AppLovin MAX is the default pick for most publishers: MAX mediation is free for publishers, and it runs one real-time auction across AppLovin demand, rival networks, and outside DSPs. AdMob remains a strong baseline: Google demand is wide, and the payment threshold is $100 in USD, with payment issued around the 21st of the month after the threshold is met. Unity LevelPlay, Chartboost Mediation, and CAS.ai are mediation-first options, while Liftoff Monetize, InMobi, and Pangle are demand networks to add inside a mediator.
AdMob is Google demand plus optional mediation, so an alternative can mean a different network, a different mediator, or both. Mediation platforms run an auction across several networks, while demand networks fill one placement with their own advertisers. Most serious publishers use mediation to combine several networks, not one alone. The eight options below cover both roles, and each one is still a live product.
On this page
Admob alternatives: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AdMob | Publishers who want Google demand as a baseline | quote only | Yes | Visit |
| 2 | AppLovin MAX | Publishers who want one auction across many networks | $0 for publishers | Yes | Visit |
| 3 | Unity LevelPlay | Game publishers who build in Unity | quote only | Yes | Visit |
| 4 | Chartboost Mediation | Publishers who want a free mediation account | $0 for a free account | Yes | Visit |
| 5 | Liftoff Monetize | Game publishers who want rewarded video demand | quote only | Yes | Visit |
| 6 | InMobi | Publishers who want global programmatic demand | quote only | Yes | Visit |
| 7 | Pangle | Publishers who want TikTok and ByteDance demand | quote only | Yes | Visit |
| 8 | CAS.ai | Small publishers who want one consolidated payout | quote only | Free trial (A/B test) | Visit |
The 8 best admob alternatives, in detail
AdMob
Best for: Publishers who want Google demand as a baseline
AdMob is the baseline in this list, and it earns its place because most mediation stacks still start with Google demand. AdMob supports banner, interstitial, rewarded, rewarded interstitial, native, and app open formats, and its mediation layer can add third-party networks as demand sources through bidding or a waterfall. Google AdMob Help lists the payment threshold at $100 in USD, with payment method selection at $10, and identity verification at $10.
- Earnings are finalized at the start of the following month, and payment is issued on or around the 21st of that month, once the balance has met the th
- If the balance is below $100, earnings roll over to the next month.
- Choose AdMob if you want Google demand and a clear $100 payout threshold.
Pros
- Wide Google demand and a mediation layer that supports many networks
- payment threshold is $100 in USD
Cons
- No published revenue share for publishers
- policy violations can suspend an account with limited recourse
AppLovin MAX
Best for: Publishers who want one auction across many networks
AppLovin MAX is a mediation platform, not a single ad network. When a placement opens, MAX runs a single first-price auction in which SDK networks and outside DSPs bid on equal terms, and the highest bid fills the placement. AppLovin states that MAX mediation is free for publishers, and that bidding networks pay AppLovin a fee on generated ad revenue.
- MAX mediates Google AdMob and Ad Manager, Meta Audience Network, Unity Ads, ironSource, Liftoff Monetize, Mintegral, Pangle, Moloco, InMobi, Chartboos
- Most publishers can integrate MAX in less than a day, with automated integration and SDK validation.
- Payment for AppLovin demand is around the 15th of the following month, net 15, with a $20 minimum by ACH or PayPal and $150 by wire, through Tipalti.
- Choose MAX if you want one auction and broad demand.
Pros
- MAX mediation is free for publishers, with bidding networks paying AppLovin a fee
- one unified first-price auction across many bidders
Cons
- AppLovin publishes no universal fee percentage for bidding networks
- linked networks generally pay the publisher directly, so payouts stay split
Unity LevelPlay
Best for: Game publishers who build in Unity
Unity LevelPlay is the mediation platform from Unity, formerly ironSource mediation, and it is distinct from Unity Ads demand. It runs a unified auction across leading SDK networks and bidders, and it supports rewarded, interstitial, banner, and native ads. Publishers can integrate LevelPlay from the Unity Editor, which makes it a natural fit for games built in Unity.
- LevelPlay lets publishers set CPM floors for individual ad network instances and run in-app bidding.
- Unity Ads is one demand source inside LevelPlay, and Unity docs now tell publishers who use Unity Ads alone to migrate to LevelPlay.
- Waterfall placements are being phased out, with no new waterfall placements from August 11, 2026, so new setups should use bidding.
- Choose LevelPlay if you build games in Unity and want mediation in the same workflow.
Pros
- Integrates in a few clicks from the Unity Editor
- supports rewarded, interstitial, banner, and native formats in one auction
Cons
- No published fee or revenue share
- minimum payout is set by each demand source, not by LevelPlay itself
Chartboost Mediation
Best for: Publishers who want a free mediation account
Chartboost Mediation, formerly Helium, lets all demand sources bid CPM prices in real time and compete for each impression on a publisher app. Its docs state that publishers can sign up for a free Chartboost platform account, import apps, select networks to mediate, and integrate the Chartboost Mediation SDK. Mediation runs first-price auctions, with default timeout limits of 2,000 milliseconds for rewarded and interstitial formats and 1,000 milliseconds for banner formats.
- Chartboost Mediation supports bidding and waterfall across partners, including AdMob and Google bidding, Amazon Publisher Services, and Chartboost dem
- Chartboost also offers brand demand through Chartboost Direct, with access to more than 110 demand sources through one SDK.
- Choose Chartboost Mediation if you want a free mediation account with a wide partner list.
- Skip it if you want a managed service, because you still integrate and tune each network yourself.
Pros
- Free account signup, with bidding and waterfall support across many partners
- first-price auctions run through OpenRTB 2.5
Cons
- No published fee or revenue share
- publishers must integrate the Mediation SDK plus each network SDK
Liftoff Monetize
Best for: Game publishers who want rewarded video demand
Liftoff Monetize is the publisher suite formerly known as Vungle, and it is now part of Liftoff. Google mediation guides state that Vungle is now Liftoff Monetize, and that it supports rewarded and rewarded interstitial ads, through both bidding and waterfall. Its own Monetize page says its bidding is available through all major mediation platforms, so most publishers add it as a demand source inside MAX, LevelPlay, or AdMob mediation, rather than running it alone.
- Liftoff also runs Liftoff Accelerate for acquisition and re-engagement on its Cortex engine, with supply from Liftoff Monetize and Vungle, and Vungle
- Liftoff listed on Nasdaq in June 2026, and its filing reported an SDK in more than 160,000 apps.
- Choose Liftoff Monetize if rewarded video is a core format in your game.
- Skip it if you want a published revenue share before you integrate, because none is published.
Pros
- Vungle is now Liftoff Monetize, with rewarded and rewarded interstitial support through bidding and waterfall
- SDK is in many apps
Cons
- No published price or revenue share
- buying is mostly managed, with no published minimum for publishers
InMobi
Best for: Publishers who want global programmatic demand
InMobi is a full-stack mobile advertising company, founded in Bengaluru in 2007, and it works as both a demand network and a programmatic platform. Its monetization page describes in-app bidding and shows connections to mediation platforms including MAX, ironSource, AdMob, and Pangle. In Google mediation lists it supports rewarded, interstitial, app open, banner, and native formats.
- That breadth makes it a useful second or third demand source in a mediation stack.
- InMobi DSP uses a dynamic cost-per-mille model, where the cost adjusts in real time based on optimization, user engagement, and performance, and its s
- InMobi also offers a Consent Management Platform, with Essentials free for all apps and sites and Premium at $20 per domain per month, or free through
- That CMP price is not the ad network price, so do not confuse the two.
Pros
- In-app bidding support across major mediation platforms
- global programmatic demand with strength outside the United States
Cons
- No published publisher revenue share
- DSP pricing is dynamic CPM, with no fixed rate card
Pangle
Best for: Publishers who want TikTok and ByteDance demand
Pangle is ByteDance global mobile in-app advertising network, and it is the publisher side of TikTok for Business demand. Pangle launched ad monetization services in the United States for the first time in February 2026, with apps on Pangle SDK version 7.2.0.2 or above becoming eligible, and initial formats of rewarded video and interstitial video ads, supported through TopOn, TradPlus, LevelPlay, and MAX mediation, plus Google AdMob waterfall integration. For advertisers, Pangle is now TikTok Ad Network in the United States, generally available from October 5, 2026, as its 48th market, while the Pangle name stays for publishers.
- Pangle monetization needs a company account, a live app in a supported market, and company and payment information before payouts.
- Pangle states that it discloses the previous month income statement by the 8th working day of each month, and after invoice confirmation it processes
- Choose Pangle if you want ByteDance demand in your mediation stack, especially for games.
- Skip it if your app is not yet live in a supported market, because test apps cannot generate revenue.
Pros
- Access to TikTok and ByteDance advertiser demand through bidding
- rewarded video, interstitial, native, banner, and app open formats
Cons
- No published publisher revenue share
- account setup needs a company account and a live app in a supported market
CAS.ai
Best for: Small publishers who want one consolidated payout
CAS.ai is a mediation platform that does not run its own ad network. Instead, more than 20 networks and more than 150 DSPs compete for each placement, and the highest bid wins. Its pricing page states that publishers pay nothing to start, with no setup fees and no fixed fees, and that CAS.ai takes a commission on all advertising turnover through CAS.ai.
- The commission percentage itself is not published, so the starting price is quote only, even though the model is clear.
- CAS.ai offers a no-loss guarantee, so if its setup earns less than a publisher current baseline, CAS.ai pays the difference.
- New clients start on a standard schedule of first payout Net-10, then Net-25, and established clients can receive money as early as Day 5, in one paym
- Payouts are available through Payoneer, wire transfer, or crypto in USDC on ERC-20.
Pros
- No setup fees and no fixed fees, with a commission on ad turnover only
- one consolidated payout across every network in the stack
Cons
- Commission percentage is not published
- accelerated payouts are available on request for qualifying accounts only
How we chose
We chose live networks and mediation platforms that still accept publishers, support at least one core format, and appear in Google mediation lists or in major mediation platforms. Prices and payout terms come from official vendor pages and docs opened on 2026-11-12. We did not test any tool hands-on. Where a vendor hid a fee or a revenue share, we wrote quote only instead of repeating a third-party estimate. We did not quote eCPM figures, because they change by month, country, and app.
What to check before you buy
Check whether you are buying mediation or demand, because a mediator does not pay you for its own ads, and a demand network does not run an auction across rivals. Check the payout threshold and timing for each network, because AdMob needs $100 in USD and pays around the 21st, while AppLovin MAX demand pays around the 15th with a $20 minimum by ACH or PayPal. Check whether the revenue share is published, because most networks here publish none. Check app approval and privacy setup for each network, because a mediation account does not automatically approve the sources connected to it.
| App type | Best starting move | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Small app, first ads | AdMob as baseline, with a $100 payment threshold | Earnings below $100 roll over to the next month |
| Game, rewarded video led | AppLovin MAX plus Liftoff Monetize and Pangle as bidders | Pangle needs a live app in a supported market and SDK 7.2.0.2 or above for United States monetization |
| Game built in Unity | Unity LevelPlay as mediator, with Unity Ads as a bidder | No new waterfall placements from August 11, 2026, so use bidding |
| Small publisher, one payout | CAS.ai, with first payout Net-10, then Net-25, and Day 5 for qualifying accounts | Commission percentage is not published, so get it in writing |
| Global audience, programmatic | InMobi as a demand source inside MAX or LevelPlay | DSP pricing is dynamic CPM, with no fixed rate card |
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AdMob alternative?
AppLovin MAX is the best alternative for most publishers, because MAX mediation is free for publishers and it runs one real-time auction across AppLovin demand, rival networks, and outside DSPs. AdMob itself remains a strong baseline for Google demand. The best choice depends on whether you need a mediator, a demand network, or both.
Is AppLovin MAX free for publishers?
Yes, AppLovin states on its MAX page that MAX mediation is free for publishers, and that bidding networks pay AppLovin a fee on generated ad revenue. AppLovin publishes no universal fee percentage for those bidding networks, so do not model MAX as a fixed revenue share. Linked networks generally pay the publisher directly, so payouts stay split across networks.
How much money do I need to earn before AdMob pays me?
AdMob pays once your finalized balance reaches $100 in USD, or the local equivalent. Payment method selection opens at $10, and identity verification starts at $10. Earnings are finalized at the start of the following month, and payment is issued on or around the 21st. If the balance is below $100, earnings roll over to the next month.
What is the difference between mediation and an ad network?
Mediation is the layer that runs an auction across several networks for each placement, while an ad network is one demand source that fills a placement with its own advertisers. AppLovin MAX, Unity LevelPlay, Chartboost Mediation, and CAS.ai are mediation platforms. Liftoff Monetize, InMobi, and Pangle are demand networks that usually sit inside a mediator.
Is Pangle the same as TikTok Ad Network?
Pangle is ByteDance global mobile ad network, and TikTok Ad Network is its advertiser-facing name in the United States, generally available from October 5, 2026, as its 48th market. The Pangle name stays for publishers, and Pangle monetization launched in the United States in February 2026 for apps on SDK version 7.2.0.2 or above.
Which AdMob alternative pays fastest?
CAS.ai is the fastest on paper in this list, with a first payout at Net-10, then Net-25, and Day 5 payouts for qualifying established accounts. AppLovin MAX demand pays around the 15th of the following month, net 15, with a $20 minimum by ACH or PayPal. AdMob pays around the 21st, once the $100 threshold is met, so a small app can wait longer for its first AdMob payment.
Sources
- https://admob.google.com/
- https://applovin.com/en/monetization
- https://unity.com/products/levelplay
- https://www.chartboost.com/
- https://docs.chartboost.com/en/mediation/get-started/
- https://liftoff.io/
- https://www.inmobi.com/
- https://support.inmobi.com/monetize/int/inmobi-dsp-pricing-model/
- https://www.pangleglobal.com/
- https://www.pangleglobal.com/knowledge/monetize-on-pangle
- https://cas.ai/
- https://cas.ai/pricing/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.