I’ve been talking to a number of indie app developers recently, and one thing that keeps coming up is frustration with current ad networks—low transparency, poor UX control, limited payouts, privacy issues, and unclear pricing.

On iOS, many devs lean toward subscriptions and paid apps, while Android has historically relied more on ads for free apps—but in both cases, there’s often a desire for better options when ads are part of the mix.

If you’ve ever used mobile ads in your app (or avoided them on purpose), I’d love to hear:

What matters most to you when integrating ads into your app? What’s your biggest pain point with existing solutions like AdMob, Unity Ads, etc.? Are there features or improvements you wish existed in an ad platform? What role do privacy, design control, and pricing transparency play in your decision-making?

I’m exploring an idea called CapinoAds - a lightweight, privacy-first alternative to traditional ad networks - and I’d much rather shape it based on real developer needs than assumptions. Would love to hear your perspective.

If you’ve got thoughts or experiences, I’d really appreciate anything you’re willing to share.