App-Ads.txt

App-ads.txt is a text file app developers upload to their developer website, which lists the ad sources authorized to sell that developer’s inventory. Just like on web, the IAB created a system which allows buyers to know who is authorized to buy and sell specific in-app ad inventory, and who isn’t. This is an important step towards eliminating certain types of fraud, and improving the transparency and efficiency of the overall ecosystem. Most savvy brand marketers and demand side platforms won’t buy inventory that doesn’t have ads.txt implemented. 

How app-ads.txt works for mobile apps

A DSP looking to bid on app inventory scans the app-ads.txt file on a developer’s website to verify which ad sources are authorized to sell that app’s inventory. The DSP will only accept bid requests from ad sources listed on the file and authorized by the app developer.

How app-ads.txt can benefit your mobile app

1. Capture brand budgets
   Major brands and agencies are more likely to purchase app inventory via DSPs that verify authorized ad sources. By implementing app-ads.txt, developers signal to DSPs that their inventory is safe. Developers who don’t implement app-ads.txt are likely to be removed from DSPs’ pool of targeted media.
2. Fight ad fraud
   Bad actors may forge apps that impersonate legitimate apps, and mislead DSPs to spend brand budgets on their forged inventory. Legitimate developers end up losing out on ad revenue that was originally intended for them. App-ads.txt blocks unauthorized developer impersonations and minimizes instances of fraud that ultimately hurt developers’ bottom line.

Ensure publisher transparency with OwnerDomain

As part of the ads.txt framework, publishers must include the OwnerDomain field in their app-ads.txt file.

What is OwnerDomain?
The purpose of the IAB’s OwnerDomain framework is to enhance publisher transparency and accountability in the digital advertising ecosystem, particularly concerning first-party and third-party data usage in programmatic advertising.
OwnerDomain: Identifies the business domain of the publisher that owns the media property, ensuring a direct link between ads.txt and sellers.json.

How do I support OwnerDomain?
In the app-ads.txt or ads.txt files, you must include the variables:

For more information please see IAB Documentation or the IAB standard implementation guide.

App-ads.txt implementation

Here’s how you can make sure your inventory is covered by app-ads.txt:

Step 1.  Provide the developer website URL in your app listing

Ensure that your developer website is updated in the app stores. This website will be used by advertising platforms to verify the app-ads.txt file.

Step 2. Reach out to all ad sources (direct, resellers)

Get in touch with your direct ad sources and ask for their app-ads.txt line, according to the following IAB structure:

‘Ad source domain, your publisher ID, type of relationship (direct or reseller), ad source ID’

App-ads.txt example: ironsrc.com, 1234, DIRECT

Your direct demand partners should be listed as “direct.” If your partners are using third-party resellers to sell your inventory, such providers should be listed as “reseller.” In any case, you should not add any provider to your app-ads.txt file unless you or your partner have a direct relationship with them.

We’ve made it easier for you to include ironSource’s list of entries so that you will never miss any budgets from ironSource’s top brands partners. Copy and paste the following text block and include it in your txt file. Don’t forget to keep track of the list since it is updated from time to time.

ironSource authorized resellers

OWNERDOMAIN=[yourdomain.com]
ironsrc.com, [yourironSourcePublisherAccountID], Direct
Remember to replace the OwnerDomain Line with your domain. 
Remember to replace [yourironSourcePublisherAccountID] with your account ID, which you can get from your account manager

blueseasx.com, 203625, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 26132, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubnative.net, 1009966, RESELLER, d641df8625486a7b
video.unrulymedia.com, 389957698, RESELLER
triplelift.com, 14594, RESELLER, 6c33edb13117fd86
ushareit.com, lc7dc692567a127a57, RESELLER
video.unrulymedia.com, 657436911, RESELLER
lijit.com, 528770, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b #sovrn
risecodes.com, 68d54e2fe125150001dd91e2, RESELLER
toponad.com, 167c6b2c1d02bd, RESELLER, 1d49fe424a1a456d
media.net, 8cu5l226o, RESELLER
bidmachine.io, 896, RESELLER
pokkt.com, 5536, RESELLER, c45702d9311e25fd
appads.in, 105536, RESELLER
pubmatic.com, 160456, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
pubmatic.com, 156520, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
rubiconproject.com, 15854, RESELLER
criteo.com, b-062019, RESELLER, 9fac4a4a87c2a44f
start.io, 168507669, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 17608, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
rubiconproject.com, 25336, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
video.unrulymedia.com, 848837292, RESELLER
sharethrough.com, aeb4dhxw, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
improvedigital.com, 1114, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 24600, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
rubiconproject.com, 17328, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
smaato.com, 1100055750, RESELLER, 07bcf65f187117b4
smaato.com, 1100040398, RESELLER, 07bcf65f187117b4
pubnative.net, 1009458, RESELLER, d641df8625486a7b
thebrave.io, 1234648, RESELLER, c25b2154543746ac
triplelift.com, 12908, RESELLER, 6c33edb13117fd86
sharethrough.com, bc6d1whs, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
media.net, 8cu9b72o6, RESELLER
appnexus.com, 12061, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
lunamedia.io, 2fdb16a1-5025-4c41-9b17-e01e47ebc8b4, RESELLER, 524ecb396915caaf
themediagrid.com, falino, RESELLER, 35d5010d7789b49d
media.net, 8cu62mcq0, RESELLER
adagio.io, 1575, RESELLER
bidmachine.io, 1412, RESELLER
mars.media, 1010463, RESELLER
sharethrough.com, 4322, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
improvedigital.com, 2181, RESELLER
smartadserver.com, 4237, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3
sharethrough.com, 4237, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
xad.com, 958, RESELLER, 81cbf0a75a5e0e9a
betweendigital.com, 45827, RESELLER
adagio.io, 1522, RESELLER
adyoulike.com, f78b24039641337f06634ab9a3da4b48, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 17960, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 137711, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
taurusx.com, 80070, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 25978, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 167188, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
admanmedia.com, 2242, RESELLER
sharethrough.com, 3713, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
bidmachine.io, 1371, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 22134, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
loopme.com, 11463, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
smartadserver.com, 4568, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3
pubmatic.com, 161151, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
openx.com, 561470659, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
ignitemediatech.com, pub_11115, RESELLER
pubmatic.com, 162588, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
smartadserver.com, 4610, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3
inmobi.com, 23d316d3d980453d8ea0dcf9caec4078, RESELLER, 83e75a7ae333ca9d
openx.com, 562174952, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
sharethrough.com, bxzzb1br, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
rubiconproject.com, 26292, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
smaato.com, 1100059375, RESELLER, 07bcf65f187117b4
media.net, 8cu12aq1y, RESELLER
xandr.com, 15840, RESELLER
start.io, 126412094, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 24400, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
triplelift.com, 14127, RESELLER, 6c33edb13117fd86
smaato.com, 1100059282, RESELLER, 07bcf65f187117b4
openx.com, 559912325, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
rubiconproject.com, 24600, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
smartadserver.com, 4456, RESELLER
opera.com, pub6148735850944, RESELLER, 55a0c5fd61378de3
triplelift.com, 12652, RESELLER, 6c33edb13117fd86
rubiconproject.com, 23674, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
rubiconproject.com, 15526, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 159087, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
algorix.co, 54400, RESELLER, 5b394c12fea27a1d
33across.com, 001pg00001dtxmwian, RESELLER
sabio.us, 100160, RESELLER, 96ed93aaa9795702
thebrave.io, 1234633, RESELLER, c25b2154543746ac
zmaticoo.com, 5135004, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 24362, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
media.net, 8cu132ud6, RESELLER
kidoz.net, 15648, RESELLER, a109366414b7335e
prado.co, 15648, RESELLER
kidoz.net, 15467, RESELLER, a109366414b7335e
pubmatic.com, 159501, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
appnexus.com, 11826, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
google.com, pub-2923085774557613, RESELLER, f08c47fec0942fa0
pubmatic.com, 165438, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
appnexus.com, 14230, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
smartclip.net, 13564, RESELLER
smaato.com, 1100040398, RESELLER, 07bcf65f187117b4
rubiconproject.com, 24600, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
sharethrough.com, ibazay96, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
pubmatic.com, 156177, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
contextweb.com, 558622, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c
app-stock.com, 256917, RESELLER
sharethrough.com, r9b1mg7e, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
appnexus.com, 15980, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
rubiconproject.com, 25064, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
loopme.com, 10287, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
triplelift.com, 12158, RESELLER, 6c33edb13117fd86
rubiconproject.com, 20744, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
xandr.com, 13799, RESELLER
thunder-monetize.com, 3692155372, RESELLER
outbrain.com, 0073fa86cff719c752763d2c3ee52c8f00, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 26958, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
themediagrid.com, ws2d8n, RESELLER, 35d5010d7789b49d
undertone.com, 4108, RESELLER
openx.com, 537153564, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
rubiconproject.com, 22412, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 160318, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
 

Step 3. Publish an app-ads.txt file

Create an app-ads.txt file in Notepad listing out all the lines you received, and save.

Step 4. Upload

Upload the file in the root of your domain website (example: www.example.com/app-ads.txt).