If you’re developing a mobile game or app and wondering Which is better Unity Ads or AdMob, then in this article you will get your answer. Choosing the right ad network can directly impact your app’s revenue, user experience, and long-term success. Unity Ads and AdMob are two of the biggest players in mobile advertising—but each serves slightly different purposes and works best under different conditions.
In this blog post, we’ll dive deep into a comparison of Unity Ads and AdMob, evaluate their pros and cons, and help you decide which platform is the right fit for your project.
Understanding Unity Ads and AdMob
Before we go into comparisons, it’s important to understand what each platform offers.
Unity Ads
Unity Ads is an advertising platform specifically built for mobile games. Owned by Unity Technologies, it integrates seamlessly with the Unity engine, offering developers the ability to show video ads, rewarded ads, and playable ads within their games. Unity Ads is favored by many game developers because of its ease of use and built-in support within the Unity development environment.
AdMob
AdMob is Google’s mobile advertising platform, and it’s part of the larger Google Ads ecosystem. AdMob supports a variety of ad formats, including banners, interstitials, rewarded ads, and native ads. It’s not just limited to games—AdMob is designed to work across all kinds of mobile applications. Plus, it comes with robust analytics and access to Google’s massive advertiser base.
Unity Ads vs AdMob Revenue: Which Earns More?
When it comes to the question of Unity Ads vs AdMob revenue, the answer largely depends on your app’s genre, user demographics, and traffic sources.
Revenue Potential with Unity Ads
Unity Ads tends to perform exceptionally well in gaming apps, especially those with high engagement and frequent play sessions. Its rewarded video ads are popular among developers because users willingly watch ads in exchange for in-game rewards. These ads typically generate higher eCPMs (effective cost per mille) compared to banner or interstitial ads.
Developers have reported average eCPMs from Unity Ads ranging between $5 to $12 for rewarded video ads in Tier 1 countries like the US and UK. However, eCPMs may fall significantly in Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions.
Revenue Potential with AdMob
AdMob, on the other hand, is known for its vast advertiser network and competitive bidding system. Because it is part of Google Ads, it benefits from Google’s global reach and targeting capabilities.
AdMob generally offers higher fill rates across various regions, including lower-tier countries. While banner ads might only generate $0.20 to $2 per 1000 impressions, rewarded ads and interstitials can achieve $4 to $10 eCPMs in high-performing regions.
Additionally, AdMob supports mediation, which allows you to integrate multiple ad networks, including Unity Ads, through a single SDK. This often helps in optimizing revenue by serving the highest-paying ad available. If you’re looking to determine which is better Unity Ads or AdMob, the answer often depends on your target audience and monetization strategy—but many developers find AdMob’s mediation and global ad reach offer a competitive edge.
Verdict on Revenue
If your app is a game built with Unity, Unity Ads might provide higher returns due to better integration and ad relevance. However, if you’re targeting global audiences or have a non-gaming app, AdMob’s broader advertiser pool and high fill rates could result in more consistent revenue.
Unity Ads vs Google Ads: What’s the Difference?
You might also come across the comparison of Unity Ads vs Google Ads—and it’s essential to understand this distinction.
What is Google Ads?
Google Ads is the umbrella platform for all of Google’s advertising services. Advertisers use Google Ads to create campaigns that can appear on Google Search, YouTube, websites via the Display Network, and within apps through AdMob.
AdMob vs Google Ads
AdMob is the mobile in-app component of Google Ads, focusing specifically on helping app developers monetize their apps. You can think of AdMob as a supply-side platform (SSP) that connects to the demand generated by Google Ads.
Unity Ads vs Google Ads (in practice)
While Google Ads serves a wider variety of ad placements across platforms, Unity Ads is purpose-built for mobile games. If you’re deciding between Unity Ads vs Google Ads, the real comparison is more accurately between Unity Ads and AdMob, since AdMob directly integrates with Google Ads for in-app monetization.
When it comes to Unity Ads vs AdMob revenue, many developers report higher earnings with AdMob in regions with strong advertiser demand, while Unity Ads may perform better in game-centric environments with highly engaged users.
Integration & Developer Experience
Unity Ads Integration
Unity Ads is practically plug-and-play for Unity game developers. If you’re using the Unity engine, the SDK is pre-installed, making implementation smooth and fast. You can set up placements for different ad types with minimal code and leverage Unity’s dashboard for campaign tracking.
Watch Unity Ads Integration Tutorial From Here
AdMob Integration
AdMob requires a bit more setup, particularly if you’re not using Firebase. You’ll need to integrate the SDK, configure ad units, and manage consent for GDPR/CCPA compliance. However, AdMob offers a powerful dashboard with advanced reporting, mediation tools, and A/B testing features.
For developers working outside the Unity engine, such as on Android Studio or iOS native apps, AdMob often becomes the default choice due to its versatility.
Watch Unity Admob Integration Tutorial From Here
Ad Formats and User Experience
Both Unity Ads and AdMob offer a wide range of ad formats, but with slightly different strengths.
Unity Ads Ad Formats
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Rewarded Video Ads: The most popular format. Encourages user engagement and doesn’t interrupt gameplay.
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Interstitial Ads: Full-screen ads shown between gameplay events.
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Playable Ads: Allow users to try out another game directly in the ad—a highly engaging format.
AdMob Ad Formats
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Banner Ads: Persistent but low-earning; good for continuous impressions.
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Interstitial Ads: Shown at transition points like level completion.
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Rewarded Ads: Supported and highly customizable.
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Native Ads: Can be styled to match your app’s design, providing a less disruptive experience.
User Experience Comparison
Unity Ads, being designed for games, offers ad formats that feel more integrated into gameplay. In contrast, AdMob gives more control and variety, which can be better for non-gaming apps or those needing more traditional advertising approaches. If you’re evaluating which is better Unity Ads or AdMob from a user experience standpoint, Unity Ads may have an edge for immersive in-game ads, while AdMob shines in versatility and broader ad format options.
However, it’s also worth considering Unity Ads vs AdMob revenue alongside user experience, as a better experience doesn’t always guarantee higher earnings.
Analytics and Reporting
Unity Ads
Unity Ads offers basic analytics, showing metrics like impressions, eCPMs, and revenue by country or placement. However, its reporting tools aren’t as detailed as AdMob’s and might be limiting for larger teams or complex monetization strategies.
AdMob
AdMob stands out with its integration into Firebase, Google’s analytics and backend service. This gives you access to real-time analytics, detailed audience segmentation, and monetization performance down to the user level. The A/B testing tools also make it easier to optimize your ad placements and formats for better performance.
Pros and Cons
Unity Ads – Pros
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Seamless Unity engine integration
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High eCPMs for gaming apps
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Great user experience with rewarded and playable ads
Unity Ads – Cons
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Limited analytics and reporting
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Lower fill rates outside Tier 1 countries
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Not ideal for non-gaming apps
AdMob – Pros
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High global fill rates
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Advanced analytics via Firebase
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Works well with any app, not just games
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Supports mediation to increase revenue
AdMob – Cons
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More complex setup
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Banner ads may disrupt user experience
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Rewarded ads may require more manual customization
Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?
So, which is better Unity Ads or AdMob ? The answer lies in your app’s genre, user base, and goals.
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If you’re building a mobile game using the Unity engine, start with Unity Ads. It’s tailored for your environment and delivers strong performance with rewarded videos and playables.
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If you’re developing a non-gaming app or want more robust monetization and analytics tools, AdMob is likely the better choice.
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For best results, consider using AdMob mediation to combine the strengths of both. You can set up AdMob to call Unity Ads when it offers the highest eCPM, maximizing your revenue automatically.
In the end, it’s not always an either/or scenario—many successful developers use both platforms in tandem.
Conclusion
Choosing between Unity Ads and AdMob isn’t a one-size-fits-all decision. Each platform excels in different areas. Evaluate your app’s design, user behavior, and monetization goals before committing.
Whether you’re comparing Unity Ads vs AdMob revenue or trying to understand the differences between Unity Ads vs Google Ads, keep testing, analyzing, and optimizing. That’s the best way to ensure you’re squeezing the most value out of your mobile monetization strategy.
When deciding on the best ad network for your game, it’s helpful to look beyond just Unity Ads and AdMob. Facebook’s Audience Network is another major player worth considering, especially for apps with strong social engagement. If you’re weighing your options, this AdMob VS Audience Network comparison breaks down the differences in revenue potential, fill rates, and ease of integration.
