct advertisers, and traditional RTB sources to maximize yield.
- Media.Net's Programmatic feature employs a next-generation, cross-format header bidding platform with server-side enablement.
- Media.Net also collaborates with advertisers who wish to combine the power of context with audience data for Display Ads.
- It's designed to facilitate seamless monetization and increase yield by connecting users to an extensive and diversified demand.
#3 Chartboost
Listed at #3 on our list, Chartboost is one of the leading mobile game in-app programmatic advertising and monetization platforms. With its headquarters in San Francisco and an international office in Amsterdam, China, and Spain. Chartboost has made a significant impact on the gaming industry since its inception in 2011. The platform reaches a global audience of over 700 million monthly active users and processes over 90 billion monthly advertising auctions, making it a powerhouse in the gaming ad network ecosystem.
On the other hand, Chartboost supports both proven and emerging ad formats, allowing developers to capture high-quality users effectively. The platform's focus on resonating with the audience ensures a better user experience and higher engagement rates.
Chartboost Key Features
- Chartboost boasts over 60 billion annual global impressions and over 700 million worldwide monthly active users, with 90 million of those being in the US.
- Chartboost offers interstitial and video ads, with a focus on user acquisition. It also provides a cross-promotion platform, allowing developers to promote their games within other games.
- Chartboost offers over 300 SDK integrations, providing developers with a seamless experience to incorporate the platform into their games.
- The platform's technology stack for mobile app developers optimizes your inventory with ads from premium performance and brand buyers to maximize revenue.
- Chartboost provides transparent reporting and granular analytics, aiding developers in making data-driven decisions to optimize their ad strategies.
#4 AppLovin
AppLovin being #4 on our list has been a popular choice for marketers working in the mobile apps industry. One of the key reasons why AppLovin has emerged as an excellent choice across other top players in the gaming ad model is that it provides a comprehensive suite of solutions that empower game developers to monetize, market, and grow their apps. With its unmatched global scale, AppLovin reaches over 2 billion mobile and CTV devices worldwide, making it an excellent choice in the gaming ad network ecosystem.
AppLovin's platform is leveraged by businesses in over 130 countries, and it boasts an annual spend of over $3.5 billion on its ad network. The platform is designed to maximize revenue opportunities from mobile apps, drive higher ROIs with the largest in-app RTB exchange, and fuel growth with industry-leading solutions.
AppLovin Key Highlights
- AppLovin offers various ad formats, including video, interstitial, and banner ads. It also provides a powerful analytics platform, giving developers insight into user behavior and ad performance.
- The platform reaches over 2 billion mobile and CTV devices worldwide and is used by businesses in over 130 countries.
- AppLovin manages an annual ad network spend of over $3.5 billion, aiming to maximize revenue opportunities from mobile apps.
- Its platform drives higher ROIs by offering the largest in-app RTB exchange.
- AppLovin leverages machine learning in its industry-leading solutions to optimize monetization, facilitate data-driven decisions, and promote profitable growth.
- AppLovin offers five key products; MAX for monetization, SparkLabs for user attraction, AppDiscovery for growth scaling, Adjust for performance optimization, and Wurl for CTV customer monetization.
#5 Persona.ly
Acquiring a safe spot at #5 on our list, Persona.ly is a global leader in the mobile gaming industry, providing a comprehensive suite of solutions that empower game developers to monetize, market, and grow their apps. With its programmatic mobile user acquisition and machine learning algorithms, Persona.ly offers transparent, performance-driven, highly targeted user acquisition (UA) and re-engagement solutions at scale.
Trusted by programmatic UA clients, Persona.ly processes over 1.8M ad auctions per second and analyzes 60 data points before serving each impression. Its algorithms analyze those data points, including aggregated data from its Data Management Platform (DMP), enabling it to reliably predict which users are likely to click, install, and bring revenue to your app.
Persona.ly Key Highlights
- For SKAdNetwork and post-iOS 14.5 campaigns, Persona.ly utilizes machine learning-driven natural language processing (NLP), enabling it to determine the contextual relationship between advertisers' apps and the apps where the ads are shown.
- Using its proprietary Dynamic Audiences segmentation engine, Persona.ly's DSP can define user segments based on their in-app behavior to drive high ROAS.
- Persona.ly uses a scientific approach to creative selection. Its Machine learning driven model promotes best-performing ads from the first positive event while constantly testing the rest of them based on a Multi-Armed Bandit (MAB) algorithm.
- Persona.ly offers a variety of engaging ad formats, including playable & interactive ads, dynamic ads, video, native, and banners.
#6 AdMob
As a marketer, being unknown to AdMob is quite unusual, I mean who hasn't heard of Google AdMob? AdMob, one of the largest global ad networks, is a premier choice for game developers looking to maximize their ad revenue. Working with millions of advertisers who compete for your ad space, AdMob puts you in full control of the process to ensure you maximize your earnings. AdMob is a part of Google's ad networks, which generates more demand by choosing the best-performing networks for your location and ad formats from over 100+ networks around the world.
AdMob Key Highlights
- AdMob offers a variety of ad formats, including banner, interstitial, and rewarded video ads. It also provides advanced targeting options, allowing advertisers to reach their desired audience effectively.
- Marketers can take full leverage of high fill rates as AdMob also sells ad space in real-time to programmatic buyers, providing some of the highest fill rates in the industry, worldwide.
- The platform supports various ad formats including native ads, rewarded ads, interstitial ads, and banner ads to enhance user experience and increase revenue.
- Rewarded ads is one such other key highlight offered by AdMob to look around, Your users can choose to engage with a video ad in exchange for in-app rewards or opt out at any time. These rewarded ads optimize your app revenue and keep your users happy.
- Utilizing unified auctions with bidding, AdMob ensures the highest-paying advertiser by calling all participating networks simultaneously to bid on each impression in real-time.
#7 Start.io
Start.io (formerly known as StartApp) is a mobile ad network that offers innovative ad units and a powerful analytics platform. It is known for its unique ad formats and detailed user insights. Start.io is a mobile marketing and audience platform that empowers marketers and developers to drive growth and reinvent mobile marketing. With a vast network of 500K active mobile apps, 30 billion software downloads (SDK), and 2.4 billion monthly active users (MAUs), Start.io provides a robust mobile app monetization and audience engagement platform.
Start.io Key Highlights
- StartApp offers a variety of ad formats, including interactive ads and virtual reality ads. It also provides a robust analytics platform, giving developers insight into user behavior and ad performance.
- Start.io provides unlimited access to audience and segment data worldwide, allowing for a better understanding of audiences and tailoring of ad campaigns.
- Since Start.io uses AI for its marketing operations, Start.io's MAIA is an easy-to-use, single-frame platform for audience exploration and activation. It uses AI to create targeted audiences, enhancing the effectiveness of your ad campaigns.
- Due to Start.io's advanced filtration process, marketers can look forward to a full user app graph with up to two-year lookback, global carrier and cell tower data signals, cleaned, filtered, and structured location data signals, and device data fragmented by OS, type, make, and model.
#8 InMobi
Being #8 on our list of best gaming ad networks, InMobi has acquired quite a remarkable market share. InMobi has got 5 different key features for mobile publishers to look around, including mobile monetization, Ad formats, UnifID, Game Monetization, and InMobi SDK. Whereas, on the other hand, InMobi has got 5 different aspects being covered including the DSP, Appsumer, traffic exchange, etc.
It is worth mentioning that InMobi taps into premium and diverse advertising dollars from the most prominent brand advertisers around the world, through direct and programmatic channels.
InMobi Key Highlights
- The InMobi Exchange brings exclusive access to 200+ DSPs and over 5,000 programmatic buyers representing top brands from around the globe.
- InMobi UnifID is an industry-first identity management solution designed for app developers to simplify their addressability journey by integrating with multiple ID vendors in just a few clicks.
- Offers engaging ad experiences via high-impact ad formats such as banners, interstitials, rewarded videos, playable, and native ads; to get high revenues.
- Not being limited to the things mentioned above, InMobi offers mediation and platform integration guides for different platforms like Google Admob, Digital Turbine, Unity Level Pay, AppLovin, etc.
- InMobi has been a popular choice among some of the top-tier MNCs including Unilever, L'Oreal, Pond's, etc.
#9 Vungle (AKA Liftoff)
Vungle also known by the name Liftoff is a leading mobile advertising network that specializes in in-app video ads. Unlike other gaming ad networks, Liftoff offers different features for marketers, app publishers, DSPs, Mobile game developers, and agencies as well. One of the key features that make Liftoff a good-to-go choice among users is because of the specialization that it offers for in-app advertising; in addition to that users can also look forward to custom targeting options for the audience along with different bidding models including CPA, CPM, CPI, and CPC based campaigns.
LiftOff Key Highlights
- Liftoff offers a content management system that gives you control over your site's pages and content, allows you to set up blogs, schedule content to be published, and more.
- Liftoff's re-targeting solution maximizes user LTV and offers benefits for all types of different apps.
- Liftoff's programmatic advertising solution allows you to build an active user base with app install campaigns optimized for post-install engagement.
- Liftoff’s creative goes through rapid A/B testing to deliver industry-best install-to-action conversion rates.
#10 Meta Ads (Facebook Ads)
Facebook Ads for Gaming, managed through Meta Ads Manager, has become a powerful tool for game developers and marketers. According to this year’s Retention Index, Facebook has been exceptionally good at retaining hardcore gamers, particularly in Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Latin America, and North America.
With its advanced targeting capabilities and diverse ad formats, it provides an effective platform for reaching and engaging with the gaming audience. Facebook Ads for gaming are not just about promoting games but also about creating a community around them, enhancing player engagement, and driving game monetization.
Facebook Ads Key Highlights
- Facebook Ads can appear anywhere on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network, providing a broad reach for your gaming ads. This can be considered an excellent choice among other ad networks which have a limited user base.
- Facebook supports different ad formats, including game-specific ones, such as rewarded video ads and playable ads. These kinds of ads help game advertisers reach high-value and high-intent users.
- Facebook Ads for Gaming offers advanced targeting options that include location, demographics, interests, behaviors, platform, device model, and connection. This allows you to reach your potential players with precision and efficiency.
#11 Digital Turbine
Last but not least comes the Digital Tribune, a popular choice for delivering its services to big companies including Rovio (Angry Birds), EA, Playtika, CandyCrush, and many more. With high levels of transparency, execution, and diversity of demand, Digital Turbine ensures that publishers can grow their revenue effectively. The ad network includes the DT Exchange, a leading monetization platform that strikes the balance between high eCPMs and positive user experience across all ad formats. It connects your app to performance and brand demand, ensuring maximum revenue generation.
Digital Tribune Key Highlights
- The network includes DT Exchange, a platform balancing high eCPMs and positive user experience across all ad formats, and connects apps to performance and brand demand.
- DT FairBid is a transparent, revenue-optimized mediation offering simple auction mechanics with real-time, guaranteed bids from ad networks & DSPs, ensuring maximum yield.
- The DT Offer Wall is a non-intrusive rewarded ad format allowing for monetization of the entire user base and providing an additional revenue stream.
- On-device services provide massive scale, unique inventory, insights, and transparency for advertiser success. Whereas, the Programmatic services provide access to exclusive inventory on devices from leading OEMs and carriers for additional reach and scale.
#12 Network N
Network N is one of the largest in-game ad networks in Europe and emphasizes its strict guidelines for non-disruptive ads and independence as selling points. With a reach of over 100 million unique users per month across its network of websites, Network N has established itself as a leading player in the gaming ad network space. On the other hand, some of the additional key aspects include the singular global outlook for maximum ad reach along with a multi-channel approach combining advertising, content, and distribution. Whereas intent-driven content helps users make informed decisions while performing marketing operations.
Network N Key Highlights
- Network N provides guidance on ad placement and affiliates by some of the best tech experts. The company also runs its own programmatic stack and header bidder, demonstrating its advanced technical capabilities.
- Network N manages 6 billion monthly ad impressions, a testament to its vast outreach and efficiency.
- With over 200 websites in its network, Network N can reach diverse user bases and cater to varied ad needs.
- Network N has a reach of 107 million unique users, amplifying the effectiveness and reach of the advertisements it manages.
- Network N also offers In-house facilities for native editorial and video content production making it an impeccable choice among marketers. Whereas it also focuses on services, delivery, and reporting within IAB and GDPR guidelines.
Why does choosing the right Gaming ad network matter?
Choosing the right gaming ad network is not just a matter of convenience; it's a strategic decision that can significantly impact your advertising campaigns' success. The right network can help you reach a broader audience, improve your ad quality, and ultimately increase your return on investment.
The gaming industry is massive, with nearly 3 billion gamers worldwide. This vast audience is diverse, engaged, and spends a significant amount of time playing games. As such, gaming ad networks offer a unique opportunity to reach consumers in an environment where they are already engaged and receptive.
Choosing the right network is crucial for several reasons:
- Targeted Advertising: Gaming ad networks offer advanced targeting options based on demographics, geolocation, device type, and platforms. This allows you to reach your specific audience more effectively.
- Ad Formats: Different networks support different ad formats, including banners, videos, native ads, and more. The right format can significantly improve your ad's performance.
- Monetization: The right gaming ad network can help you maximize your revenue. For instance, rewarded video ads are popular among gamers and can be integrated into games for better monetization.
- User Experience: The right network will ensure that ads do not disrupt gameplay, thus maintaining a positive user experience. This is crucial as intrusive ads can lead to user churn.
- Reputation and Reliability: Working with a reputable network ensures reliability and trust. It also means that the network adheres to industry standards and respects user privacy.
- Support and Resources: The right network provides support and resources to help you optimize your campaigns. This includes A/B testing, performance analysis, and more.
Role of Ad Networks in the Gaming Industry
Ad networks play a crucial role in the gaming industry, acting as intermediaries between game developers (publishers) and advertisers. They provide a platform where publishers can sell their ad inventory and advertisers can purchase ad space to reach their target audience. This model has proven to be an effective solution for game monetization, allowing developers to generate revenue from their games while providing advertisers with access to a highly engaged audience.
Considering the impact of Gaming Ad Networks on game monetization, overall, Gaming ad networks have delivered a significant impact overall. They offer various ad formats, including display ads, video ads, and interstitial ads, which can be integrated into games to generate revenue. Furthermore, these networks provide advanced targeting capabilities, allowing advertisers to reach specific segments of the gaming audience based on factors like location, interests, and gaming behavior. This targeted approach not only increases the effectiveness of ad campaigns but also enhances the user experience by serving relevant ads.
Future Trends in Gaming Ad Networks
The year 2024 is set to be a transformative period for in-game advertising, marking a significant shift in the gaming industry's landscape. As the groundwork laid in 2022 begins to bear fruit, industry insiders predict a surge in media spending devoted to the gaming space.
The gaming ad network industry is expected to see several trends in the coming years. These include the increased use of AI in ad targeting, the rise of programmatic advertising, and the growing importance of mobile gaming. These trends could significantly impact game developers and advertisers, leading to more effective ad campaigns and higher revenue generation
According to Michael Reidy, senior vice president of digital ad sales at NBCUniversal Media, the industry's cautious approach in 2022 is giving way to a more aggressive strategy. The broadening gaming audience and the maturing tech stack are expected to drive this change. Scott Curtis, global head of digital ad spend for Spark Foundry, shares this sentiment, anticipating that in-game advertising will continue to gain traction throughout 2024.
The shift towards in-game advertising as a primary business model is also expected to accelerate. As direct consumer spending softens, game developers and platforms are predicted to focus more on indirect monetization and building stronger relationships with advertisers and brands, according to Joost Van Dreunen, a video game academic and NYU Stern professor. As the shift from flat digital experiences to more virtual spaces and interactive media takes place, gaming is all set to lead the way.
Impact of Gaming Ad Networks on User Experience
Gaming ad networks can both enhance and disrupt the user experience. Here's how:
Enhancing User Experience
- Targeted Advertising: Networks like Unity Ads provide detailed demographic data, allowing for more relevant and engaging ads.
- In-Game Rewards: Some networks offer in-game rewards for watching ads, enhancing user engagement and satisfaction.
Disrupting User Experience
- Intrusive Ads: Poorly placed or overly aggressive ads can disrupt gameplay and lead to negative user experiences.
- Privacy Concerns: Users may be wary of networks that collect extensive personal information.
Balancing Monetization with User Satisfaction
Developers must strike a balance between monetization and user satisfaction. This involves choosing the right ad formats, placement, and frequency. Collaboration with networks that prioritize user experience, like Google AdMob, can be a strategic move.
Conclusion: Which Gaming Ad Network to Choose?
From the above-mentioned insights given, it is pretty clear how the gaming industry which is booming at such a rapid pace will be seeing more and more in the later time period. Choosing the best Gaming ad networks can result in the optimum results for both advertising as well as publishing operations, basically covering the whole marketing scenario in the Gaming vertical. With the right network, game developers can generate significant revenue, while advertisers can reach a vast, engaged audience.
The above-mentioned Gaming ad networks have made quite a name in the gaming industry, providing a platform for game monetization and advertising. With the right network, game developers can generate significant revenue, while advertisers can reach a vast, engaged audience. As the industry continues to evolve, staying informed about the best gaming ad networks and upcoming trends is essential for success.
Hopefully, this article on best gaming ad networks has cleared some of the common doubts that you might be dealing with. Feel free to contact us if you need any help in getting started with gaming ad networks.
So, are you ready to tap into the billion-dollar gaming ad network?
Content is free. When you buy through links on my site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more
Sally Simard is a passionate content writer and blogger for a long while. She loves to talk and likes sharing her knowledge in various domains, including the latest technology, dropshipping, online marketing, make money online, affiliate marketing, and many more. She is venerated for her research skills, organizational skills, & flexibility, making her the cornerstone of AffTweaks.
