SensorTowerSensorTower

Ad Monetization 101: App Analysis & Top Ad Publishers

May 26, 2026·3 min read

The article highlights the underappreciated role of ad monetization in mobile app revenue, noting that 60-70% of users never make in-app purchases, yet app revenue continues to grow. Sensor Tower introduces two new reports to address this gap. The App Analysis Report allows benchmarking apps on ad revenue, ARPMAU (average revenue per monthly active user), ads per minute/session, and network mix.

The Top Ad Publishers Report provides market-level insights, e.g., identifying mobile board games with the highest ad revenue per minute in the US. Key data points: 72% of top 100 grossing games use hybrid monetization (IAP+ads), and ad revenue is rising across verticals. Actionable takeaways: benchmark competitors' monetization efficiency, identify high-performing ad networks and formats, rank publishers by total revenue (IAP+ad), find suitable ad partners, track monetization shifts over time, and evaluate acquisition targets using full revenue data.

These insights empower ad ops decision-makers to optimize ad strategies, test new networks, and make informed investment decisions.

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