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.
Note: If you own more than one domain, make sure all relevant domains are updated.
How app-ads.txt can benefit your mobile app
- 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. - 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.
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
ironsrc.com, [yourironSourcePublisherAccountID], Direct
Remember to replace [yourironSourcePublisherAccountID] with your account ID, which you can get from your account manager.
rubiconproject.com, 24400, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
video.unrulymedia.com, 2464975885, RESELLER
outbrain.com, 0023749a2264ea0429a71b54ac9ca0de9a, RESELLER
improvedigital.com, 1114, RESELLER
improvedigital.com, 1114, DIRECT
conversantmedia.com, 100234, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d
conversantmedia.com, 100688, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d
conversantmedia.com, 100691, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d
xandr.com, 2480, RESELLER
xandr.com, 3318, RESELLER
xandr.com, 8916, RESELLER
xandr.com, 14374, RESELLER
openx.com, 539363588, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
openx.com, 544039818, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
rubiconproject.com, 17608, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
contextweb.com, 562791, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c
video.unrulymedia.com, 123476257, RESELLER
lijit.com, 465542, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b
improvedigital.com, 2276, RESELLER
Media.net, 8CUO7P3WK, RESELLER
onetag.com, 5d49f482552c9b6, Reseller
sharethrough.com, koRtppYA, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
ushareit.com, LC7dc692567a127a57, DIRECT
lacunads.com, LC7dc692567a127a57, DIRECT
thebrave.io, 1234648, RESELLER, c25b2154543746ac
smartadserver.com, 4343, RESELLER
contextweb.com, 562726, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c
e-planning.net, af5a107262468954, RESELLER, c1ba615865ed87b2
rubiconproject.com, 24752, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 159087, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
pubnative.net, 1006955, RESELLER, d641df8625486a7b
pubnative.net, 1007040, RESELLER, d641df8625486a7b
verve.com, 15503, RESELLER, 0c8f5958fc2d6270 #Verve
pokkt.com, 6246, RESELLER, c45702d9311e25fd
appads.in, 106246, RESELLER
pubmatic.com, 156520, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
rubiconproject.com, 15854, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 160456, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
ironsrc.com, 222871, RESELLER, 79929e88b2ba73bc
stroeer.com, 17355, DIRECT
adform.com, 716, DIRECT
blueseasx.com, 232670, RESELLER, 7998eac5087f6110
rubiconproject.com, 26132, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
outbrain.com, 00ab8f68679cc060c8bbc1035e70030614, RESELLER
webeyemob.com, 80070, RESELLER
openx.com, 540679900, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
pubmatic.com, 158060, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
conversantmedia.com, 100358, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d
rubiconproject.com, 25978, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
onetag.com, 8668c16092f01e8, RESELLER
algorix.co, 54400, RESELLER, 5b394c12fea27a1d
krushmedia.com, AJxF6R585a9M6CaTvK, RESELLER
video.unrulymedia.com, 322585001, RESELLER
lijit.com, 481366, Reseller, fafdf38b16bf6b2b
videoheroes.tv, 212428, RESELLER, 064bc410192443d8
galaxyx-tech.com, 60056, DIRECT
smartadserver.com, 4237, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3
pubmatic.com, 154037, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
rubiconproject.com, 16114, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
App-stock.com, 256917, Reseller
appnexus.com, 15980, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
sharethrough.com, r9B1MG7E, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
Contextweb.com, 563285, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c
onlinemediasolutions.com, 20498, RESELLER
appnexus.com, 15629, RESELLER
ignitemediatech.com, pub_11113, RESELLER
inmobi.com, edd282ac8f29464792bf2b7f3df2f9df, RESELLER, 83e75a7ae333ca9d
pubmatic.com, 162588, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
smartadserver.com, 4610, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3
mars.media, 1010463, RESELLER
Contextweb.com, 563217, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c
appnexus.com, 9382, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
video.unrulymedia.com, 324806554, RESELLER, a670c89d4a324e47
Rubiconproject.com, 23674, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
Rubiconproject.com, 15526, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubnative.net, 1007974, RESELLER, d641df8625486a7b
pubmatic.com, 161151, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
smartadserver.com, 4568, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3
loopme.com, 11463, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
rubiconproject.com, 22134, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
toponad.com, 164478a84dfe31, RESELLER, 1d49fe424a1a456d
loopme.com, 11635, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
xandr.com, 15840, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 26292, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 164532, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
lunamedia.io, 464b5a3a-b155-4f05-8953-9f6cd192d932, RESELLER, 524ecb396915caaf
rubiconproject.com, 24170, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 160493, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
triplelift.com, 12652, RESELLER, 6c33edb13117fd86
rubiconproject.com, 24362, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
rubiconproject.com, 26156, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
rubiconproject.com, 26158, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
loopme.com, 10287, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b
rubiconproject.com, 20744, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 158154, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
xandr.com, 13799, RESELLER
sharethrough.com, 6qlnf8SY, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
triplelift.com, 12158, RESELLER, 6c33edb13117fd86
google.com, pub-3990748024667386, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
Xapads.com, 117219, RESELLER
Pubmatic.com, 162882, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
Pubmatic.com, 163319, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
Freewheel.tv, 741650, RESELLER
openx.com, 540393169, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
inmobi.com, 3af76ebd8ed44d04b01d827c6f3bb5b4, RESELLER, 83e75a7ae333ca9d
rubiconproject.com, 11726, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
rubiconproject.com, 12266, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 157097, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
playdigo.com, 1993, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 25872, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
sharethrough.com, f0oQSO2J, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
eskimi.com, 2020000545, RESELLER
pubmatic.com, 162270, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
video.unrulymedia.com, 498216989, RESELLER
admanmedia.com, 2153, RESELLER
rubiconproject.com, 14558, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
pubmatic.com, 158481, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
improvedigital.com, 1114, RESELLER
videoheroes.tv, 212550, RESELLER, 064bc410192443d8
openx.com, 559792583, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6
themediagrid.com, B8N9YH, RESELLER, 35d5010d7789b49d
adbility-media.com, 187, RESELLER
google.com, pub-7452201096415972, RESELLER, f08c47fec0942fa0
smartclip.net, 8153, RESELLER
stroeer.com, 17379, RESELLER
orangeclickmedia.com, C-1181, Direct
video.unrulymedia.com, 6111915185540403805, Direct
openx.com, 540861995, Direct, 6a698e2ec38604c6
smartadserver.com, 3172, Direct, 060d053dcf45cbf3
rubiconproject.com, 26270, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807
admanmedia.com, 990, RESELLER
visiblemeasures.com, 1020, RESELLER
video.unrulymedia.com, 158727213, RESELLER
zmaticoo.com, 5135703, RESELLER
rhebus.works, 3816258913, RESELLER
lijit.com, 512908, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b
sharethrough.com, vQMCuYXA, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2
appnexus.com, 15426, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1
playwire.com,1025119,RESELLER
zmaticoo.com, 5135347, RESELLER
yeahmobi.com, 5135347, RESELLER
xandr.com, 15769, RESELLER
lijit.com, 491737, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b
connekt.ai, 1732945743, RESELLER
pubmatic.com, 164601, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
video.unrulymedia.com, 1058378980, RESELLER
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).