Chartboost

A leading mobile in-app advertising and monetization platform with a strong focus on the gaming vertical, operating as a subsidiary of Zynga (Take-Two Interactive)

Chartboost is a mobile advertising and monetization platform that has long been a dominant force in the gaming and app advertising ecosystem. Founded in 2011, the company built its reputation by providing game developers with powerful tools to acquire users, monetize their apps through in-app advertising, and run direct deals with other developers. Its self-serve platform and developer-to-developer direct deals network made it a unique and trusted player in the mobile gaming space, enabling publishers to bypass traditional ad networks and negotiate directly with other app makers. Chartboost's core offerings include a demand-side platform (DSP), a supply-side platform (SSP), mediation capabilities, and a robust SDK that integrates seamlessly into mobile games and apps. The platform supports a wide range of ad formats including interstitials, rewarded video, and playable ads — formats that are particularly effective in gaming environments. Its bidding infrastructure and programmatic capabilities allow advertisers to reach highly engaged mobile gaming audiences at scale. In 2021, Chartboost was acquired by Zynga, the social game developer known for titles like FarmVille and Words With Friends, for approximately $250 million. The acquisition was strategic, allowing Zynga to internalize its advertising technology and monetization capabilities. Chartboost continues to operate as a distinct brand and platform under Zynga's ownership, serving third-party developers and advertisers while also powering Zynga's own advertising infrastructure. Following Zynga's own acquisition by Take-Two Interactive in 2022, Chartboost sits within a larger gaming and entertainment conglomerate.