The Best Free AdMob Alternatives to Earn More From Your App in 2026

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Are you only monetized with AdMob? This 2026 update reveals the best free AdMob alternatives like Unity Ads and AppLovin that also offer higher CPMs, faster payouts, and better ad formats to boost your app revenue.

If you’ve ever tried to monetize a mobile app or game with Google AdMob, you probably know the potential frustrations: disappointingly low CPMs in some countries, strict and often confusing policies, the constant fear of a random account ban, and the feeling that your earnings just don’t match your traffic.

But what if I told you there are free, beginner-friendly platforms you can use in 2026 to earn more than only on AdMob? Alternatives that offer better payouts, faster approval, global coverage, and ad formats that don’t annoy your users?

In this ultimate guide, we will break down the best free AdMob alternatives for 2026. We’ll cover how to get approved, the average payout rates, which countries they work best in, and real examples of how developers are using them to significantly increase their income.

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Why Are So Many Developers Looking for AdMob Alternatives?

While Google AdMob is a massive and reliable ad network, it’s not only the perfect solution for every developer. Here are the common reasons why publishers are diversifying their monetization stack:

Low CPMs in Certain Regions: AdMob can have very low CPM (cost per 1,000 impressions) rates in developing countries.
Strict and Unforgiving Policies: AdMob has very strict rules about invalid traffic and ad placement. A single mistake can lead to an account suspension or a permanent ban, which is a massive risk for beginners.
Delayed Account Reviews and Payments: The approval process can be slow, and the $100 payment threshold can take a long time to reach for small apps. Unless you follow the strategies we show on our telegram community
A Desire for Higher Revenue: Simply put, other networks might have advertisers willing to pay more for your specific audience.

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That’s why exploring alternatives is not just an option—it’s a smart business strategy.

The Top 10 Free AdMob Alternatives for 2026

This list is ranked based on earning potential (CPM/RPM), approval speed, ease of integration, and the quality of ad formats.

1. Unity Ads

If you have a mobile game, Unity Ads is non-negotiable. It is the undisputed king of game monetization.

Best For: Game developers, especially hyper-casual, puzzle, and arcade games.
Why It’s Great: It has the highest-paying rewarded video ads in the industry. Advertisers on Unity are specifically looking for a gaming audience and are willing to pay a premium for it.
Average CPM: Tier 1 (US, UK, etc.): $12 – $25 | Tier2 $5 – $9

2. AppLovin

AppLovin is another powerhouse in the mobile app space, particularly for games.

Best For: Gaming apps and developers who want a powerful, all-in-one monetization and user acquisition platform.
Why It’s Great: It has fewer strict policy bans than AdMob and its rewarded video ads pay extremely well. It also has a world-class mediation platform called MAX.
Average CPM: Tier 1: $8 – $22 / Tier 2 $2 – $8

3. ironSource

Now owned by Unity, ironSource remains a top-tier network known for its beginner-friendly approach and powerful tools.

Best For: Beginners, simple apps, and even kids’ apps.
Why It’s Great: Its mediation platform is one of its biggest advantages, allowing you to combine multiple networks to automatically increase your revenue.

4. Mintegral

If your app has a significant audience in Asia, Mintegral can be a goldmine.

Best For: Apps with traffic from Japan, South Korea, and other Asian markets.
Why It’s Great: Mintegral has a huge network of Asian advertisers who pay very high CPMs to reach that audience. For some apps, it can beat AdMob’s CPM by over 40%.
Average CPM: Japan/Korea: $18 – $27 / UK/US $27+ Tier 2 $10 – $21

5. Start.io (formerly StartApp)

Start.io is an excellent and reliable alternative, especially for non-gaming apps.

Best For: Utility apps, tools, wallpaper apps, and file managers.
Why It’s Great: It has instant approval for beginners and still maintains decent CPMs in Tier 3 countries, where AdMob can be very low.
Average CPM: Tier 1: $7 – $16 Tier 3 $3 – $6 Payments are sent via PayPal with a $50 minimum.

6. Media.net

Owned by Yahoo and Bing, Media.net is a contextual ad network that is a phenomenal alternative to AdSense (AdMob’s counterpart for websites), especially in high-value niches.

Best For: Finance blogs, loan/insurance sites, and crypto news apps.
Why It’s Great: Its contextual ads are highly relevant to the content, which leads to higher engagement and very high RPMs.
Average RPM: $10 – $40, depending on the niche.

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7. Monetag

Formerly known as PropellerAds, Monetag has evolved into a powerful, multi-format monetization platform.

Best For: Utility apps (like VPNs), file-sharing apps, movie/music apps, and websites.
Why It’s Great: It offers a variety of ad formats that AdMob doesn’t, including Push Notifications, In-Page Push, and the highly profitable SmartLink. It also performs very well with international traffic.

8. Adsterra

Adsterra is another excellent choice for website owners and certain types of apps, known for its weekly payouts and flexible ad formats.

Best For: File-sharing apps, blogs, and publishers with global traffic.
Why It’s Great: Its unique “Social Bar” ad format is highly engaging and bypasses most ad-blockers.

9. Chartboost

Chartboost is another popular and trusted ad network with a strong focus on the gaming industry.

Best For: Game developers of all sizes, as it accepts small publishers easily.
Why It’s Great: It provides deep analytics to help you understand your revenue and offers tools for both monetization and user acquisition.
Average CPM: $10 – $20.

10. Amazon Publisher Services

This is Amazon’s own ad network, which gives you access to Amazon’s massive pool of advertisers.

Best For: Apps with a significant US audience.
Why It’s Great: It’s a trusted brand with high-quality ads and strong advertiser budgets. The approval process can be strict, but it is often considered easier than Google’s.

The Secret Weapon: How to Boost Your Earnings by 20-60% with Ad Mediation

Here is the strategy that professional app publishers use: they don’t choose just one network. They use a technology called Ad Mediation.

Think of mediation as an auction for your ad space. Instead of your app only asking AdMob for an ad, it asks a mediation platform to send a request to AdMob, Unity Ads, AppLovin, and several other networks all at the same time. These networks then bid against each other in real-time, and the network that offers the highest price wins the right to show the ad.

This process happens for every single ad impression, and it guarantees that you are always getting the highest possible price.

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Top Mediation Platforms (Free to Use):

MAX by AppLovin
ironSource Mediation
AdMob Mediation (You can use AdMob’s mediation platform even if you integrate other networks).

How to Get Approved Quickly on These Networks

Platforms will reject apps that look unprofessional or untrustworthy. To ensure a fast approval, make sure your app has:

A Privacy Policy URL. (You can use a free privacy policy generator).
A GDPR/Consent popup for users in Europe.
No copyrighted or adult content.
Clear screenshots and a good description on the app store.

Summary: You Have the Power to Earn More

While Google AdMob is a solid ad network, it is far from your only option. For many developers, especially those in the gaming niche or with a lot of international traffic, alternatives like Unity Ads, AppLovin, and Monetag can provide significantly higher revenue.

The ultimate strategy is to use ad mediation. By combining several of these networks and letting them compete for your ad space, you can automatically boost your earnings and build a more resilient and profitable app business.

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