Vungle
App monetization platforms
Mobile advertising software
Video advertising software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
Take the quiz to check if Vungle and its alternatives fit your requirements.
Pay-as-you-go
Free Trial unavailableFree version unavailable
Small
Medium
Large
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation
- Education and training
- Media and communications
What is Vungle
Vungle is a mobile advertising platform focused on in-app video and performance ad formats for app publishers and advertisers. It provides an SDK and ad serving capabilities to help app developers monetize inventory and to help advertisers acquire users through mobile placements. The product is commonly used in mobile gaming and other high-volume consumer apps, with support for video-centric formats such as rewarded video and interstitials. Vungle operates as part of a larger mobile advertising business following its acquisition.
Strong video ad focus
Vungle is built around mobile video formats, including rewarded video and interstitial video, which are widely used for in-app monetization. This focus aligns well with apps that rely on engagement-based ad experiences rather than static display. For publishers, video-centric demand can translate into more monetization options across placements. For advertisers, video formats support creative that is closer to app usage and gameplay.
SDK-based in-app integration
Vungle provides an SDK that developers integrate into iOS and Android apps to request and render ads. SDK-based integration enables in-app measurement and ad experience control compared with purely web-based placements. This approach supports common mobile app monetization workflows such as placement configuration and frequency controls. It also fits teams that already manage multiple mobile SDKs for analytics and monetization.
Performance advertising use cases
The platform supports performance-oriented mobile advertising, including campaigns aimed at user acquisition. This makes it relevant for advertisers that optimize toward installs and downstream events rather than only impressions. It also supports publishers that want demand sources aligned to app growth and monetization goals. In this category, performance tooling is a key requirement alongside ad serving.
Mobile-first, app-only scope
Vungle primarily targets in-app mobile inventory, which can be limiting for organizations that need broader omnichannel coverage. Teams with significant web, CTV, or desktop inventory may need additional platforms to manage those channels. This can increase operational complexity when compared with more cross-channel ad management stacks. It is best suited when mobile apps are the primary monetization surface.
Integration and maintenance overhead
Using Vungle typically requires SDK implementation, ongoing version updates, and testing across OS releases and device types. This can be burdensome for smaller development teams or apps with infrequent release cycles. SDK conflicts and mediation-related configuration can add additional troubleshooting work. The operational cost is higher than solutions that rely mainly on server-side or tag-based integrations.
Ownership and product changes risk
Vungle has changed ownership, which can introduce uncertainty around product roadmap, support processes, and platform consolidation. Buyers may need to validate current feature availability and long-term commitments during procurement. Contracting, reporting, and account management may also change as the product is integrated into a parent company’s portfolio. This is a common risk factor for acquired ad tech products.
Plan & Pricing
Pricing model: Pay-as-you-go (advertisers are billed via campaign-level bids: CPM, CPCV, CPI / Target CPI; publishers earn via eCPM).
Free tier/trial: No explicit permanently free plan or time-limited free trial is stated on Vungle/Liftoff official pages. The SDK and publisher integration documentation are publicly available but the site does not explicitly advertise a "free" plan or time-limited trial.
Example costs / minimums (official):
- Self-serve advertiser minimum prepayment: $5,000 (required prepay for self-serve advertiser accounts).
- Publisher payout minimums (examples from Getting Paid): PayPal initiate payment minimum USD $50 (thresholds depend on payment method and country).
Billing & models: Target CPI (impression-level dynamic pricing), CPM, CPI and CPCV are supported billing/bid models; advertisers are billed on impression-level prices set by the platform.
Discounts / enterprise: No public tiered pricing listed; enterprise or bespoke arrangements are handled via account teams / sales (contact required).
Seller details
Liftoff Mobile, Inc.
Redwood City, CA, USA
2012
Private
https://liftoff.io/
https://x.com/liftoffmobile
https://www.linkedin.com/company/liftoff-mobile/
