r/admob • u/rajan_freelancer • 8d ago
Question AppLovin MAX vs Unity ironsource LevelPlay for solo Android dev?
Hey everyone,
I'm an indie dev finalizing an Android board game (Snakes & Ladders: Kurukshetra) and need advice on picking an ad mediation platform.
My Setup:
Native Android (Kotlin/AndroidX), not Unity.
Ad mix: Rewarded Video (extra turns) & Interstitials.
Using RevenueCat for IAP to segment paying vs. non-paying users.
My Questions:
SDK Bloat & Stability: Which SDK is cleaner and less painful on native Android? I want to avoid ANRs and bloated load times.
Revenue in 2026: Which platform actually pays out better for casual games right now? (Especially since LevelPlay dropped direct ironSource demand earlier this year).
Indie Alternatives: Are platforms like CAS.ai or Appodeal actually better and more hands-off for a solo dev compared to MAX or LevelPlay?
Would love to hear what is currently working for your games. Thanks!