ironSource / LevelPlay vs Vungle / Liftoff: eCPM, Fill and Payouts Compared
For a balanced global audience of 10,000 daily users in a typical casual game, our tables put ironSource / LevelPlay about 17% ahead of Vungle / Liftoff. 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
| ironSource / LevelPlay | Vungle / Liftoff | |
|---|---|---|
| Formats in our model | Rewarded video, Interstitial, Banner, Native | Rewarded video, Interstitial, Banner, Native |
| Modelled fill rate | 86% | 80% |
| Rewarded eCPM, Tier 1 | $12.50 | $12.00 |
| Interstitial eCPM, Tier 1 | $8.50 | $8.20 |
| Banner eCPM, Tier 3 | $0.10 | $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 | ironSource / LevelPlay Tier 1 | Vungle / Liftoff Tier 1 | ironSource / LevelPlay Tier 2 | Vungle / Liftoff Tier 2 | ironSource / LevelPlay Tier 3 | Vungle / Liftoff Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rewarded video | $12.50 | $12.00 | $5.00 | $4.80 | $1.40 | $1.20 |
| Interstitial | $8.50 | $8.20 | $3.30 | $3.20 | $0.90 | $0.80 |
| Banner | $0.85 | $0.70 | $0.38 | $0.30 | $0.10 | $0.08 |
| Native | $3.00 | $3.20 | $1.30 | $1.40 | $0.35 | $0.35 |
| App open | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
Banner shows the widest Tier 1 gap: ironSource / LevelPlay at $0.85 against Vungle / Liftoff at $0.70.
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 | ironSource / LevelPlay | Vungle / Liftoff | Winner | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypercasual Game | $10,906 | $9,208 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 18% |
| Casual Game | $10,216 | $8,755 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 17% |
| Mid-core / Strategy | $11,877 | $10,510 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 13% |
| Puzzle Game | $10,190 | $8,806 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 16% |
| Utility App | $2,539 | $2,222 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 14% |
| Social / Lifestyle | $4,880 | $4,350 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 12% |
| Finance App | $3,448 | $3,048 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 13% |
| Entertainment App | $6,261 | $5,501 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 14% |
| Education App | $3,188 | $2,804 | ironSource / LevelPlay | 14% |
ironSource / LevelPlay leads in 9 of 9 categories and Vungle / Liftoff in 0. The widest gap is in Hypercasual Game, where ironSource / LevelPlay earns about 18% more. The closest race is Social / Lifestyle, where the two sit 12% apart.
How region changes the result
The same casual game at 10,000 daily users with three different audience splits.
| ironSource / LevelPlay | Vungle / Liftoff | Winner | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerging-market lean | $6,357 | $5,375 | ironSource / LevelPlay |
| Balanced global mix | $10,216 | $8,755 | ironSource / LevelPlay |
| Tier 1 lean | $15,302 | $13,206 | ironSource / LevelPlay |
ironSource / LevelPlay stays ahead across all three audience splits, by 16% to 18%.
ironSource / LevelPlay / Vungle / Liftoff
About ironSource / LevelPlay
ironSource LevelPlay is Unity's mediation platform, pairing the ironSource network with access to other bidders and waterfall sources. Our estimates put it at about $12.50 for Tier 1 rewarded and $8.50 for interstitials on Android, with fill of around 86%.
Strengths
- Hypercasual and casual studios use it widely, so its tooling is shaped around high-volume rewarded and interstitial play.
- Mediation can mix bidding and waterfall instances, which helps when some networks you rely on do not bid.
- Native is supported alongside the video formats, estimated at about $3.00 in Tier 1.
- Since the merger with Unity it is the route Unity offers for mediating Unity Ads with other networks.
Watch-outs
- Our tables show no app open format, so that placement needs another source.
- Net payment terms differ between contracts, so read your own agreement rather than assuming a standard date.
- Product names and dashboards have changed during the Unity integration, so older tutorials may not match what you see.
Best for: A casual or hypercasual studio running several titles that wants mediation and a strong in-house network in one place.
About Vungle / Liftoff
Vungle, now part of Liftoff, is a video-led network whose demand leans towards performance advertisers paying for app installs. Our tables put its Tier 1 Android rewarded estimate at about $12.00 and interstitial at about $8.20, close to AdMob, with fill of around 80%.
Strengths
- Full-screen video is its home ground, and its interstitial estimate edges above AdMob's in our tables.
- It is available as a bidder on the major mediation platforms, so it can add competition without becoming your main SDK.
- Liftoff's user-acquisition business brings advertisers who pay for installs, which suits games with engaged players.
Watch-outs
- Banner is a weak spot at roughly $0.70 in Tier 1, and there is no app open format.
- An 80% blended fill means it performs better as one bidder among several than as a standalone network.
- Payment timing is set contract by contract, so ask about it before you count on a particular date.
Best for: A game that already uses mediation and wants another video specialist bidding on its rewarded and interstitial slots.
Payout terms
| ironSource / LevelPlay | Vungle / Liftoff | |
|---|---|---|
| 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 ACH; typical terms, confirm in your own account |
Verdict
On our numbers ironSource / LevelPlay is the stronger single choice for most categories, and particularly for Hypercasual Game, Casual Game. Vungle / Liftoff holds its own in Casual Game. Many studios run both inside a mediation stack, which our model does not combine.
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 ironSource / LevelPlay pay more than Vungle / Liftoff?
In our benchmark tables ironSource / LevelPlay earns more in 9 of 9 app categories for a balanced audience, with an average lead of about 15%. Your own results depend on category, region and setup.
Can I run ironSource / LevelPlay and Vungle / Liftoff 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 86% for ironSource / LevelPlay and 80% for Vungle / Liftoff. Fill varies by country, format and floor settings, so treat these as typical blended figures.