Independence
No network reviewed on this site pays for placement, for ranking position, or for inclusion. Every entry — including any network with a commercial affiliate relationship to this site — is scored against the same six criteria below and described using the same format: a summary, key metrics, and a balanced list of strengths and limitations.
A ranking position that cannot be explained by the criteria below is treated as an error to correct, not a result to defend. If you believe an entry is inaccurate or a ranking position is unjustified, submit a correction through the contact page with a source reference.
Ranking Criteria
Every network in the comparison is evaluated across six dimensions. Publisher-facing and advertiser-facing platforms are evaluated on the dimensions most relevant to their primary function.
CPM and Volume
Effective CPM rates across Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 GEOs, weighted toward figures with documented sourcing. Daily impression volume sets the reach ceiling — relevant for both publishers assessing fill potential and advertisers assessing scale.
Geographic Coverage
Breadth and depth of advertiser demand across GEOs, with particular attention to Tier-1 US, UK, CA, and AU markets where CPM floors are highest. Country count alone is not a proxy for fill rate quality in target markets.
Fraud Protection Tooling
Whether a network integrates third-party verification (AdScore, DoubleVerify) or relies solely on internal ML filtering. Publisher traffic audit processes and post-launch transparency for advertisers are evaluated separately.
Pricing Model Flexibility
Availability of CPM, CPV, SmartCPM, and TargetCPA bidding modes. Self-optimizing models are evaluated for whether they require a learning phase and what minimum conversion volume is needed for stability.
Payment Terms
Publisher minimum payout thresholds, payment frequency, and method availability. Advertiser minimum deposit requirements. Low minimums reduce risk for first-time network testing; payment method breadth affects practical accessibility.
Tracker and Integration Support
Compatibility with third-party attribution tools (Voluum, AppsFlyer, BeMob) via S2S postback. Quality of documentation, self-serve account management, and whether support is realistically accessible to smaller accounts.
How Position Is Determined
Position reflects performance across all six criteria together, not any single metric in isolation. A network ranked mid-list because it has strong Tier-2 fill but weaker Tier-1 US presence is not a lesser platform — it reflects a narrower GEO scope weighed against networks with broader general-purpose coverage.
Networks that serve primarily one audience (publishers or advertisers) are evaluated only on criteria relevant to that function. A publisher network is not penalized for lacking TargetCPA bidding; an advertiser DSP is not penalized for having a higher payout threshold.
Affiliate Relationships
Some links on this site are affiliate links. When a visitor creates an account or makes a deposit through one of these links, this site may receive a commission. Affiliate relationships do not influence ranking position, inclusion decisions, or the content of any network's entry. A network with an affiliate relationship is held to the same criteria and the same requirement to list genuine limitations as any other.
Updates and Corrections
Ad network platforms change CPM floors, payment terms, fraud tooling, and minimum thresholds frequently. This comparison is reviewed quarterly and updated when a network's terms or capabilities change materially. If you identify a factual error — an incorrect CPM figure, a changed minimum deposit, a discontinued feature — submit the correction through the contact page with a source link. Verified corrections are applied within 5 business days and acknowledged in the page's update timestamp.