InMobi vs Chartboost: eCPM, Fill and Payouts Compared
For a balanced global audience of 10,000 daily users in a typical casual game, our tables put Chartboost about 4% ahead of InMobi. The gap moves with category and region, so the tables below show where each network leads.
Updated · Every figure on this page is an estimate from our benchmark tables, not a quote from any network.
At a glance
| InMobi | Chartboost | |
|---|---|---|
| Formats in our model | Rewarded video, Interstitial, Banner, Native | Rewarded video, Interstitial, Banner |
| Modelled fill rate | 78% | 78% |
| Rewarded eCPM, Tier 1 | $9.00 | $10.00 |
| Interstitial eCPM, Tier 1 | $6.00 | $7.20 |
| Banner eCPM, Tier 3 | $0.11 | $0.08 |
| Payout threshold | Around $100 (account dependent) | Around $100 (account dependent) |
eCPM by format and tier
Android baseline eCPMs in US dollars per 1,000 impressions, before category and platform multipliers.
| Format | InMobi Tier 1 | Chartboost Tier 1 | InMobi Tier 2 | Chartboost Tier 2 | InMobi Tier 3 | Chartboost Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rewarded video | $9.00 | $10.00 | $4.20 | $4.00 | $1.50 | $1.10 |
| Interstitial | $6.00 | $7.20 | $2.80 | $2.90 | $1.00 | $0.80 |
| Banner | $0.65 | $0.70 | $0.30 | $0.30 | $0.11 | $0.08 |
| Native | $3.00 | Not offered | $1.40 | Not offered | $0.45 | Not offered |
| App open | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
Interstitial shows the widest Tier 1 gap: Chartboost at $7.20 against InMobi at $6.00. Native is only modelled for InMobi.
Which wins for each kind of app
Each row runs 10,000 daily users with that category’s typical format mix and a balanced region split.
| Category | InMobi | Chartboost | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypercasual Game | $7,803 | $8,231 | Chartboost | 5% |
| Casual Game | $7,298 | $7,601 | Chartboost | 4% |
| Mid-core / Strategy | $8,447 | $8,688 | Chartboost | 3% |
| Puzzle Game | $7,269 | $7,587 | Chartboost | 4% |
| Utility App | $1,991 | $1,379 | InMobi | 44% |
| Social / Lifestyle | $4,105 | $1,768 | InMobi | 132% |
| Finance App | $2,796 | $1,579 | InMobi | 77% |
| Entertainment App | $4,752 | $3,815 | InMobi | 25% |
| Education App | $2,357 | $2,113 | InMobi | 12% |
InMobi leads in 5 of 9 categories and Chartboost in 4. The widest gap is in Social / Lifestyle, where InMobi earns about 132% more. The closest race is Mid-core / Strategy, where the two sit 3% apart.
How region changes the result
The same casual game at 10,000 daily users with three different audience splits.
| InMobi | Chartboost | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerging-market lean | $4,898 | $4,730 | InMobi |
| Balanced global mix | $7,298 | $7,601 | Chartboost |
| Tier 1 lean | $10,416 | $11,383 | Chartboost |
The lead changes hands with geography: InMobi leads for an emerging-market audience, Chartboost for a Tier 1 audience.
InMobi / Chartboost
About InMobi
InMobi is a mobile network with long-standing reach in Asia and other emerging markets. Its Tier 1 estimates are lower than most, about $9.00 for rewarded, but its Tier 3 figures hold up comparatively well, with rewarded at about $1.50 and interstitial at about $1.00.
Strengths
- Its Tier 3 interstitial estimate of about $1.00 equals the top figure in our tables, which matters when most users are outside Tier 1.
- Local advertiser relationships in Asia can fill requests that global networks leave empty.
- Native is on offer as well as video and banner, which gives you more placement options in content apps.
Watch-outs
- In Tier 1 its estimates trail the leaders, so an app aimed at US or UK users will usually start elsewhere.
- Blended fill of about 78% is the lowest in our mobile tables, level with Chartboost, so pair it with another source.
- No app open format is available in our data.
Best for: An app whose users are mostly in Asia, Latin America or other Tier 3 regions, run as a bidder beside a global network.
About Chartboost
Chartboost is a game-focused network that grew up on interstitials and rewarded video, and it also runs its own mediation product. In our tables it covers rewarded, interstitial and banner, at about $10.00, $7.20 and $0.70 respectively in Tier 1 on Android.
Strengths
- Its demand comes largely from game advertisers, which suits players who are open to trying other games.
- It has a history of supporting cross-promotion and direct deals between studios, useful if you publish several titles.
- It is a common bidder in mediation stacks, adding competition for full-screen slots.
Watch-outs
- Without native or app open formats it cannot cover every placement on its own.
- Fill of around 78% in our model sits at the low end, so a backup source matters.
- Its central estimates are below the leaders in every format, so its value tends to lie in competition rather than headline price.
Best for: A mobile game with full-screen breaks that wants an extra game-specialist bidder in its mediation line-up.
Payout terms
| InMobi | Chartboost | |
|---|---|---|
| Threshold | Around $100 (account dependent) | Around $100 (account dependent) |
| Cycle | Monthly, net terms vary by contract | Monthly, net terms vary by contract |
| Methods | Wire or PayPal; typical terms, confirm in your own account | Wire or PayPal; typical terms, confirm in your own account |
Verdict
On our numbers the two are close enough that your category and audience decide it: InMobi leads in Utility App, Social / Lifestyle, Finance App, Chartboost in Hypercasual Game, Casual Game, Mid-core / Strategy.
All figures come from our benchmark tables: Android eCPMs by tier, category or niche multipliers, modelled fill and the iOS multiplier. They are estimates for planning, not quotes.
Questions people ask
Does InMobi pay more than Chartboost?
In our benchmark tables InMobi earns more in 5 of 9 app categories for a balanced audience, with an average lead of about 34%. Your own results depend on category, region and setup.
Can I run InMobi and Chartboost together?
Usually yes. Most studios reach several networks through a mediation platform so they compete for each impression. Check each network’s current mediation support before you plan around it.
Which has better fill?
Our model uses a fill rate of 78% for InMobi and 78% for Chartboost. Fill varies by country, format and floor settings, so treat these as typical blended figures.