Get Started

This guide is intended for publishers who want to monetize an iOS app with AdMob and aren't using Firebase. If you plan to include Firebase in your app (or you're considering it), see the AdMob with Firebase version of this guide instead.

Integrating the Google Mobile Ads SDK into an app is the first step toward displaying AdMob ads and earning revenue. Once that's done, you can choose an ad format (such as native or rewarded video) and get a detailed set of steps for implementing it.

No two developers have the same level of experience, so we've added occasional notes like this one for those who are new to AdMob. If you're an expert, feel free to skip them.

Prerequisites

• Use Xcode 7.0 or higher
• Target iOS 6.0 or higher
• Recommended: create an AdMob account and register an app.

Import the Mobile Ads SDK

CocoaPods (preferred)

The simplest way to import the SDK into an iOS project is with CocoaPods. Open your project's Podfile and add this line to your app's target:

pod 'Google-Mobile-Ads-SDK'

Then from the command line run:

pod install --repo-update

If you're new to CocoaPods, see their official documentation for info on how to create and use Podfiles.

Manual download

You can also download a copy of the SDK framework directly from AdMob, unzip the file, and import the framework into your project in Xcode.

Initialize mobile ads

Before loading ads, apps should initialize the Mobile Ads SDK by calling the configureWithApplicationID: class method in GADMobileAds, and passing it their AdMob App ID. This only needs to be done once, ideally at app launch. You can find the App ID for your app in the AdMob UI.

Here's an example of how to call the configureWithApplicationID: method in your AppDelegate:

Example AppDelegate.m (excerpt)

Swift

import GoogleMobileAds
…

@UIApplicationMain
class AppDelegate: UIResponder, UIApplicationDelegate {

  var window: UIWindow?

  func application(_ application: UIApplication,
      didFinishLaunchingWithOptions launchOptions: [UIApplicationLaunchOptionsKey: Any]?) -> Bool {
    // Initialize the Google Mobile Ads SDK.
    // Sample AdMob app ID: ca-app-pub-3940256099942544~1458002511
    GADMobileAds.configure(withApplicationID: "YOUR_ADMOB_APP_ID")

    return true
  }

}

Objective-C

@import GoogleMobileAds;
…

@implementation AppDelegate

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application
    didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions {

  // Initialize Google Mobile Ads SDK
  // Sample AdMob app ID: ca-app-pub-3940256099942544~1458002511
  [GADMobileAds configureWithApplicationID:@"YOUR_ADMOB_APP_ID"];
  return YES;
}

@end

If you haven't created an AdMob account or registered an app yet, now's a great time to do so. If you're just looking to experiment with the SDK in a Hello World app, though, you can use this App ID to initialize the SDK: ca-app-pub-3940256099942544~1458002511.

Choose an ad format

The Mobile Ads SDK is now imported and initialized, and you're ready to implement an ad. AdMob offers a number of different ad formats, so you can choose the one that best fits your app's user experience.

Banner

Banner ads are rectangular image or text ads that occupy a spot within an app's layout. They stay on screen while users are interacting with the app, and can refresh automatically after a certain period of time. If you're new to mobile advertising, they're a great place to start.

Implement a Banner

Interstitial

Interstitials are full-screen ads that cover the interface of an app until closed by the user. They're best used at natural pauses in the flow of an app's execution, such as in between levels of a game or just after completing a task.

Implement an Interstitial

Native

Native is a component-based ad format that gives you the freedom to customize the way assets like headlines and calls to action are presented in their apps. By choosing fonts, colors, and other details for yourself, you can create natural, unobtrusive ad presentations that can add to a rich user experience.

AdMob offers two different ways to implement native ads: Native Ads Express and Native Ads Advanced. Native Ads Express has been designed to make getting on board with native ads as easy as possible, and it's a great choice if you are new to the format. Native Ads Advanced has been designed to maximize the amount of freedom you have in creating your presentations. It's currently in a closed beta with a limited group of publishers.

Implement Native Ads Express Implement Native Ads Advanced

Rewarded Video

Rewarded video ads are full screen video ads that users have the option of watching in full in exchange for in-app rewards.

Implement Rewarded Video