Report: App-ads.txt adoption increased by 79% in 2020

By the end of 2020, the adoption of app-ads.txt grew by 79% across the leading 10,000 Android apps and 77% across the top 10,000 iOS apps, according to Pixalate’s recent research for which the company analyzed over more than 5,5 million Android and iOS apps. 

The research found that 13% of all Android apps available on the Play Store, which equals to approximately 500,000 apps, now have app-ads.txt, up from 6% in the first quarter of 2020. 

While the ad fraud rate stood at 31% among Android apps that don’t have app-ads.txt, it was 22% among apps with app-ads.txt. 

Meanwhile, 24% of app-ads.txt adoption was observed in Gaming apps on Android. 

According to the research, 7% of all iOS apps on the App Store which corresponds to 125,000 apps now have app-ads.txt, up from 3% in the first quarter of 2020.

The ad fraud rate was 35% among apps without app-ads.txt and 21% on apps with app-ads.txt. 

In addition, 22% of app-ads.txt adoption was seen among ‘Games’ apps on iOS.