7 Best Gaming App Monetization Platform

When it comes to monetizing mobile games, developers on Reddit don’t hold back! From praising high eCPMs to venting about buggy SDKs and shady payout terms, Reddit threads are a goldmine of unfiltered, real-world feedback.

In 2025, the conversation around ad networks has shifted. It’s no longer just about who pays the most, it’s about SDK stability, support quality, fill rates across geos, and how well a platform plays with others in your mediation stack. Whether you're a solo dev launching your first casual game or a studio optimizing revenue across multiple titles, knowing which networks fellow developers actually trust makes a big difference.

Since Reddit buzz can kill or make a network, we dug through Reddit threads from communities like r/indiegames, r/admob, and r/androiddev to surface the most recommended (and most complained-about) monetization platforms. 

7 Best Gaming App Monetization Platforms

 Here’s a breakdown of the 7 best gaming app monetization platforms that keep coming up— for the right reasons.

1. AppLovin MAX

AppLovin MAX consistently tops Reddit polls as a developer favorite because it combines sleek in-app bidding with powerful waterfall tools, all stitched together in a developer-friendly package. Its unified auction taps over 25 SDK networks, 15 in‑app bidders, and more than 150 DSPs via the AppLovin Exchange, meaning your inventory gets real-time competition for every impression. Reddit devs frequently call out MAX’s fair impression distribution (unlike AdMob, which often favors its own network), resulting in more balanced yields and noticeable eCPM lifts. The bulk editing and waterfall automation features save teams hours of manual tweaks with auto-CPM updates and cloning tools. Built-in A/B testing and deep analytics dashboards help you refine every strategy, and the SDK supports multiple platforms (Android, iOS, Unity, React Native, Flutter).

Key Features:

• Real-time bidding with major ad networks (Meta, Google, Unity)
• Granular A/B testing tools
• SDK with excellent Unity support

Reddit Buzz: Devs praise its high eCPMs, intuitive interface, and dependable mediation. One user claimed a 30% increase in ARPDAU after switching from AdMob to MAX.

"MAX finally feels like the platform was built by someone who understands game dev workflows."

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2. ironSource by Unity

With Unity acquiring ironSource, the ecosystem has seen tighter ad-monetization integration, with favourable reviews on Reddit. Developers often highlight its hybrid in-app bidding via Unity LevelPlay, which lets ad networks bid in real time while still supporting waterfall backups. On their site, Unity describes LevelPlay as a system that automatically boosts CPMs, cuts manual work, and provides clear, granular reporting on bid activity, latency, and session depth.. Among Redditors, many say it performs on par with or even better than MAX in specific niches, with one noting, “it favors its own traffic at a lower eCPM,” though this can be tweaked. Others recommend ironSource as a reliable, transparent mediator across all major geos. With native support for rewarded videos, interstitials, banners, and built-in debugging tools, ironSource offers a clean, flexible monetization stack that balances high yields with real-world developer trust.

Key Features:

• Cross-promotion and user segmentation
• Auto-optimization for rewarded video and interstitials
• Unified dashboard with Unity Editor support

Reddit Take: Devs recommend it for hyper-casual games and rewarded-heavy titles. One noted, "It’s the only network where I’ve seen consistent fill rates in Tier 3 countries."

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3. AdMob + Custom Mediation

Google's AdMob remains a giant, but devs often modify it with third-party mediation tools: Google’s reliable fill and demand, plus the ability to plug in other networks for higher yields where needed. According to Google, AdMob's mediation platform supports over 30 major ad networks with adapters and even more via custom events, and features automatic ad source optimization that ranks networks by eCPM per country. Stack Overflow users point out that developers often use custom events to integrate networks not officially supported, enabling them to “automatically determine the eCPM, and select the best ADs network to pull Ads from”. Reddit threads from r/admob echo that sentiment, but also warn that AdMob tends to favor its own inventory—even if competitors bid higher—leading some devs to describe its mediation as “terrible” for third-party fill. Still, many use it for its stability, integration with Firebase analytics, and global reach across 200+ markets 

In essence, AdMob with custom mediation offers a rock-solid base, combined with the flexibility to pull in external demand for revenue boosts, though it may require advanced setup and constant monitoring to avoid biased prioritization.

Key Features:

• Deep Firebase integration
• Access to Google’s massive advertiser network
• Ad Inspector tool for debugging

Reddit Insight: AdMob is often used in combo with MAX or ironSource. It’s seen as stable, but lacks the aggressive optimization newer stacks provide.

"It’s great for banners and filler ads, but we always layer it with MAX to really juice the eCPM."

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4. Chartboost

Once a go-to for performance marketers, Chartboost remains a reliable option for game studios. They brand themselves as a “mobile programmatic advertising platform built by top game developers,” aimed squarely at helping you monetize and acquire users without any shady, black-box practices . Reddit users frequently report strong eCPMs, especially for interstitials and videos (one dev noted earning around $5–8 eCPM right after launch). Others appreciate that Chartboost lets you place interstitials between levels naturally, fitting right into gameplay 

From the official side, Chartboost offers a full suite of tools: a flexible SDK that supports Android, iOS, Unity, and more; unified auction with waterfall fallback; built-in mediation; targeted ad placements; and granular analytics via their API.

Key Features:

• Interstitial and rewarded video formats
• Programmatic DSP transparency
• Custom placements and targeting tools

What Redditors Say: While not as dominant as it once was, it’s still used by mid-sized studios valuing full-stack control.

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5. Mintegral

Mintegral is popular thanks to its lightweight SDK, advanced bidding tech, and strong performance metrics, especially in Asia-Pacific. This China-first platform is gaining traction globally, gaining traction on Reddit and among app publishers as a strong monetization alternative. Developers appreciate Mintegral's robust in-app bidding tech, as highlighted in its own content: the platform uses intelligent bidding combined with LAT (Limited Ad Tracking) estimation to help maximize ad revenue post-IDFA. Plus, their recent “Intelligent Monitoring” feature gives publishers clarity on bidding strategies with actionable insights– a big step toward transparency.

Mintegral’s case studies add weight too: for example, CrazyLabs saw $17–$19 eCPM and triple the ad impressions after partnering with them — a testament to high fill rates and strong monetization performance.

Key Features:

• High fill rates in Southeast Asia and India
• Native ad and video format support
• Lightweight SDK

Reddit Consensus: Popular among devs focused on emerging markets. Many claim it's their "secret weapon" for non-US monetization.

"When AdMob and Unity stop filling, Mintegral keeps the lights on."

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6. Unity Ads

Unity Ads is a frequent topic on Reddit—it’s part of the Unity ecosystem and offers reliable monetization for mobile games. Developers appreciate how easy it is to integrate Unity Ads via the Unity Editor or Package Manager , making it especially friendly for first-time and indie devs. The platform supports popular ad formats—rewarded videos, interstitials, and banners—and includes the LevelPlay mediation layer, which creates a unified auction across multiple networks, boosting your chance of earning higher eCPMs. On Reddit, many devs report solid earnings; one creator shared that his idle game earned up to $4.67 CPM in its first month and praised the setup simplicity . Another frequent Reddit observation is the deep integration’s effect on user acquisition: Unity Ads ties nicely into ROAS campaigns and creative testing, helping drive installs alongside revenue generation. 

Key Features:

• Easy Unity integration
• Reliable fill for Tier 1 markets
• Real-time analytics and revenue reporting

From Reddit: Unity Ads is considered dependable but not the highest-paying. It’s often used as part of a broader stack.

"Perfect for rewarded videos, but don’t expect crazy CPMs."

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7. Start.io (formerly StartApp)

Start.io is a lightweight ad platform suited for both gaming and utility apps. With a stable SDK praised by many, Start.io offers seamless monetization backed by real-time analytics and audience segmentation (features confirmed by verified users on G2 who say it “simplifies mobile marketing” and is “stable, reliable, has a good support team, and pays on time”). Operating at impressive scale - over 500,000 active apps delivering billions of ads monthly—Start.io brings privacy-compliant, AI-powered targeting and high eCPMs, supported globally by robust demand.

Key Features:

• High fill rates in LATAM and MENA
• Privacy-first targeting
• Simple integration, small SDK size

Reddit Feedback: Best used as a fallback. It rarely outperforms leaders like MAX, but it’s reliable for volume and backup fill.

"Think of it as the safety net in your waterfall."

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Final Thoughts

Gaming app monetization in 2025 demands flexibility and experimentation. Developers are moving away from closed ecosystems in favor of hybrid stacks that maximize yield across regions and formats. Platforms like AppLovin MAX and ironSource dominate for their transparency and tooling, while niche networks like Mintegral and Start.io provide vital support in global markets.

If you're optimizing ad revenue, Reddit is your real-time lab. Track threads in r/gamedev, r/indiegames, and r/admob to keep up with performance benchmarks and real-world dev feedback.