Implement Unity Ads in a mediation stack
Integrate Unity Ads into your mediation setup. Install the Unity Ads SDK and configure it with supported partners (Unity LevelPlay, Google AdMob, or AppLovin MAX).
Read time 4 minutesLast updated 6 days ago
While Unity Ads delivers the most value through Unified Auction, it also seamlessly integrates with mediation solutions to fit your workflow.
Note
Starting April 1, 2026, apps that monetize with Unity Ads through direct integration through the Advertisement Legacy Package might see reduced ad performance. To avoid reduction in performance, switch to integrating Unity Ads as a bidder.
The Unity Ads network will continue to support and provide fill for all apps using direct integration. However, to maximize revenue and performance, the recommended best practice is to install the Ads Mediation package for LevelPlay, Unity's ad mediation platform.
Your mediation partner dictates the integration process for Unity Ads. You can find integration guides and SDK adapters for the following mediation partners:
Frequently asked questions
Does Unity Ads integrate with all mediation vendors?
Unity Ads integrates with most trusted mediation partners. We highly recommend that you use one of the partners listed in the preceding section to ensure success, as they offer full integration guides specific to Unity. If you choose a different partner, Unity recommends confirming that they have integration resources to ensure compatibility with Unity Ads.
Are there any performance issues to consider when selecting a mediation vendor?
Unity recommends integrating with an open source mediation partner that offers customizable SDK adapters. This ensures the mediator and the ad source (Unity) have minimal data discrepancies and drive better results.
Do I need the Unity Ads SDK in order to run Unity Ads in mediation?
Yes. Your build must include the Unity Ads SDK in addition to the mediation adapter, because the adapter doesn't contain the network SDK. However, you don't need to follow the direct-integration setup: your mediation partner initializes Unity Ads and requests ads for you, so don't call the Unity Ads SDK from your own code. How the SDK is integrated into your build depends on your partner and platform:
- Unity LevelPlay: Follow the Unity Ads integration guide for your platform.
- Unity: Install the adapter from Ads Mediation > Network Manager, then run Resolve to download the adapter and the SDK.
- Android: Declare the adapter and the SDK as Gradle dependencies, or download both and add them to your project manually.
- iOS: Add the adapter pod through CocoaPods, or download the adapter and the SDK and add both frameworks to your Xcode project manually.
- Google AdMob: Refer to Google's Integrate Unity Ads with mediation guide.
- AppLovin MAX: Refer to AppLovin's preparing mediated networks documentation.
- Other mediation partners: Refer to your partner's Unity Ads adapter guide.
Can I run Unity Ads in parallel with my mediation stack?
No. Running a direct Unity Ads integration alongside a mediated Unity Ads integration isn't a supported configuration:
- With the same Game ID, the direct integration serves from waterfall placements while mediation serves from bidding placements. The Unity Ads network can be set up for bidding or waterfall, but not both, and Unity doesn't support hybrid auctions that use bidding and waterfall in the same user session.
- With different Game IDs, the SDK initializes only once per process. Whichever integration initializes first wins, and the other fails silently.
Serve Unity Ads through a single integration path. For a mediated app, that path is your mediation partner's Unity Ads adapter.
How many Unity Ads instances can I place in my mediation stack?
Use one Unity Ads bidding instance per ad unit. Mediation platforms activate bidders per ad unit, so activate Unity Ads separately for each ad format you monetize. If your app runs rewarded, interstitial, and banner ads, activate Unity Ads for all three, or the formats you skip serve no Unity Ads demand. For LevelPlay, refer to In-app bidding.
Within a single ad unit, one instance is enough. Bidding returns a real-time price for every ad request, so multiple Unity Ads entries at fixed price tiers no longer add value, and you can no longer create the waterfall placements they depend on. Refer to Waterfall strategy for the transition timeline.
Waterfall placements that you haven't converted to bidding continue to serve ads, but you can't edit them.
Are my earnings based on numbers reported by Unity or my mediation partner?
Any earnings generated through Unity Ads are based on Unity's reported billing numbers. While there should not be significant differences between Unity's numbers and a mediator's numbers, using an open source mediation partner will help ensure that the two sources match as closely as possible.