Interstitial ads provide rich interactive ads for users on mobile apps. Interstitial ads are designed to be placed between content, so they are best placed at natural app transition points. AdMob publishers should carefully implement interstitial ads to provide good user experiences and avoid accidental clicks.
Below, you'll find some AdMob interstitial implementation guidelines and best practices. Not following these guidelines may lead to invalid activity and/or may result in Google disabling ad serving to your app. Please visit our Ad Traffic Quality Resource Center for more information.
AdMob interstitials best practices
Google Developer site information
For more information on interstitial ads, please visit the Google Developers site (for Android or iOS).
Integrate the latest SDK
It's important to always stay updated with the latest SDK (for Android or iOS), which will give you access to the latest ad formats, features, and bug fixes.
Is an interstitial ad the correct ad format for my app?
Interstitial ads are best suited for apps with linear user experiences. There should be very clear starting and stopping points in an app. If you have an app that may not meet this criteria (e.g., utility apps like flashlight apps), consider using another AdMob ad format such as a banner ad.
Think about the flow
Be thoughtful in placing interstitial ads within your mobile app so that they complement the natural flow of user engagement. Surprising users, presenting the users with too many ads, or obstructing their use of the app may lead to an overall poor user experience, an increase of accidental clicks on the ads, and ultimately drive users and advertisers away from your app. Remember that ads should never be the primary focus of the app, so don’t compromise on the user experience in order to place interstitial ads within your app.
Also, note that some interstitial ads may have up to a 5-second delay before providing a close option. If high-engagement ads are enabled, interstitial video ads may have up to a 12-second delay. Additionally, some interstitial video ads served from third-party bidding sources may have up to a 30-second delay before providing a close option.
Be mindful of invalid activity
When displaying full screen interstitial ads on mobile devices keep in mind that mobile screens are often limiting in size compared to traditional desktop and laptop computer screens. Interstitial ads present the user with a full-screen ad that can result in accidental clicks if placed at the wrong time.
Guidelines and best practices for interstitial ad placement
There are some questions to consider when implementing interstitial ads:
- How will the user be engaging with my app at the time?
- Will the user be surprised by the interstitial ad?
- Is this the right time for an interstitial?
After considering these questions, you should also review the guidelines for recommended implementations and disallowed implementations before placing an interstitial ad unit in your app.