The Facebook Audience Network and AdMob are two of the best mobile-specific ad networks. Facebook Audience Network (FAN) was released in 2014 by Facebook(now called Meta). Advertisers can boost their performance and reach by displaying advertising on mobile apps other than Facebook and Instagram.
AdMob is Google’s mobile ad network, through which publishers can monetize their mobile apps by serving targeted advertising from a large number of advertisers.
This post will compare these two mobile advertising networks and determine the best for you.
The Requirements
Through Facebook Audience Network, also called Meta Audience Network, app developers and publishers can monetize their apps through ads from global meta-advertisers. Although FAN does not have a minimum traffic requirement, they require app publishers to abide by Facebook Audience Network policies.
Nevertheless, it is recommended that you have some DAU/MAU before using FAN. However, you can enroll on FAN if your application is listed on Google Play Store or App Store.
Registering on Google AdMob is completely free! There are no mandatory requirements apart from having a google account and using a phone number while signing up on Google AdMob.
You will have to give out app details to get a unique key (alphanumeric). This key needs to be integrated into the app configuration file and will be an identification of your app.
However, the only mandatory prerequisite to using Google AdMob is that app developers need to be above the age of 18 years. If not, a guardian can submit the application using their Google Account. If approved, the guardian will be issued all the payments.
So, create your application, integrate ad units, and start monetizing your app.
The Advertising Types & Quality
Facebook is among the most dominant businesses in today’s digital market, displaying high-quality adverts across all portable devices to its user network. App publishers and developers can use Facebook Audience Network to pick between 4 distinct ad units, those are:
Native ads
Native ads are customizable advertisements that match the look and feel of the app’s UI. Native ads are one of the best-performing ad formats in FAN.
Banner ads
Banner ads are small ads displayed at the top or bottom of the screen. They usually yield lower eCPM than other ad formats as users are accustomed to banner blindness.
Interstitial ads
Interstitial ads are full-screen ads displayed during transitions from one app screen to another.
Rewarded video ads
Rewarded video ads are used in gaming apps to reward users for watching the advertisement. These are opt-in ads used to engage users in the app.
Because AdMob is a Google product, it has a worldwide reach and displays high-quality adverts. It allows for cross-platform monetization (Android as well as iOS). Text ad units can be customized by publishers with unique fonts and colors to increase visibility and CTRs. Apart from that, AdMob supports all the ad formats available on FAN. Moreover, it promotes additional ad formats like:
1. App Open
App Open ads monetize your mobile app’s reloading experience by serving ads whenever a user opens or returns to your app. It allows publishers to monetize their app’s loading screen or splash screen.
2. Rewarded Interstitials
Rewarded interstitial is an incentivized ad format that allows you to offer rewards for ads that appear automatically during natural app transitions. Unlike rewarded ads, users aren’t required to opt-in to view a rewarded interstitial.
The Payout Structure
Facebook Audience Network has a monthly payment schedule. Publishers receive payouts for the previous month’s balance on the 21st of each month. Payouts are made when earnings exceed $100.
Facebook introduced the “Advertiser Outcome Score” to assist publishers in optimizing their ad revenue. It demonstrates to publishers how a set of ROI-focused KPIs measures the performance of their ads.
Similarly, Google AdMob also operates on a monthly payout cycle. And similar to FAN, the minimum payout amount is $100. It accepts payments through various channels, including ACH, PayPal, and wire transfers.
The Revenue Model
The Facebook Audience Network follows the CPM model. The CPM varies based on the traffic the app receives. If an app’s DAU/MAU is from a tier one nation, CPMs are higher. The higher the CPM, the more the publisher earns.
AdMob’s revenue strategy is also based on a CPM model, while CPC advertising is also accessible. The region of the traffic heavily influences the revenue. The normal RPM on the Android platform is lower than on iOS. Nonetheless, AdMob offers higher fill rates and reasonable eCPMs compared to FAN.
The Revenue Share
With personalized and high-quality ads, Facebook Audience Network provides one of the best monetization platforms for app publishers. Nonetheless, it does not commit to a specific revenue share.
Depending on the real-time reports, app publishers can expect payouts. App publishers can check the revenue sharing details in the “Audience Network” section on the app’s settings page.
The revenue split ratio for Google AdMob is 60:40. The network splits 60% of the revenue earned with the publishers and keeps the remaining 40%.
A Quick Comparison of Facebook Audience Network & Google AdMob
Here is the side-by-side comparison of Facebook Audience Network vs. Google AdMob
COMPARISON | FACEBOOK AUDIENCE NETWORK | GOOGLE ADMOB |
Requirements | 1. App listed on Google Play Store / App Store 2. No Minimum Traffic Requirement 3. Follow Best Bidding Practices | 1. You only need a Google Account & Phone Number 2. No Minimum Traffic Requirement |
Type Of Ad Formats | · Native Adsminimum traffic requirement | · Native Ads · Banner Ads · Interstitial Ads · Rewarded Video Ads · App Open Ads · Rewarded Interstitial Ads |
Payout Structure | · Publishers receive payouts on the 21st of each month. · Earnings must exceed $100 for the publisher to start receiving payouts. | · Google AdMob operates on a monthly payout cycle. · Earnings must exceed $100 for the publisher to start receiving payouts. |
The Revenue Model | It follows the CPM (Cost-per-mille) model. | It follows the CPM (Cost-per-mille) & the CPC (Cost-per-click) model. |
The Revenue Share | No clarity on revenue share. | Revenue split ratio for Google AdMob is 60:40 |
Wrapping Up!
AdMob offers higher fill and CPMs, bigger international reach, more flexibility, a better dashboard to optimize campaigns, a wider selection of demand stack, a stronger privacy policy, and a better payout structure. Yet, managing an AdMob is extremely difficult! Several app publishers get suspended and even banned from their AdMob accounts.
Comparatively, FAN offers flexible formatting and uses an incredible targeting system which is likely more relevant. You need to integrate the Audience Network’s SDK with your app, test it, and then submit the app for review. Once you are through this, managing FAN is easier. FAN provides a direct source of monetization for app owners.
So, which one should you opt for as an app publisher?
You must test Google AdMob and FAN to see what works best and delivers higher revenue. To reap maximum results, you could consider experimenting and A/B testing with different geos and ad units with both ad networks. And if you are still not sure how to proceed, then reach out to AppBroda.
As an app owner managing several areas of your app, such as development, content, users, monetization, etc., can be tough! Moreover, it can be overwhelming to tackle policy violations, stagnant ROIs, and 100 other things on the way.
Hence, we at AppBroda take care of end-to-end app monetization, revenue optimization, and user acquisition so that you can do what you do the best – creating great apps.
Book a free consultation now!
