While this article is a guide on Google AdMob ad formats, if you wish to create an app without coding, get started now.
App monetization remains one of the most crucial aspects of mobile app success in 2025. While some apps rely on in-app purchases or subscriptions, ad monetization continues to dominate as the most accessible and scalable revenue channel for app owners. From mobile games to utility apps, displaying relevant ads allows developers to earn steady income while keeping their apps free for users.
Read: Mobile app monetization – A complete guide
If you’re building your app with AppMySite’s no-code app builder, you can easily integrate Google AdMob to start earning from your app traffic. AdMob, Google’s mobile advertising platform, connects developers (publishers) with millions of advertisers, ensuring high fill rates, optimized revenue, and seamless user experience.
In this updated 2025 guide, we’ll explore all the major Google AdMob ad formats, how they work, when to use each one, and how you can integrate them with your AppMySite-built app for maximum monetization potential.
What is Google AdMob and how does it work?
Google AdMob is Google’s mobile ad network that helps app developers earn revenue by displaying targeted ads in their apps. When you integrate AdMob into your app, it automatically serves ads from a massive pool of advertisers, using Google’s algorithms to match ads with your audience and maximize performance.
Here’s how it works step-by-step:
- You create ad units within your AdMob account. These are the designated spaces in your app where ads will appear.
- Each ad unit is assigned a format (banner, interstitial, rewarded, or native).
- AdMob matches your ad units with available ads from advertisers based on targeting preferences and bid value.
- Ads are served dynamically within your app, and you earn revenue based on impressions (CPM), clicks (CPC), or user actions.
AdMob’s powerful mediation and optimization features ensure that the best-paying, most relevant ads are displayed to your users at the right time.
Why use Google AdMob for app monetization?
In 2025, AdMob continues to lead the mobile ad monetization space because of its robust ecosystem and deep integration with Google’s advertising network.
Here are a few reasons why app developers prefer AdMob:
- Global advertiser reach: Access to millions of advertisers ensures higher competition and better ad rates.
- Smart optimization: Google’s AI-driven algorithms maximize fill rates and CPM through real-time bidding.
- Cross-platform support: Works seamlessly on Android, iOS, and hybrid frameworks.
- Easy integration: SDKs, APIs, and tools for no-code platforms like AppMySite make it easy to implement.
- Detailed analytics: AdMob’s dashboard offers deep insights into revenue, ad performance, and user engagement.
For developers who want to monetize efficiently without micromanaging campaigns, AdMob is a complete plug-and-play solution.
The main Google AdMob ad formats
AdMob supports several ad formats that suit different app experiences. Choosing the right one depends on your app type, layout, and user flow.
Let’s break down each format, how it works, and when to use it.
1. Banner ads
What they are:
Banner ads are rectangular ad units that typically appear at the top or bottom of the app screen. They refresh automatically after a set interval and display a mix of text, images, or media-rich creatives.
Why use them:
Banner ads are lightweight, non-intrusive, and ideal for consistent monetization in apps with high daily active users. They work best for news, utility, and content-heavy apps where users spend long sessions browsing or scrolling.
Customization options in AdMob:
- Ad type: Choose between text, image, video, or interactive ads (or select all for maximum coverage).
- Refresh rate: Define how often the ad refreshes. Google recommends the “optimized” option for best performance.
- eCPM floor: Set a minimum price per thousand impressions to filter out low-paying ads.
Best practices:
- Avoid overcrowding screens; use a single banner per view.
- Place banners where users naturally pause (bottom or between content blocks).
- Keep content above the fold to prevent accidental clicks.
2. Interstitial ads
What they are:
Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that appear at natural transition points within your app — for example, after completing a game level or finishing reading an article.
Why use them:
These ads are great for maximizing revenue because they capture full user attention. However, they must be placed strategically to avoid disrupting the user experience.
Key AdMob settings:
- Ad type: Choose between text, image, video, or rich media.
- Frequency capping: Limit how often the same user sees an ad to avoid fatigue.
- eCPM floor: Set minimum ad value thresholds for better returns.
Best practices:
- Show interstitials only after a natural break in the app flow.
- Avoid showing them on app launch or during active gameplay.
- Combine with rewarded ads for better engagement and balance.
When to use:
Ideal for gaming apps, entertainment platforms, and news apps where content consumption happens in intervals.
3. Rewarded ads
What they are:
Rewarded ads allow users to voluntarily watch a video (usually 15–30 seconds) in exchange for an in-app reward — such as coins, points, extra lives, or premium content.
Why use them:
Rewarded ads are a win-win for both users and developers. Users get something of value, and developers earn higher CPMs because engagement rates are significantly higher than other formats.
AdMob reward configuration options:
- Reward amount: The quantity of reward users receive (e.g., 100 coins).
- Reward item: The type of reward (e.g., coins, lives, or tokens).
- Server-side verification: Ensures users receive rewards only after fully watching the ad.
- Frequency capping: Control how often users can access rewarded ads.
Best practices:
- Place rewarded ads strategically — for example, when users need an extra attempt or faster progress.
- Offer meaningful rewards to encourage voluntary engagement.
- Test different reward levels to find the optimal conversion balance.
When to use:
Perfect for mobile games, learning apps, and lifestyle apps offering unlockable features or premium upgrades.
4. Native ads
What they are:
Native ads are designed to blend seamlessly into your app’s content layout. They match the app’s look and feel, making them less intrusive and more engaging.
Why use them:
Native ads deliver better user experience and engagement rates because they feel like organic content. They’re especially effective for feed-based apps such as news, social media, or eCommerce platforms.
Customization options in AdMob:
- Media type: Choose between image or video creatives (GIFs not supported).
- Templates: Design your own ad templates to control layout and style for Android and iOS separately.
- eCPM floor: Set minimum price thresholds to filter low-value ads.
Best practices:
- Maintain consistency with your app’s typography, color, and layout.
- Avoid deceptive placements that confuse users into clicking.
- Test multiple layouts to see which blend of design and content performs best.
When to use:
Ideal for apps with scrollable feeds or content lists, like blogs, news, or product catalogs.
Understanding ad formats vs. ad types
In AdMob, ad formats and ad types serve different purposes:
- Ad format: Refers to how and where the ad appears in your app (banner, interstitial, rewarded, native).
- Ad type: Refers to the creative content inside the ad (text, image, video, or interactive media).
For example, you can have a video ad type displayed in both a banner format or an interstitial format depending on your app’s design. Choosing the right combination ensures better engagement and revenue.
How to integrate Google AdMob ads with your AppMySite app
If you’ve built your app using AppMySite, integrating AdMob is straightforward and doesn’t require any coding.
Here’s how you can get started:
- Navigate to Advertisement in your AppMySite dashboard.
- Choose the screens where you want to display ads (for both Android and iOS).
- Enter your AdMob ad unit details — including the ad type, format, and ad unit ID.
- Save and publish your app to start displaying live ads automatically.
AdMob will handle everything else — from serving ads to optimizing performance based on user engagement and targeting.
Pro tip: Before launching, make sure your app build is configured correctly for AdMob integration. You can update your ad settings anytime directly from your AdMob account.
Tips to maximize AdMob revenue in 2025
- Use mediation: Combine AdMob with other ad networks via mediation to increase fill rates and earnings.
- Optimize placement: Test different positions and frequencies for banners and interstitials to balance revenue and UX.
- Set strategic eCPM floors: Avoid undervaluing your inventory; adjust floors based on geography and app category.
- Prioritize rewarded ads: Rewarded ads consistently deliver the highest CPMs due to strong user intent.
- Track and analyze: Use AdMob’s analytics and Firebase integration to track ad performance, user engagement, and retention.
- Follow Google’s ad policy: Ensure compliance to avoid violations or account suspension.
Continuous testing and fine-tuning your monetization strategy can significantly improve your app’s lifetime revenue.
Final thoughts
Google AdMob remains the gold standard in mobile app monetization. Its wide range of ad formats — from banners to native and rewarded ads — gives app owners the flexibility to choose what works best for their audience.
If you’ve built your app using AppMySite, connecting it with AdMob takes just a few clicks. You can display ads on any app screen, optimize for engagement, and track performance easily — all without writing a single line of code.
So, whether you’re launching a new app or monetizing an existing one, now’s the perfect time to start earning through AdMob. Build your app on AppMySite today and turn every user interaction into revenue.