Best Mobile Advertising Platforms Shortlist
Here’s a list of the best mobile advertising platforms I researched to help you determine which suits your business needs.
- Google Ads - Best for search engine advertisements
- Facebook Ads - Best for social media advertising
- Apple Search Ads - Best for targeting iOS app users
- Twitter Ads - Best for ad engagement
- Snapchat Ads - Best for targeting younger generations
- Pinterest Ads - Best for brand awareness
- Smaato - Best for omnichannel mobile advertising
- LiftOff - Best for machine learning technology
- Chartboost - Best for targeting gaming audiences
- InMobi - Best for audience insights
- AppLovin MAX - Best for ad creative optimization
- Tapjoy - Best advertising offerwall tool
Mobile phones are all around us and are heavily integrated into our reality, and mobile technology is changing rapidly and constantly. This is why mobile advertising platforms are something you should consider paying close attention to right now. So, to address this new ecosystem, I’ll evaluate and compare some of the top mobile advertising tools. I’ll discuss each system’s diverse features and targeting capabilities, empowering your business to reach your target audience and bring in more customers and revenue.
What Is Mobile Advertising Platforms
Mobile advertising platforms refer to digital marketing tools and systems designed specifically for delivering targeted advertisements to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. These platforms enable advertisers to reach and engage with their desired audience through various formats, including banner ads, video ads, native ads, and interstitial ads. By leveraging advanced targeting capabilities, such as location-based targeting and demographic profiling, mobile advertising platforms help optimize ad campaigns, maximize reach, and drive user acquisition and engagement in the mobile ecosystem.
Overviews Of The 12 Best Mobile Advertising Platforms
To help simplify your search for a new mobile advertising platform, I listed an overview of the best mobile ad networks for digital publishers and content creators.
1. Google Ads - Best for search engine advertisements
Google Ads is an advertising platform that enables advertisers to create ads that will appear on the Google search engine for specific keywords. The platform allows organizations to target users based on mobile devices, operating systems, location, mobile platforms, and interests.
Why I picked Google Ads: The platform allows you to place your ad at the top of the first line after the search box when using the Google search engine on your mobile device. Because your ads appear when potential customers search for relevant keywords, you can increase the number of targeted leads your business will receive. Also, most people don’t recognize it as an advertisement compared to the rest of the organic results.
Google Ads Standout Features and Integrations
Features include display ad tools that allow you to reach potential customers wherever they’re browsing and increase results through engaging creatives via artificial intelligence. Google Ads also empowers businesses to reach potential customers via video ads on YouTube that help you convert viewers into customers.
Integrations include connections with over 600 business applications you might already be using to manage your organization, such as AgencyAnalytics, CallTrackingMetrics, GetResponse, Klipfolio, Plytix, Podia, Rambox, Reportz, Semrush, Whatagraph, and other software options. You can also use Google Ads’ API or a paid Zapier account to create custom software integrations.
Pricing: From $1/click
Free Trial: Free $600 ad credit after spending $600
Pros
- Target exact keywords
- Works with small budgets
- Charges after users see results
Cons
- Customer service needs work
- Steep learning curve
2. Facebook Ads - Best for social media advertising
Facebooks Ads allow businesses to create advertisements that a large social media audience will view. It provides extensive detail with its targeting options, making Facebook Ads an ideal choice for any sized company.
Why I picked Facebook Ads: Everyone has heard of Facebook, and due to its vast user base, the platform launched its Audience Network tool - which is why I believe Facebook Ads is worth some consideration. Facebook Ads is well-known for its extensive targeting options and ad types, such as native, interstitial, banner, and in-stream video ads. To get started, you’ll have to define an objective, and your demographics, choose an ad format and placement, set up a budget, and create and schedule your ad.
Facebook Ads Standout Features and Integrations
Features include automatic rendering of ad size to fit any placement type you choose to use when creating a new ad campaign. Facebook Ads also provides extensive analytics and reporting tools that provide data on return on investment (ROI), attribution, and conversions.
Integrations include over 300 native connections with popular third-party systems and tools, such as ActiveCampaign, Driftrock, Freshsales, HubSpot CRM, LeadsBridge, Mailchimp, Pipedrive, Salesforce, Tray.io, Zoho CRM, and other software options. Facebook Ads also allows you to create custom integrations via its API or a paid Zapier account.
Pricing: From $0.94/click.
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Easy to use
- Larger audience
- Affordable to reach specific targets
Cons
- Ad accounts are frequently disabled
- Customer support needs work
3. Apple Search Ads - Best for targeting iOS app users
Apple Search Ads enables brands to access a valuable network of iOS app users. The platform allows advertisers to easily manage and track performance and choose their target audience.
Why I picked Apple Search Ads: I wanted to add Apple Search Ads to this list because of its ability to help you reach the ever-growing number of iOS app users. As you’ve probably guessed, Apple Search Ads are specifically for the iOS mobile platform, allowing you to get more traffic to your content. Similar to Google Ads, Apple Search Ads are sponsored ads that will appear at the top of the search results within the Apple App Store.
Apple Search Ads Standout Features and Integrations
Features include tools that empower you to easily track your campaigns’ effectiveness and modify them when necessary. With its advanced campaign management tools, the platform also allows you to choose target audiences and keywords for searches.
Integrations include a small number of software and tools that you can connect to and enhance productivity, such as Adsmurai, App Radar, Appflow, BOSCO, Braavo, CorralData, Kleene, SearchAds.com, SplitMetrics Optimize, Windsor.ai, and other software options. You can also use the platform’s API to create custom integrations with your current tech stack.
Pricing: From $1.56/tap
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Can be very targeted
- Regularly releases more placements
- Provides excellent insights
Cons
- Budget allocation is complex
- Not many campaign objectives and types
4. Twitter Ads - Best for ad engagement
Twitter Ads is an excellent method for increasing engagement with audiences. The platform enables brands to stay connected with viewers through brief information.
Why I picked Twitter Ads: The platform is an excellent option to consider if you want to increase engagement with relevant audiences. Twitter Ads provides deep linking capabilities, meaning you can connect ads to a specific content section within the social network, helping you increase engagement with your target users. Twitter Ads allows you to reach the right audience and increase engagement by targeting users based on gender, geography, interests, device, or similar users.
Twitter Ads Standout Features and Integrations
Features include multiple ad types and formats to promote your ads, such as promoted and follower advertisements and trend takeover. You can also promote branded hashtags that allow you to add visual components, such as emojis, that automatically appear when others use your hashtag.
Integrations include over 70 native connections with third-party business systems, such as AgencyAnalytics, Datorama, Driftrock, Feedonomics, Funnel, Gigasheet, Hevo, Improvado, Rivery, Supermetrics, and other software solutions. Twitter Ads also allows users to create custom integrations via its API or a paid Zapier account.
Pricing: From $0.50/action
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Simple to get started
- Documentation is readily available
- Broad audience reach
Cons
- Limited character count
- User interface needs improvement
5. Snapchat Ads - Best for targeting younger generations
Snapchat allows digital media brands to reach younger generations with their content. It enables organizations to target these audiences with engaging video ads and several other formats.
Why I picked Snapchat Ads: I chose to add Snapchat to this list because it has an active user base of over 166 million Snapchatters who spend an average of over 30 minutes on the app and open it more than 18 times a day. With Snapchat Ads, you can target younger audiences with your content with CPI and CPC campaigns. You can also create custom filters and lenses for your audience to use that are unique to this platform.
Snapchat Ads Standout Features and Integrations
Features include a Snapchat funnel tool that reflects the customer journey to help you determine your ad objective. The platform provides capabilities that enable you to create ads with the best format to get your brand more attention and engagement.
Integrations include a small number of connections with various standard business tools, such as Amplitude, Appy Pie, Databox, Driftrock, EasyInsights, hotglue, Power My Analytics, Revealbot, Singular, TrueProfit, and other software options. Snapchat Ads also provides an API that allows you to create custom integrations.
Pricing: From $1/swipe up
Free Trial: Free $75 ad credit after spending $50
Pros
- Fast ad upload and publishing
- Unique interactive ads
- Reaches millions of millennials and GenZers
Cons
- Pricing can increase quickly
- Video ads are only 10 seconds
6. Pinterest Ads - Best for brand awareness
Pinterest Ads provides potential customers with a search engine tool that allows them to discover new images. This empowers organizations to receive a platform that creates brand awareness as the number of Pinterest users increases daily.
Why I picked Pinterest Ads: I wanted to add Pinterest Ads to this list for those concentrating more on brand awareness. Unlike social media networks like Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, Pinterest users sign on to the platform to discover new products and brands. So, using Pinterest Ads in your mobile advertising campaigns allows you to naturally work into your target audience’s brand search without interrupting their session.
Pinterest Ads Standout Features and Integrations
Features include collection ads that are only displayed to mobile users and consist of one featured video or image and three supporting photos that show up to 24 supporting pictures on the ad detail page. Pinterest Ads also allow users to create brief video sections or a series of up to 20 graphics called Idea Pins that draw audiences’ attention with immersive educational content.
Integrations include native integrations with third-party applications such as AgencyAnalytics, Coupler.io, Databox, Fivetran, MetaRouter, Sourcetable, Supermetrics, Swydo, Wicked Reports, Windsor.ai, and other software options. You can also use Pinterest Ads’ API or a paid Zapier account to create custom integrations.
Pricing: From $0.10/engagement
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Creates full-funnel marketing channels
- Users can create interactive ads
- Builds brand awareness
Cons
- Must create original photos
- Limited control of ad placement
7. Smaato - Best for omnichannel mobile advertising
Smaato is a digital advertising tech platform that provides a self-serve omnichannel solution. It offers access to multiple ad formats, such as interactive, banner, and interstitial ads.
Why I picked Smaato: When implementing new mobile advertising campaigns, you might use multiple ad formats to promote your content. So, I chose to add Smaato to this list because of its ability to provide omnichannel advertising methods and increase your reach. With Smaato, you can extend your reach and create an optimal experience across multiple mobile devices.
Smaato Standout Features and Integrations
Features include a customer data platform that provides significant trust and transparency by allowing publishers to create targeting opportunities that increase your reach and ROI with less effort. Smaato also offers a consent management platform that handles consent management for publishers, ensuring your campaigns only reach engaged audiences.
Integrations include a few third-party systems, such as Aarki, AdMob, Amazon Publisher Services, AppLovin, and CabinetM. Smaato also provides an API that empowers users to create custom connections.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Helpful customer support
- Excellent banner ad capabilities
- Highly convertible audiences
Cons
- User interface needs work
- Needs improved data metrics and visualization
8. LiftOff - Best for machine learning technology
LiftOff uses machine learning (ML) capabilities to adapt to changing mobile marketing ecosystems and find new pockets of performance. The platform’s machine learning tool simplifies discovering audiences likely to engage with your ads.
Why I picked LiftOff: It’s becoming increasingly popular to utilize machine learning in various business functions, so I wanted to add LiftOff to this list because of its ability to optimize your campaigns with ML. LiftOff offers robust optimization models, including brand awareness, return on ad spend, and lifetime value optimization, helping you extend your ads’ reach. The platform’s advanced ML models filter real-time data to help you find the best audiences for your ads.
LiftOff Standout Features and Integrations
Features include tools that help you develop the best messaging that speaks to your audience across mobile apps and social platforms. LiftOff also provides access to publisher partnerships prioritizing high-quality ad placement inventory in brand-safe environments relevant to your brand.
Integrations include connections with various business systems such as Adjust, AppsFlyer, Branch, devtodev, Improvado, mParticle, MSIGHTS, NextDNS, Singular, XMP, and other software options. LiftOff also offers an API that allows you to create custom integrations if you have software development expertise.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Drive brand awareness with machine learning
- Fraud prevention measures
- Tools to reduce ad spend
Cons
- No transparent pricing details
- Steep learning curve
9. Chartboost - Best for targeting gaming audiences
Chartboost provides advertisers with one of the leading mobile gaming audiences available. The platform’s ad exchange empowers content creators to create a range of native ads, such as reward videos, interactive ads, and more.
Why I picked Chartboost: As we all know, there is a constantly growing number of mobile gaming app players across the globe. So, I wanted to add Chatrtboost because it offers a way to get your brand in front of these individuals. If your audience is gaming users, using Chartboost will be beneficial because it provides over 40 billion monthly app sessions and beyond 900 million distinctive monthly users.
Chartboost Standout Features and Integrations
Features include real-time audience-based buying and bidding tools to help increase ad performance and scale campaigns. Chartboost also enables you to optimize ad creatives to ensure they engage and convert audiences.
Integrations include connections with multiple business applications, such as Aarki, Adjust, AppLovin, AppsFlyer, Buildbox, Felgo, Okta, OpenMediation, Singular, Yandex, and other software options. The platform also offers an API to create custom integrations with the software.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Well-structured dashboard
- Allows ad testing
- Detailed integration documentation
Cons
- Customer service needs work
- High cost per action
10. InMobi - Best for audience insights
InMobi offers digital media organizations audience insights to help them discover their audience’s needs and act on this information immediately.
Why I picked InMobi: Having updated audience insights is essential when working with any form of advertising. As a result of this need, I added InMobi to this article because of its ability to gather data, such as consumer insights, to help you create intelligent user segments. InMobi will help you make better business decisions based on real-time, reliable information, such as verified demographics, mobile behavior, location, and competitive analysis.
InMobi Standout Features and Integrations
Features include tools to help you laser-focus on audience targeting to enhance your campaigns’ performance. InMobi also offers ways to help you scale your mobile advertising growth through outcome-driven ad space inventory.
Integrations include connections with widespread audience engagement and business tools to help accurately measure performance. These connections include applications such as Aarki, Adjust, Agilie, AppLovin, AppsFlyer, Datarade, Kochava, Leanplum, MoEngage, mParticle, and other software options.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Extensive range of ad formats
- Excellent analytics tools
- Simple user interface
Cons
- Customer support needs work
- No anti-fraud controls
11. AppLovin MAX - Best for ad creative optimization
Applovin MAX helps digital media organizations learn what’s most profitable and optimize their ad creative for mobile campaigns that need help to perform.
Why I picked Applovin MAX: I added Applovin MAX to this list because of its ad creative optimization tools that help you find which ads are working best and maximize your marketing. Applovin MAX allows you to quickly implement A/B testing tools that help you identify opportunities to enhance your ad creatives. You can use the A/B testing to test changes such as demand partners, ad frequency, refresh rates, and user segments.
Applovin MAX Standout Features and Integrations
Features include major ad formats for more ways to advertise content and innovative ad placements. Applovin MAX also provides tools that help you control ad visibility and monitor campaigns with reports that automatically flag competitor ads based on custom filters and rules.
Integrations include connections with various business tools that help you increase ad performance. These integrations include systems such as Adjust, AdMachine, Airbridge.io, Appnext, Bucksense, Buildbox, devtodev, Prebid, ReklamStore, Singular, and other software options.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- In-depth impression details
- Displays competitors’ creatives
- Excellent customer support
Cons
- Reporting needs more details
- Dashboard isn’t intuitive
12. Tapjoy - Best advertising offerwall tool
Tapjoy helps advertisers acquire and engage mobile app users at scale via offerwall campaigns.
Why I picked Tapjoy: This platform makes an excellent addition to this list because of its offerwall capabilities that allow mobile app audiences to voluntarily engage with your ads that interest them in exchange for in-game rewards. With Tapjoy, you can choose converting actions, such as subscription sign-ups, when implementing new ad campaigns for mobile gaming applications. Your target audience can then decide to complete your offer in exchange for in-game rewards within the app.
Tapjoy Standout Features and Integrations
Features include the ability to run campaigns on brand-safe applications that resonate with your target audience and build trust. Tapjoy also provides a dedicated campaign manager throughout the setup to optimize processes and allows you to leverage their design team.
Integrations include connections with various business tools to help enhance your mobile advertising campaigns. These include connections with tools such as Adjust, Appfigures, AppsFlyer, InMobi, Kodular, mParticle, Okta, OpenMediation, Singular, Yandex, and other software options.
Pricing: Pricing upon request
Free Trial: No trial available
Pros
- Excellent customer support
- Simple setup
- High user engagement traffic
Cons
- Only works with Android applications
- Traffic stops after reaching goals
Other Options
Because there is a significant number of mobile advertising platforms you can use, I would be doing a disservice if I didn’t provide more options for you to consider. So, I added this list of other options worth some consideration.
- IronSource - Best for growing audience base.
- Google AdMob - Best for maximizing ad revenue.
- Fyber - Best for exclusive ad placement inventory.
- Aarki - Best for scalable programmatic media buying.
- YouAppi - Best for proprietary predictive algorithms.
- Appnext - Best for personalized placement recommendations.
- Mobvista - Best for analyzing ad performance.
- Taptica - Best for quality assurance algorithms.
- Cheetah Ad Platform - Best for reaching global consumer audiences.
- Adikteev - Best for interactive advertisements.
- AdAction - Best flexible and adaptable ad platform.
- Epom - Best cost-effective mobile advertising platform.
Selection Criteria For Mobile Advertising Platforms
Here’s a short summary of the main selection and evaluation criteria I used to develop my list of the best mobile advertising platform for this article:
Core Functionality
To be added to this list, each platform must offer the same core functionality, despite its unique features and benefits. So, the core functionality that I looked for in each mobile advertising platform includes the following:
- Facilitate the delivery of ads to mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets; provide the infrastructure and technology to serve ads efficiently across various mobile apps, mobile websites, and other mobile channels.
- Offer advanced targeting capabilities to help advertisers reach their desired audience segments; provide various targeting options such as demographic targeting, geographic targeting, behavioral targeting, and contextual targeting.
Key Features
Not all mobile advertising platforms are created equal. However, these tools will provide some of the following standard features:
- Multiple Ad Formats: The platform you use should support different mobile ad formats, such as native, banner, video, and interstitial ads.
- Multiple Payment Options: Developing successful mobile marketing strategies requires understanding your advertising budget; this means identifying the different payment options available on the platform you’re using, including cost-per-click, cost-per-mile, cost-per-view, or cost-per-action.
- Targeting Options: To be effective, mobile advertising platforms need to show your content to audiences who can actually benefit from your subject, product, or service; mobile ad tools need to offer specific targeting options, such as interest, geographic, time, social demographic, behavioral, and similar audiences.
- Ad Quality and Relevance: A mobile advertising platform should emphasize high-quality and relevant ads and offer strict standards to deliver your ads to audiences that align with your brand and resonate with them, helping you increase engagement and conversions.
- Ad Inventory: These platforms should offer inventory size and availability details across multiple regions and devices.
Usability
Any type of digital advertising can be challenging, depending on your experience level. So, I wanted to ensure this article is full of options that are as user-friendly as possible. This will help speed up the learning process and quickly get you started with advertising your content and digital media.
Reporting Capabilities
A critical segment crucial for your success is reporting on your ads’ performance metrics. Top mobile advertising platforms will offer detailed reporting and analytics in a comprehensive visual dashboard. Performance reports will provide information such as clicks, impressions, video ad views, and ad format.
People Also Ask
You may have some questions that need answering before focusing on a definite choice of mobile ad platform for your business, and many other people have some frequently asked questions. So, to help you get the most out of this article, I answered some of the top questions people have about mobile advertising platforms.
What is the largest mobile advertising platform?
In terms of reach, Google Ads is one of the most popular choices when advertising on mobile devices. The platform serves your advertising copy based on cookies and keywords that you determine. When using Google Ads to promote your content, you can narrow the platform’s reach by targeting users based on location, mobile platform, device, interests, operating system, and connection type.
What are mobile advertising examples?
Mobile advertising is a marketing strategy displayed on smartphones and tablets through paid channels. Understanding the multiple examples of mobile advertising available will help you choose the right platform and tailor your message accordingly. Traditionally, mobile advertising encompasses channels such as in-app ads, banner ads, rich media mobile ads, interstitial ads, and other formats. When used strategically, these mobile advertising examples can be one of the most effective ways to advertise in the modern digital age.
How much do mobile advertising platforms cost?
The final cost of mobile advertising platforms can vary depending on various factors, such as the specific platform, target audience, campaign duration, and objectives you want to achieve. Mobile advertising platforms offer several pricing models, including cost-per-click (CPC), cost-per-mille (CPM), cost-per-action (CPA), or fixed monthly fees. It’s essential to remember that prices can range from a few cents to several dollars per click or impression, and more effective campaigns or premium advertising placements will have higher costs. A small business might succeed with $500/month in mobile ad spend but a large enterprise can easily exceed $10,000/month or more.
What are the benefits of mobile advertising platforms?
Mobile advertising platforms offer numerous benefits that empower businesses to effectively reach their target audience. Firstly, in 2022 almost 6.6 billion people subscribed to a mobile network worldwide, allowing these platforms to provide unparalleled access to a vast pool of potential customers. This widespread mobile adoption allows businesses to deliver highly targeted and personalized advertisements, increasing engagement and conversion rates. Moreover, mobile advertising platforms offer advanced analytics and tracking capabilities, enabling businesses to measure the success of their campaigns and make data-driven optimizations. By leveraging these platforms, companies can harness the power of mobile devices to amplify their brand visibility, expand their customer base, and drive substantial growth in today’s digitally connected world.
Other Advertising Platform Reviews
Mobile advertising platforms are one way to advertise your brand and content; adding multiple advertising methods to your strategy can significantly increase your reach to target audiences. When implementing advertising platforms in your digital media business, consider the following platform reviews:
- Audio Advertising Software
- Social Media Advertising Software
- Best Advertising Networks
- Video Advertising Networks
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right mobile advertising platform for your needs can be intimidating since there are over 5,000 platforms to consider. This makes it challenging to decide which ones to focus your advertising budget on. The platforms I listed in this article are reliable and handle billions of monthly ad impressions. Testing between two or three platforms is an intelligent move in a scenario where you’re unsure of the best one to advertise.
Another smart move is to sign up for the Indie Media Club newsletter to receive the latest software reviews and advice to help increase your success.