The main purpose of the gaming ad networks is to find ad spaces on the publishers’ gaming sites or apps for advertisers.

Gaming ad networks have come up as a safe haven for publishers to monetize their gaming assets. As these networks specifically deal in gaming ad inventory, it becomes easy for advertisers to target their relevant audience.

The math here is quite simple. For an advertiser who wants to target gamers, gaming websites/apps would give more returns compared to other platforms. It’s more on the lines of being where your audience is. This arrangement is beneficial for publishers as well. The more relevant the ad is, the more will be the engagement, and hence higher will be the revenue.

In this blog, we will explore top 10 high-paying gaming ad platforms that a publisher should know of. The ad networks mentioned below come with a user-friendly interface, large pool of advertisers, and a user-centric targeting approach.

But before that, let’s know a bit about in-game advertising.

What is In-game Advertising?

In-game advertising is a form of digital advertising that integrates ads into games with the aim of reaching the audience in the most effective and engaging manner. These in-game ads are highly targeted and ideal for brand awareness and conversions.

It is a relatively new marketing channel that is being recognized as a core strategy to engage younger audiences. According to Statista, the in-game advertising revenue will touch $124.40 billion by 2025.

One of the best examples of gaming advertisements is the rewarded video ads. You would have noticed that many games offer ads to users in exchange for rewards like power-ups. This is just one of the examples of online game ads. We have covered another example of in-game advertising in our programmatic advertising examples blog.

What is a Gaming Ad Network?

A gaming ad network is an intermediary that aggregates ad space from various gaming apps and websites to sell them to advertisers. In simple words, a game ad network is like any other ad network. The only difference is that these networks solely deal with gaming publishers.

Now, let’s get on to top gaming ad networks.

10 Highest-Paying Gaming Ad Networks in 2025

1.  Google AdMob

Google AdMob is a subsidiary of Google that deals with mobile advertising. Many game app developers have rated the platform as one of the top game ad networks. 

Being one of the largest global gaming ad networks, your gaming application will be exposed to a broad mix of advertisers worldwide. AdMob offers many automation tools, from integration to bidding to ad mediation and brand safety, to make the ad revenue generation process smooth for publishers.

The analytics tool of AdMob provides a detailed insight into ad performance, which the publishers can use to optimize their ad revenue.

Ad formats: Banner ads, Native ads, Interstitial ads, Rewarded ads, Video ads

Payment Model: CPM, CPC, CPA

Why choose Google AdMob?

• Extensive reach and global audience
• High-performance ad formats for maximized ad revenue
• Powerful analytics tool for detailed reporting

2.  Digital Turbine

Digital Turbine is one of the largest mobile-specific ad networks around the globe. It is one of the few ad networks that indulge in OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) marketing. Over the years, Digital Turbine has acquired many AdTech companies like Fyber and AdColony.

As a gaming ad network, all its solutions and strategies revolve around UA (User Acquisition) marketing. The platform also offers real-time mediation, access to award-winning brands, and programmatic marketplace demand to display the most relevant ads to your audience.

Moreover, DT automatically optimizes the ad placements to maximize ad revenue for gaming publishers.

Top services for app developers:

• DT Exchange
• DT FairBird
• DT DT Ignite

Ad Formats: Offer walls, Video ads, Instant play video ads, Interactive video ads, and Playable video ads.

Payment Model: CPA

Why choose Digital Turbine?

• High-quality video ads with nuanced targeting
• Interactive ad formats that drive user engagement
• Global reach for scaling apps

3.  Unity Ads

Next on our list of best gaming ad networks for publishers in 2025 is Unity Ads. The platform mainly caters to gaming developers looking to scale their ad monetization strategy. Its solutions, like loop growth strategy, circle the trends in the gaming industry for publishers to get the best ROI.

Having over 60 premium demand partners, UnityAds offers a one-stop SDK for integrating with UnityAds Exchange to drive eCPMs and conversions. Moreover, its monetizing dashboard includes visual reports and price-setting tools that will help you refine your monetization strategy.

Even though Unity merged with ironSource in 2022, they still run their ad networks separately. By blending Unity’s easy-to-use game development tools with ironSource’s powerful ad mediation and analytics, the platform offers developers a complete suite to streamline game creation and monetization.

Ad Formats: Video ads, Interstitial ads, Playable ads, End cards, Rewarded video ads, In-game ads

Payment Model: CPM, CPI

Why Choose UnityAds?

• Highly suited for Unity developers
• High-quality rewarded video ads
• Focuses on enhancing gaming experience while generating revenue

4.  AppLovin

As a global ad network developed for publishers, advertisers, media buyers, and other ad networks, AppLovin provides its partners with multiple monetization options to choose from.

AppLovin, as a gaming ad network, works on bringing the right content to the right user to increase engagement metrics. Its flexible solutions are a mix of advanced AI-based targeting and unified analytics to drive ad revenue growth.

One of the key performance metrics that AppLovin works on is ARPDAU. Also called Average Revenue Per Daily Active User, the KPI measures the revenue generated by an app from its daily active users per day. The platform follows a holistic growth cycle to grow app audiences and increase eCPMs.

They work with the most popular ad types like Push ads, Native ads, In-app ads, and Pop-up ads. 

Applovin recently acquired Mopub, another mobile advertising company. This acquisition makes it even more capable of handling the needs of publishers. 

Ad AFormats: Playable interstitial ads, Rewarded video ads, Video and Static Interstitial Ads

Payment Model: CPM, CPC, CPA

Why Choose AppLovin?

• Highly scalable platform for game developers of all sizes
• Accurate Targeting 
• High-quality traffic

5.  Start.io

Start.io connects game developers with advertisers who provide interactive ads. It allows you to browse through unlimited audiences and segments globally. Start.io describes itself as a sell-side omnichannel advertising platform, making it an ideal choice as a game ad network.

The platform focuses on user behavior and data-driven ad targeting, helping developers create meaningful connections with gamers. It also offers device-based audience segmentation for marketers as a part of its nuanced targeting strategy. Moreover, it utilizes AI in ad monetization to get the best eCPM for publishers and app developers.

At present, the platform boasts 2.5 billion monthly active users.

Ad Formats: Interstitial ads, Native ads, App walls, Video ads

Payment Model: CPM 

Why choose Start.io?

• Data-driven ad targeting for better ROI
• Customizable ad experiences
• Strong analytics for performance tracking

6.  ironSource

Next on our list is ironSource, one of the top gaming ad networks for publishers. ironSource is one of the largest gaming networks in the programmatic advertising industry. The platform strongly emphasizes quality over quantity. Its strategies revolve around a robust user experience to drive quality conversions.

Its USP is a large user base with positive ROI campaigns that drive growth in the long term. ironSource, along with Digital Turbine, is one of the companies that offer OEM marketing. 

Moreover, the AdTech platform had also developed SuperSonic Studios for publishers to help scale their gaming platform/applications.

IronSource also offers offer walls for CPA and CPE campaigns through one of its Adtech acquisitions – TapJoy. 

Ad Formats: Banner ads, Interstitial ads, Rewarded video ads, Offer walls

Payment Model: CPM, CPV

Why choose ironSource?

• Industry leader in in-app monetization.
• Strong focus on ROI for game developers.
• Advanced mediation capabilities.

7.  Liftoff

Formerly called Vungle, the game ad network merged with Liftoff in 2021 to create one of the largest independent AdTech mobile companies for ad monetization. Liftoff calls itself a privacy-first platform – one of the biggest programmatic advertising trends in 2025 that will benefit publishers.

The platform covers the whole spectrum of the mobile app growth cycle across user acquisition, engagement, monetization, and analytics. It employs advanced machine learning to acquire and retain high-value users across platforms.

Moreover, Liftoff delivers over two billion highly engaging ads daily across 500,000 mobile applications in more than 140 countries using creative optimization capabilities and prediction intelligence.

Ad Formats: Triple-page ads, Page turner ads, Playable video ads, MREC banner ads, full screen or interstitial ads

Payment Model: CPA

Why choose Liftoff?

• High-quality video ads with personalization.
• Strong focus on user experience.
• Reliable platform with global reach.

8.  Mintegral

Powered by AI technology, Mintegral offers brands global user acquisition and monetization solutions. Its services include monetization services from the supply side to the demand side, DSP, and SSP. 

Mintegral builds interactive and creative video ads to drive user engagement and encourage app installs. They have particular expertise in the Match-3/ puzzle genre of gaming apps. 

Publishers can easily increase app audiences and ad revenue using Mintegral’s AppGrowth, Retargeting, and Monetization products, which give them access to premium worldwide traffic, industry-leading machine learning, and interactive creatives.

Ad Formats: Banner ads, Display interstitial ads, Display native ads, Appwall ads

Payment Model: CPM, CPC

Why choose Mintegral?

• Strong programmatic capabilities.
• Innovative ad formats like playable ads.
• Focused on driving high engagement rates.

9.  ChartBoost

ChartBoost has over 900 million monthly active users and over 200 billion monthly ad requests, making it one of the most trusted gaming ad networks. ChartBoost automatically optimizes the advertisers’ ad inventory and gets the best possible returns on ad impressions. 

Their targeting is based on location data, demographics, mobile devices, mobile platforms, users’ interests, etc.

Chartboost was acquired by LoopMe, an outcome-based advertising platform, in December 2024 from Zynga Inc. – taking the revenue generation game to the next level.

Ad Formats: Interstitial ads (Static, Video, MRAID, Playable, Animated GIFs), Rewarded ads (Video, Playable, MRAID), Rewarded interstitial ads (Video, Playable, MRAID), Static banner ads, Adaptive banner ads

Payment Model: CPM, CPI

Why choose Chartboost?

• Direct deals between advertisers and developers.
• Transparency in revenue sharing.
• Powerful analytics for optimizing campaigns.

10.  Adsterra

The last game ad network for publishers in our list is Adsterra. Apart from being one of the top gaming ad networks, the platform also doubles up as the number 1 native ad network for publishers, guaranteeing revenue growth.

The platform utilizes advanced algorithms to pick the highest bid among the competing bids to justify publishers’ ad space value. It also offers browser-friendly ads that complement the user experience to boost impressions and conversions.

Adsterra also has a dedicated partner care program that offers quick account onboarding, live chat support, a referral program, and anti-malware solutions, among other things.

Ad Formats: Display banner ads, Native banner ads, Pre-roll videos (VAST/VPAID, Direct), Popunder ads, Social bar ads (+ In-Page Push, + Interstitial)

Payment Model: CPM, CPC, CPA

Why choose Adsterra?

• Wide range of ad formats for flexibility.
• Strong fraud prevention and compliance measures.
• Suitable for reaching a global gaming audience.

How to Choose the Best Gaming Ad Network?

Choosing the best game advertising network requires a lot of considerations on the publisher’s part. And why wouldn’t it – their income depends on it! From audience quality to payment models, all need to be taken into account to choose the best game ad network.

Some criteria that you can follow include:

Define your Objectives

You need clarity on what ad formats you wish to use – rewarded ads, banner ads or interstitials. And to gain that clarity, ask yourself these two main questions:

• Are you focused on monetization, user acquisition, or both?
• Do you prioritize ad revenue or a seamless user experience?

Understand your Target Audience

Select the gaming ad network that has a leading presence in your target geographies. Also, check if the network is targeting your target audience based on the criteria you looking for, such as age, interests, gender, etc.

Assess Ad Formats

Consider which advertisement types fit your game and players:

• Rewarded Ads: Best suited for rewarding players without interrupting the game flow.
• Interstitial Ads: Perfect for transitions or pauses in your game.
• Playable Ads: Ideal for advertising other games in gaming apps.
• Native Ads: Integrates perfectly into the game design to offer a non-intrusive experience.

Evaluate Network Features

Ask yourself these questions to evaluate the network features:

• Does the platform allow you to connect multiple ad networks for better fill rates and eCPMs?
• Does the platform offer robust tracking and reporting tools to measure ad performance?
• Most importantly, does the network have non-intrusive ad formats to retain players?

Research Revenue Models

Choose a revenue model that aligns with your game’s monetization strategy. Some of the payment models include:

• CPC (Cost Per Click): Publisher gets paid when the ad gets clicked on.
• CPM (Cost Per Mille): Advertiser is charged for every 1000 impressions the ad gets.
• CPA (Cost Per Action): Game developers earn when user initiates an action through the ad.

Consider Integration Ease

Select gaming ad networks that offer a single SDK integration and single point of support across popular game engines such as Unity. You may also want to seek ad networks that are compatible with your operating system of choice such as iOS or Android.

Check Payment Terms

Another important criterion to consider is payment terms. For example, Google AdMob follows a monthly payment cycle, processing payments on the 21st of each month. On the other hand, ironSource follows a Net 60 payment cycle. However, Adsterra offers publishers a bimonthly payout. Also, check the payment modes, such as PayPal, wire transfer, Apply Pay, etc.

Reputation and Support

Check their reviews on websites like TrustPilot. You can also go through their case studies to get an idea of how the network would strategize your monetization process. Prefer ad networks that offer a prompt support service to avoid revenue loss due to glitches.

Test and Experiment

Start with multiple ad networks to compare their performances and choose the one that suits you the best. You can also run A/B tests to evaluate ad engagement and the revenue potential of ad networks.

Key Takeaways on Gaming Ad Networks

In-game advertising: It is a form of advertising where ads are shown to the user within the games. These games can either be mobile games or desktop games. Various ad format like digital billboard ads or rewarded ads are utilized by advertisers to entice gamers.

Gaming ad network: Also called gaming ad network, it is a subset of ad network that specifically deals in game ad inventory for the purpose of advertising purposes.

Best gaming ad networks: These include Unity ads, Google AdMob, ChartBoost, Mintegral, and Adsterra among others.

FAQs on Gaming Ad Networks

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