Independence
No network reviewed on this site pays for placement, ranking position, or inclusion. Every entry — including any network with a commercial relationship to this site — is scored against the same five criteria below and described using the same format: a short summary, a Best For designation, and a balanced list of strengths and limitations.
A ranking position that cannot be explained by these five criteria is treated as an error to correct, not a result to defend. Where commercial relationships exist, they are disclosed in the site-wide disclaimer.
Ranking Criteria
| Criterion | What We Evaluate |
|---|---|
| CPM & eCPM Performance | Reported effective CPM across IAB standard banner sizes (300×250, 728×90, 160×600, 320×50) and video formats, weighted toward figures with independent or vendor-documented sourcing rather than single-publisher anecdotes. |
| Geographic Demand Depth | Breadth and depth of advertiser demand across regions — including markets like MENA, CIS, and Asia where global-first networks often carry thinner coverage — scored alongside dominant US and EU demand. |
| Format & Integration Depth | Support for all IAB standard banner sizes, video formats (outstream, rewarded), native, and interstitial. For app publishers: SDK quality, mediation platform compatibility (AppLovin MAX, Unity LevelPlay, AdMob), and in-app bidding support. |
| Payout Terms | Payment schedule (NET30 vs. NET60), minimum payout threshold, and payment method breadth — evaluated with attention to their cash flow implications for micro and small publishers. |
| Demand Quality & Safety | Ads.txt and sellers.json support, malvertising pre-screening and real-time creative scanning, fill rate consistency, and publisher-facing analytics dashboard quality. |
Inclusion and Exclusion
Networks are included in the ranking when they meet all of the following conditions:
- They operate a publicly documented publisher program with verifiable CPM or revenue data
- They support at least two IAB standard banner sizes
- They publish payment terms and minimum threshold information
- They have verifiable geographic demand coverage
Networks are excluded when their publisher program is closed to independent review, when CPM claims cannot be cross-referenced with any independent source, or when their primary format is not banner display (e.g., push notification-only networks are out of scope for this comparison).
Update Policy
Ad tech platforms change ownership, pricing, and feature sets frequently. Rankings and individual network entries are reviewed periodically and updated when a network's terms, coverage, or capabilities change materially. Readers evaluating a specific network should confirm current terms directly with that network before integrating.
Date of last review is shown in the page header of the main comparison. Specific data points — CPM benchmarks, payment thresholds — are sourced from publicly available network documentation at the time of review.
Commercial Relationships & Affiliate Disclosure
AdNetworkRank may earn a commission when a publisher registers with a network through a link on this site. This financial relationship does not influence ranking position, scoring, or the content of any network entry. Networks are scored by the criteria above regardless of whether a commercial relationship exists. The existence of any affiliate arrangement is disclosed in the site-wide footer disclaimer.
Contact for Corrections
If you have identified a factual error in a network entry — an incorrect CPM range, outdated payout threshold, or mischaracterised feature — please send a correction request via the Contact page with the specific claim and a reference source. We aim to review and resolve factual corrections within 5 business days.