This article explains the key differences between Google Ad Manager, AdSense, and AdMob to help publishers choose the right monetization solution for their websites or apps.
It's important to note that you can serve high-quality ads from all three platforms and that they all have access to the same premium Authorized Buyers .
Choose your monetization solutionYou can use this tree to get a general idea of which publisher monetization product based on inventory and sales strategy:
On this page:
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AdSense
AdSense acts as an ad network, providing you access to demand from advertisers and helping you set up your ad inventory. AdSense is best for publishers who want more automation for their ad solutions, and have a small dedicated ad management team.
AdSense is for you if you need:
- A place to monetize your website—blogs, forums, and online services perform exceptionally well on AdSense
- A fast way to implement ad delivery
- Google to optimize your ad inventory for you and maximize your revenue through Auto ads
- Accessible performance reports
AdMob
AdMob is a mobile ad network and monetization platform for mobile developers who want to earn money from ads, gain actionable insights, and grow their app business. As a network, AdMob allows you to monetize your mobile apps by helping you serve ads globally. As a monetization platform, for developers who work with multiple ad networks, AdMob helps you maximize ad revenue across all your third-party network partners.
AdMob is for you if you need:
- Access to high-performing mobile app ad formats with strong controls for brand safety
- A solution to help you maximize ad revenue across Google and third-party networks with waterfall mediation and bidding
- A holistic view of ads performance and user engagement with Google Analytics for Firebase
- Automated tools to streamline your day-to-day tasks with features such as Ad Network Optimization
- A solution to balance in-app purchase and ads-based revenue streams based on user behavior with smart segmentation
Google Ad Manager
Google Ad Manager is an ad management platform for large publishers who have significant direct sales. Ad Manager provides granular controls and supports multiple ad exchanges and networks, including AdSense, Ad Exchange, third-party networks, and third-party exchanges.
Ad Manager is for you if you need:
- A central place to monetize all of your inventory types (websites, mobile apps, videos, or games)
- To manage a significant amount of ad revenue that comes through direct deals from buyers
- To use third-party networks to compete for ad inventory
- More complex reports to gain granular insights
Differences between products
Google Ad Manager(Ad platform)
AdSense(Ad network)
AdMob(Ad platform)
AdMob(Ad network)
Inventory types available
Web and app
Web
App
App
Tag pages to serve ads
Yes, if you allow AdSense to show through Ad Manager
Yes
N/A
N/A
Use other ad networks (besides AdSense) to maximize revenue
Yes
No
Yes
AdMob network: Google demand, in addition to third-party bidding sources
No
Consistent reporting across all ad serving activities
Yes
N/A
Yes
Yes
Yes, for Authorized Buyers, bidding, and transactions through Programmatic Direct
Yes
No, payments to you come directly from your advertisers or ad networks and you manage billing and collection
Yes
No, for traditionally negotiated line items, payments to you come directly from your advertisers or ad networks and you manage billing and collection
