Video

Rewarded Video — Definition & Explanation

A video ad format where users opt in to watch an ad in exchange for in-app rewards, content access, or other value. Rewarded video achieves completion rates above 90% and is particularly effective in gaming and content apps.

How Rewarded Video Works

Users voluntarily choose to watch a rewarded video in exchange for premium content, extra lives, or in-app currency. Because the interaction is opt-in, advertisers pay premium CPMs for the guaranteed attention.

Why Rewarded Video Matters for Publishers

Rewarded video commands the highest CPMs in mobile advertising — $15-50+ — due to near-100% completion rates and explicit user opt-in. For eligible app publishers, it's the highest-value ad format available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What completion rates do rewarded video ads achieve?
Rewarded video achieves 90%+ completion rates due to the opt-in nature of the format, compared to 50-70% for standard pre-roll.
Can web publishers use rewarded video?
Rewarded video is primarily a mobile app format. Web publishers can implement rewarded content walls or paywall alternatives, but CPMs are generally lower than in-app.
What CPMs does rewarded video achieve?
Rewarded video typically commands $15-50+ CPMs in gaming apps and $10-25 in content apps, making it one of the highest-value programmatic formats.

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