# Which app monetization platforms reliably balance ad density and revenue without causing user abandonment?

<p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">There's a version of monetization optimization that just makes your product worse for everyone who uses it. Looking at <a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/categories/app-monetization-platforms">app monetization platforms</a> that have real mechanisms for managing density rather than just maximizing impressions at any cost.</p><ul>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/google-admob/reviews"><strong>Google AdMob</strong></a>: Gives developers control over which formats appear and where, so you can choose when users actually see an ad. Reviewers building games specifically mention rewarded video as the format that keeps users around, since they're opting in rather than being interrupted.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/meta-audience-network/reviews"><strong>Meta Audience Network</strong></a>: Supports native and rewarded formats that are generally less intrusive. The frequency capping side is less flexible though, and a few reviewers mention that showing the same ad repeatedly to the same user can erode campaign performance over time.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/unity-ads/reviews"><strong>Unity Ads</strong></a>: Built around rewarded and interstitial formats for mobile games, with natural break points that don't interrupt core loops. Orientation-flexible ads that adapt to how the game is built get positive mentions. The 60-day payout delay is an unrelated friction point that comes up in nearly every review.</li>
<li>
<a class="a a--md" elv="true" href="https://www.g2.com/products/start-io/reviews"><strong>Start.io</strong></a>: Detailed targeting and placement customization lets publishers be more deliberate about when ads appear. Reviewers note the AI-driven targeting improves ad relevance, which tends to reduce the friction users feel. UI is described as a bit overwhelming initially.</li>
</ul><p class="elv-tracking-normal elv-text-default elv-font-figtree elv-text-base elv-leading-base elv-font-normal" elv="true">Between rewarded formats and native placements, what's actually moved the needle on keeping users around while growing ad revenue? And has anyone tested session length before and after switching from interstitials to rewarded video?</p>

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: 2 months ago
- Author title: SEO Content Specialist
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

&lt;p&gt;Shubham, looking at D1 or D7 retention feels like the stronger test. A format can look harmless within a single session but still reduce the chances that users come back.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 5 days ago
- Author title: Marketer



### Comment 2

&lt;p&gt;Cohort analysis makes this much more useful than looking at average session length alone. I’d also watch repeat sessions, since an ad change might not make someone abandon the current session but could reduce the likelihood they return tomorrow. Has anyone tested rewarded versus interstitial formats against D1 or D7 retention rather than just same-session engagement?&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 5 days ago
- Author title: Writer



### Comment 3

&lt;p&gt;On testing session length before and after, it&#39;s worth splitting by cohort rather than reading the overall average. Changing formats changes who sticks around, so the average can move for reasons that have nothing to do with the new format itself. Comparing users by install date gives a cleaner read on whether the change actually helped.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: 6 days ago
- Author title: Tech Consultant



### Comment 4

&lt;p&gt;Rewarded video usually strikes the best balance because users choose the interruption and receive something useful in return. Native placements can help too, but I’d measure retention and session length by placement—replacing every interstitial at once can hide which ad moments were actually causing abandonment.&lt;/p&gt;

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: about 2 months ago
- Author title: Marketer





## Related discussions
- [How well does Trello scale into a larger team?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/1-how-well-does-trello-scale-into-a-larger-team)
  - Posted at: over 13 years ago
  - Comments: 6
- [Can we please add a new section](https://www.g2.com/discussions/2-can-we-please-add-a-new-section)
  - Posted at: over 13 years ago
  - Comments: 0
- [Quantifiable benefits from implementing your CRM](https://www.g2.com/discussions/quantifiable-benefits-from-implementing-your-crm)
  - Posted at: over 13 years ago
  - Comments: 4