AppLovin MAX
AppLovin MAX is a monetization platform that helps mobile games earn revenue from ad impressions.
What AppLovin MAX is
AppLovin MAX is a monetization platform that helps mobile games earn revenue from ad impressions. Its real-time auction lets ad networks bid for placements, with the highest bid winning. Supported formats include rewarded video, app open, interstitial, MREC, banner, and native ads. Publishers can examine user-level and impression-level information through built-in reports or an API, and use A/B testing to compare networks, price points, and regional configurations.
Ad Review gives publishers visibility into ads shown to users and flags problematic or competitor ads. MAX is free for publishers, while bidding networks pay AppLovin a fee on generated ad revenue. AppLovin lists Android and iOS, as well as development frameworks and engines including Unity, React Native, Flutter, Cordova, Adobe AIR, Unreal, Godot, and Defold. Integrating a mediated network requires its own account, app and ad unit registration, and approval to serve ads. Custom networks cannot use in-app bidding or Auto-CPM, and AppLovin does not troubleshoot unsupported custom networks. Publishers must obtain user consent where applicable and pass consent values to AppLovin.
Good
- Runs real-time bidding among ad networks.
- Supports rewarded video and several other ad formats.
- Provides user-level and impression-level reporting.
- Includes A/B testing and Ad Review.
Watch out
- Mediated networks require separate accounts and approval.
- Custom networks cannot use in-app bidding or Auto-CPM.
- Publishers must pass consent values where applicable.
Who it suits
MAX suits mobile game publishers seeking ad monetization, reporting, and ways to compare mediation setups. It may also fit teams working with its listed platforms and development frameworks.
Verdict
MAX combines ad auctions, reporting, testing, and ad review for mobile game monetization. Publishers should account for network setup requirements and the limits on custom networks.
Plans and prices
From AppLovin MAX's own pricing page, checked 3 Oct 2001.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| MAX mediation | Free | Free for publishers; bidding networks pay AppLovin a fee on generated ad revenue |
The facts
Each one read from AppLovin MAX's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Ad formats
- Supported formats listed include rewarded video, app open, interstitial, MREC, banner, and native ads.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Ad review
- Ad Review provides visibility and control over which ads users see, and problematic or competitor ads are automatically flagged.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Auction
- MAX runs a real-time auction in which ad networks compete and the highest bid wins.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Custom network limitation
- Custom networks are not eligible for in-app bidding or Auto-CPM, and AppLovin says it cannot troubleshoot unsupported custom networks.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Integration and QA
- AppLovin describes the SDK as lightweight and says its tools support SDK validation and pre-launch ad testing with the Mediation Debugger.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Measurement integrations
- The product page names AppsFlyer, Adjust, Singular, Kochava, Tenjin, and Branch as MMP integrations.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Network requirements
- Using a mediated network requires a separate network account, app and ad unit registration, and that network's approval to serve ads.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Privacy and consent
- The Unity integration guide says publishers must obtain user consent where applicable and pass consent flag values to AppLovin.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Purpose
- MAX provides monetization tools that help mobile games earn revenue from ad impressions.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Reporting
- Publishers can access user-level and impression-level data through built-in reporting tools or an API.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Setup time
- AppLovin says most publishers can integrate MAX in less than a day.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Support
- The getting-started guide directs publishers to their account team or an AppLovin Support ticket when its testing tools do not resolve integration issues.checked 3 Oct 2001
- Testing
- Built-in A/B testing can compare networks, price points, and regional setups.checked 3 Oct 2001
The company
- Founded
- 2012checked 28 Sep 2001
Where it runs
- Platform support
- The getting-started guide says apps can be added for Android, Fire OS, or iOS.checked 3 Oct 2001
Alternatives to AppLovin MAX
- 1
PlayFab
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI8.3From $99 a month - 2
RevenueCat
Free planOpen sourceAndroidiOSWebAPI8.0Free plan - 3
Adapty
Free planOpen sourceAndroidiOSWebAPI7.8Free plan - 4
Unity
Free planAndroidiOSWebLinux7.8Free plan - 5
Apphud
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.3From $49 a month - 6
CAS.AI Mediation
Free planAndroidiOSWebAPI7.3Free plan