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, ensure 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 negatively impact revenue for developers.
Ensure publisher transparency with OwnerDomain
As part of the ads.txt framework, publishers must include the OwnerDomain field in their app-ads.txt file.
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.
To support OwnerDomain in the app-ads.txt or ads.txt files, you must include the variables:
| Type | Variable | Description |
|---|---|---|
OwnerDomain | ownerdomain=_yourdomain.com_ | - For publishers, an |
For more information, refer to the 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
For example, an App-ads.txt file may look like: 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 a 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.
Refer to the following 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. Ensure to keep track of the list since it is updated regularly.
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 rubiconproject.com, 24400, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 video.unrulymedia.com, 2464975885, RESELLER outbrain.com, 0023749a2264ea0429a71b54ac9ca0de9a, RESELLER improvedigital.com, 1114, RESELLER conversantmedia.com, 100234, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d conversantmedia.com, 100688, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d conversantmedia.com, 100691, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d xandr.com, 2480, 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 ushareit.com, LC7dc692567a127a57, RESELLER lacunads.com, LC7dc692567a127a57, RESELLER thebrave.io, 1234648, RESELLER, c25b2154543746ac zmaticoo.com, 5135195, RESELLER 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, RESELLER adform.com, 716, RESELLER 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, RESELLER 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 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 loopme.com, 11463, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b toponad.com, 164478a84dfe31, RESELLER, 1d49fe424a1a456d loopme.com, 11635, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b 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, RESELLER, 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 pubmatic.com, 158481, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace themediagrid.com, A8X5S7, RESELLER, 35d5010d7789b49d 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, 14679, RESELLER stroeer.com, 17379, RESELLER orangeclickmedia.com, C-1181, RESELLER video.unrulymedia.com, 6111915185540403805, RESELLER openx.com, 540861995, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6 smartadserver.com, 3172, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3 rubiconproject.com, 26270, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 admanmedia.com, 990, RESELLER visiblemeasures.com, 1020, RESELLER video.unrulymedia.com, 158727213, RESELLER zmaticoo.com, 5135703, RESELLER playwire.com,1025119,RESELLER zmaticoo.com, 5135347, RESELLER yeahmobi.com, 5135347, RESELLER thunder-monetize.com, 1421531493, RESELLER video.unrulymedia.com, 689559416, RESELLER rubiconproject.com, 26064, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 rubiconproject.com, 25060 , RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 risecodes.com, 66fab6981efdb80001a3dadc, RESELLER sharethrough.com, bXzzb1bR, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2 Media.net, 8CU12AQ1Y, RESELLER lijit.com, 503707, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b smartclip.net, 13630, RESELLER smartadserver.com, 3713, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3 zetaglobal.net, 815, RESELLER contextweb.com, 563539, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c sharethrough.com, UbYLkrys, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2 yieldmo.com, 3591550211052216798, RESELLER, 6a92c77cfc3d2258 appnexus.com, 15426, RESELLER, f5ab79cb980f11d1 smartclip.net, 27985, RESELLER pubnative.net, 1009988, RESELLER, d641df8625486a7b conversantmedia.com, 100863, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d improvedigital.com, 2451, RESELLER rubiconproject.com, 25064, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 themediagrid.com, RABCQ1, RESELLER, 35d5010d7789b49d media.net, 8CU43768M, RESELLER taurusx.com, 80070, RESELLER rhebus.works, 5000863388, RESELLER e-planning.net,79686787743ddfc5,RESELLER,c1ba615865ed87b2 vidazoo.com, 6763f7632381fc1150a4f706, RESELLER lijit.com, 222372, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b castify.ai,1295183, RESELLER opera.com,pub10084465274176,RESELLER,55a0c5fd61378de3 media.net, 8cun4y5y3, RESELLER rubiconproject.com,25336,RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 video.unrulymedia.com, 848837292, RESELLER Media.net, 8CUO7P3WK, RESELLER openx.com, 537100188, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6 xandr.com, 2480, RESELLER xandr.com, 16856, RESELLER xandr.com, 14374, RESELLER rubiconproject.com, 24468, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 sharethrough.com, 26VgE1nN, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2 lijit.com, 520578, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b xandr.com, 16161, RESELLER pokkt.com, 5536, RESELLER, c45702d9311e25fd appads.in, 105536, RESELLER rubiconproject.com, 15854, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 pubmatic.com, 160456, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace pubmatic.com, 156520, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace themediagrid.com, A6CWLO, RESELLER, 35d5010d7789b49d pubnative.net,1009046,RESELLER,d641df8625486a7b rubiconproject.com, 17608, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 start.io,116712987,RESELLER sabio.us,100092,reseller,96ed93aaa9795702 contextweb.com,563595,RESELLER,89ff185a4c4e857c loopme.com, 11463, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b pubmatic.com, 161151, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace thebrave.io, 1234764, RESELLER, c25b2154543746ac yabbi.me, 675d9254-4032-47ed-9074-b6ef4dbab522, RESELLER toponad.com,16745466edb659,RESELLER,1d49fe424a1a456d toponad.com,164478a84dfe31,RESELLER,1d49fe424a1a456d pubmatic.com, 165329, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace loopme.com, 11635, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b improvedigital.com, 2180, RESELLER conversantmedia.com, 100569, RESELLER, 03113cd04947736d lijit.com, 233291, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b #SOVRN inmobi.com, b01aa06531c543d8a5fb9982f60afb00, RESELLER, 83e75a7ae333ca9d rubiconproject.com, 17960, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 adsphere360.com, 1042770, RESELLER, prequel.tv, 552, RESELLER lijit.com, 542770, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b rubiconproject.com, 26384, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 pubmatic.com, 159668, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace smartadserver.com, 4467, RESELLER contextweb.com, 562827, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c onetag.com, 5d1628750185ace, RESELLER bidease.com, bidease_seller_15, RESELLER loopme.com, 5679, RESELLER, 6c8d5f95897a5a3b Media.net, 8CU9B72O6, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 161136, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace pubmatic.com, 165980, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace sharethrough.com, Bc6D1WHS, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2 sharethrough.com, OAW69Fon, RESELLER, d53b998a7bd4ecd2 sharethrough.com,FTVCT81v,RESELLER smaato.com, 1100044045, RESELLER, 07bcf65f187117b4 smartadserver.com, 4322, RESELLER smartadserver.com, 4457, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3 toponad.com,165535463cfb70,RESELLER,1d49fe424a1a456d rubiconproject.com, 26846, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 triplelift.com, 13043, RESELLER, 6c33edb13117fd86 thebrave.io, 1234633, Reseller, c25b2154543746ac openx.com, 540838151, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6 blueseasx.com, 203670, RESELLER, 7998eac5087f6110 pubnative.net, 1009966, RESELLER, d641df8625486a7b rubiconproject.com, 26566, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 improvedigital.com, 1234, DIRECT opera.com,pub7507776842240,DIRECT,55a0c5fd61378de3 smartadserver.com, 4625, RESELLER, 060d053dcf45cbf3 smartclip.net, 15458, RESELLER video.unrulymedia.com, 906352066, RESELLER contextweb.com,563521,RESELLER,89ff185a4c4e857c mango.mp, 320498, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 161736, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace onomagic.com, 204981, RESELLER rubiconproject.com, 20416, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 themediagrid.com, FALINO, DIRECT, 35d5010d7789b49d bidmachine.io,113,RESELLER criteo.com,B-057601,RESELLER,9fac4a4a87c2a44f rubiconproject.com,18364,RESELLER,0bfd66d529a55807 pubmatic.com,157800,RESELLER,5d62403b186f2ace undertone.com, 4108, RESELLER openx.com, 537153564, RESELLER, 6a698e2ec38604c6 rubiconproject.com, 22412, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 pubmatic.com, 160318, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace rubiconproject.com, 23644, RESELLER, 0bfd66d529a55807 contextweb.com, 561998, RESELLER, 89ff185a4c4e857c pubmatic.com, 158100, 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).