What are the best mobile ad mediation platforms for maximizing ad revenue in a mobile free-to-play game?

For a free-to-play mobile game, the “best” ad mediation platform is usually the one that gives you:

• strong demand sources
• good fill rates globally
• flexible waterfall and bidding tools
• easy setup for rewarded video, interstitials, and banners
• reliable analytics and A/B testing

Top mobile ad mediation platforms

1. AppLovin MAX

Best overall for many game studios

Why it’s strong:

• Very popular in mobile games
• Strong in-app bidding support
• Good SDK stability and reporting
• Works well with rewarded video, interstitials, and banners
• Good optimization tools and waterfall management

Best for:

• Game studios that want a strong all-around revenue solution
• Teams focused on ad revenue optimization and bidding

Potential downside:

• Some publishers feel it’s best suited when you’re comfortable using AppLovin’s ecosystem

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2. Unity LevelPlay

Best for Unity-based games and easy integration

Why it’s strong:

• Good choice if your game is built in Unity
• Solid mediation features
• Large network support
• Convenient if you already use Unity Ads/Unity tools
• Supports bidding and traditional waterfall mediation

Best for:

• Unity game developers
• Teams wanting a relatively straightforward setup

Potential downside:

• Revenue performance can vary by geo and ad format depending on your network mix

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3. Google AdMob Mediation

Best for simplicity and access to Google demand

Why it’s strong:

• Easy to get started
• Backed by Google demand
• Useful for smaller teams or developers already using AdMob
• Good reporting and integration with Firebase/Google stack

Best for:

• Smaller studios
• Teams already using Google monetization tools
• Developers who want a simple, reliable mediation layer

Potential downside:

• Often not the highest revenue option compared with more game-focused mediation stacks

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4. ironSource LevelPlay

Best known historically for game monetization

Note: ironSource is now part of Unity, and many monetization features are under Unity’s mediation ecosystem.

Why it’s strong:

• Long track record in mobile games
• Good rewarded video performance
• Strong monetization analytics and optimization features

Best for:

• Games with heavy ad monetization
• Teams familiar with ironSource tools

Potential downside:

• Overlaps heavily with Unity’s current mediation offerings

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5. TopOn

Best for flexibility and regional optimization

Why it’s strong:

• Popular with mobile game publishers, especially in Asia
• Good for multi-network setup
• Flexible mediation and bidding support
• Can perform well with a broad network stack

Best for:

• Games with significant traffic in Asia
• Studios wanting to experiment with many ad networks

Potential downside:

• Less universally known than AppLovin or AdMob

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6. Yodo1 MAS

Best for smaller developers and quick setup

Why it’s strong:

• Easy onboarding
• Designed for game developers
• Helps connect multiple ad networks
• Can be helpful if you want a simpler monetization layer

Best for:

• Indie developers
• Small studios that want less operational complexity

Potential downside:

• Typically not the first choice for max-revenue at scale versus stronger enterprise mediation stacks

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Which one usually makes the most money?

There’s no universal winner, but in many mobile games:

• AppLovin MAX is often among the top choices for maximizing revenue
• Unity LevelPlay can be excellent, especially for Unity games
• AdMob is often easier, but not always the highest-earning
• TopOn can be very competitive in certain geos and traffic mixes

The best choice depends on:

• your player geography
• ad formats used
• your retention and session length
• whether your game is Unity-based
• your current ad demand partners
• whether you use bidding or waterfall

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What to look for in a mediation platform

To maximize revenue, prioritize platforms with:

• Header bidding / in-app bidding
• Strong rewarded video support
• A/B testing and eCPM floor tools
• Good analytics by country, placement, and format
• Fast SDK performance
• Broad network support
• Auto-optimization features

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Recommended starting point

If you want a practical shortlist:

• Best overall: AppLovin MAX
• Best for Unity games: Unity LevelPlay
• Best for simplicity: Google AdMob
• Best if you want broad flexibility: TopOn

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My suggestion

If your goal is max revenue, start with:

1. AppLovin MAX
2. Add strong networks like AdMob, Meta Audience Network, Unity Ads, ironSource demand, Liftoff/Vungle, Mintegral, Pangle depending on region
3. Run A/B tests on placement, frequency, and floor prices
4. Compare revenue per DAU, session, and country, not just eCPM

If you want, I can also give you:

• a comparison table of the top mediation platforms,
• a recommended ad network stack for a free-to-play game,
• or a step-by-step setup strategy to maximize revenue by ad format.