Advertising reports

AdMob Network vs. Mediation: compare without double counting

Two reporting modes can describe overlapping parts of your advertising business. Before adding totals to a spreadsheet, decide which question each report is answering.

By AppCradle Updated September 24, 2026

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The key idea

Use one advertising revenue total for a given scope. Keep Network diagnostics and Mediation source breakdowns beside that total, rather than adding them to it.

1. Choose the report for the question

Google's Network report describes AdMob performance. Mediation reporting also includes third-party performance. In AppCradle, use the Report selector in Statistics → AdMob to switch between the two, and keep the mode visible in your working notes.

For a mediation setup, begin with its aggregate report when investigating the advertising total. Use the source breakdown to inspect contributions and Network reporting for its specific delivery metrics. Verify the coverage of the networks you actually use.

Google: Network and Mediation reporting overview

2. Keep overlapping totals separate

Network and Mediation are not two independent revenue streams. Likewise, an app total and its country or ad-unit breakdown are different views of the same activity. Pick one total, then use the other views to explain it.

A spreadsheet is easier to audit when every subtotal names its report, date range and filters. If coverage is uncertain, keep the totals side by side with that limitation instead of presenting an inflated combined figure.

Illustrative reconciliation

Suppose a Mediation report contains $100 from the AdMob source and $50 from other sources. Its total is $150. Adding a separate $100 Network total would report $250 and count the AdMob contribution twice. This example assumes matching scopes; actual reports may differ in timing or coverage.

3. Compare definitions before comparing rates

Use each mode's own numerator and denominator. Compute a combined rate from summed compatible counts, not the average of displayed percentages. Do not sum ad-source request counts to recreate an aggregate request total: one opportunity can involve multiple sources.

Google describes observed eCPM in the Mediation API in terms of estimated third-party earnings and impressions. Network show rate has its own definition. A similarly named column is not enough to make two report scopes interchangeable.

Why averaging eCPM can mislead

In an illustrative same-currency report, 1,000 impressions at $10 eCPM earn $10; 9,000 impressions at $1 eCPM earn $9. Combined eCPM is $19 ÷ 10,000 × 1,000 = $1.90, not the simple average of $5.50.

Google: Mediation report metric definitions

4. Save a repeatable review checklist

Connect your publisher account in Settings → AdMob and explicitly select the apps to import. Inspect Imports before comparing periods. In Statistics → AdMob, choose the mode and filters, apply them, then open the daily chart and segment tables.

If the comparison is unavailable, inspect coverage for both periods. A missing report is unknown activity, not a zero. Once coverage is sufficient, use the earnings investigation guide to turn the comparison into a focused next step.

One report mode for the total.
Matching completed dates, timezone, currency and app scope.
Aggregate requests kept separate from per-source requests.
Network and Mediation earnings never added together.

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