How Much Do Mobile Ads Actually Pay? Real eCPM Ranges by Network
"How much will I make from ads?" depends on format, geo, and network. Here are realistic eCPM ranges to anchor your expectations.
It depends — but here are real numbers
“How much do mobile ads pay?” has no single answer, because eCPM swings with format, geography, network, and platform. But you can anchor your expectations with realistic 2024–2025 ranges.
By ad format (Tier-1 high → Tier-3 low)
- Rewarded video: $3.50 – $42 eCPM
- Interstitial: $1.50 – $18
- Native: $0.50 – $5.50
- Banner: $0.07 – $1.20
By network
At the top end, mediation and premium-demand networks lead: AppLovin MAX and Meta Audience Network tend to post the highest rewarded eCPMs (~$35–$42 Tier-1), with AdMob close behind (~$32) and unmatched fill. Unity Ads and ironSource are strong for games (~$28–$30), while Vungle, InMobi, and Chartboost fill specific niches and geographies.
Geography is the biggest swing
A US/UK/AU (Tier-1) audience can earn 5–10× the eCPM of a Tier-3 audience in Asia, LatAm, or Africa for the exact same ad. If most of your users are in low-eCPM regions, volume has to make up for rate.
iOS vs Android
iOS users are considered higher-value and typically earn around 30% more than Android for comparable apps.
A worked example
Take a casual game with 10,000 daily active users, a balanced global audience, showing roughly 3 rewarded videos and 6 interstitials per user per day on AdMob. That lands in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars per day — meaningful, and very sensitive to how US-heavy your audience is.
Rather than guess, plug in your own numbers and compare every network side by side. Calculate your estimated earnings →
Ready to monetize?
Apply to the networks that fit your platform — most are free and approve within a few days.
The most popular mobile ad network. Free to start, massive advertiser demand, and easy SDK integration.
Apply to AdMob →Top-paying mediation platform. Runs a real-time auction across all major networks to maximize your eCPM.
Apply to AppLovin MAX →Best for game publishers. Rewarded video eCPMs are among the highest in the industry.
Apply to Unity Ads →Strong mediation platform with competitive fill rates, especially for hyper-casual games.
Apply to IronSource →Put real numbers on it
Use the free calculator to estimate your revenue across every major ad network.
Keep reading
AppLovin MAX vs AdMob: Which Pays More in 2025?
Both are giants of mobile monetization, but they win in different situations. Here's how AppLovin MAX and AdMob actually compare on payout.
Read guideWhat Is eCPM? A Plain-English Guide for App Developers
eCPM is the single most important number in ad monetization — yet it's widely misunderstood. Here's the plain-English version.
Read guideRewarded Video vs Interstitial Ads: Which Should You Use?
These two formats drive the vast majority of mobile game ad revenue — but they affect players very differently. Here's how to choose.
Read guide