Integrate Chartboost with mediation

This guide shows you how to use the Google Mobile Ads SDK to load and display ads from Chartboost using AdMob Mediation, covering waterfall integrations. It covers how to add Chartboost to an ad unit's mediation configuration, and how to integrate the Chartboost SDK and adapter into an Android app.

Supported integrations and ad formats

The mediation adapter for Chartboost has the following capabilities:

Integration
Bidding
Waterfall
Formats
Banner
Interstitial
Rewarded
Native

Requirements

• Android API level 21 or higher

• Latest Google Mobile Ads SDK

• Complete the mediation Get started guide

Step 1: Set up configurations in Chartboost UI

Sign up for a Chartboost account and log in once your account is verified. Then, navigate to the Apps management tab.

Click the Add new app button to create your app.

Fill out the rest of the form and click the Add App button to finalize your app.

After your app is created, you will be directed to its dashboard. Take note of the App ID and App Signature of your app.

Note: You can go to your app's dashboard by navigating to the Apps management tab shown earlier and selecting your app.

AdMob requires the Chartboost User ID and User Signature for setting up your AdMob ad unit ID. You can find these parameters by clicking Chartboost mediation on the Chartboost UI.

Navigate to the Resources > API Explorer tab and take note of your User ID and User Signature located under the Authentication section.

Turn on test mode

You can enable test mode on your app by navigating to the Apps management tab from the Chartboost UI, selecting your app from the list and clicking on Edit app settings.

From your app's settings, you can toggle Test mode on your app.

Once test mode is enabled, you can request ads using the ad unit ID created earlier and receive a Chartboost test ad.

After you are able to receive Chartboost test ads, your app will be placed on Chartboost's Publisher App Review. In order for monetization on Chartboost to work, the publisher app review will need to be approved by Chartboost.

Step 2: Set up Chartboost demand in AdMob UI

Configure mediation settings for your ad unit

You need to add Chartboost to the mediation configuration for your ad unit.

First, sign in to your AdMob account. Next, navigate to the Mediation tab. If you have an existing mediation group you'd like to modify, click the name of that mediation group to edit it, and skip ahead to Add Chartboost as an ad source.

To create a new mediation group, select Create Mediation Group.

Enter your ad format and platform, then click Continue.

Give your mediation group a name, and select locations to target. Next, set the mediation group status to Enabled, and then click Add Ad Units.

Associate this mediation group with one or more of your existing AdMob ad units. Then click Done.

You should now see the ad units card populated with the ad units you selected:

Add Chartboost as an ad source

Under the Waterfall card in the Ad Sources section, select Add Ad Source. Then select Chartboost.

Select Chartboost and enable the Optimize switch. Enter the User ID and User Signature obtained in the previous section to set up ad source optimization for Chartboost. Then enter an eCPM value for Chartboost and click Continue.

Note: You only need to set up ad source optimization once per network.

If you already have a mapping for Chartboost, you can select it. Otherwise, click Add mapping.

Next, enter the App ID, App Signature and Ad Location obtained in the previous section. Then click Done.

Important: The App ID must be associated with the targeted app as in the Chartboost UI.

Chartboost Ad Locations (Named Locations) are simple names representing a place in your app where you want to show an ad. AdMob sends requests to the location specified in the settings. Once requests are sent, Chartboost adds the location to its platform for reporting purposes. Users also have the ability to create new ad locations directly in the Chartboost platform before calling them in their games.

Note: AdMob is able to estimate CPMs for the top three Ad Locations in your Chartboost app. All other locations would be represented with a blended CPM.

In the Chartboost UI, your Ad Locations can be revealed in the Basic Settings page by clicking Advanced Settings. See Chartboost's Named Locations guide for more details.

Finally, click Done to add Chartboost as an ad source, and then click Save.

Note: Ad source optimization takes a few days to gather enough data to accurately calculate eCPM for a mediation network. In the meantime, the ad source optimization status is PENDING, so you must manually set an eCPM value for the network. Once the eCPM can be calculated, the ad source automatically starts updating the eCPM on your behalf.

Add Chartboost to GDPR and US state regulations ad partners list

Important: Verify that you have Account Management permission to complete the configuration for EU Consent and GDPR, CPRA, and User Messaging Platform. See Manage user access to your account for details.

Follow the steps in GDPR settings and US state regulations settings to add Chartboost to the GDPR and US state regulations ad partners list in the AdMob UI.

Step 3: Import the Chartboost SDK and adapter

Note: Failure to integrate the compatible Chartboost and Google Mobile Ads SDK versions might lead to build issues.

Android Studio integration (recommended)

In your project-level settings.gradle.kts file, add the following repositories:

dependencyResolutionManagement {
  repositories {
    google()
    mavenCentral()
    maven {
      url = uri("https://cboost.jfrog.io/artifactory/chartboost-ads/")
    }
  }
}

Then, in your app-level build.gradle.kts file, add the following implementation dependencies and configurations. Use the latest versions of the Chartboost SDK and adapter:

dependencies {
    implementation("com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:23.5.0")
    implementation("com.google.ads.mediation:chartboost:9.7.0.0")
}

Manual integration

1. Download the .aar file of the latest version of the Chartboost SDK from Maven Central, and add it to your project.

2. Navigate to the Chartboost adapter artifacts on Google's Maven Repository. Select the latest version, download the Chartboost adapter's .aar file, and add it to your project.

Step 4: Implement privacy settings on Chartboost SDK

EU consent and GDPR

Under the Google EU User Consent Policy, you must ensure that certain disclosures are given to, and consents obtained from, users in the European Economic Area (EEA) regarding the use of device identifiers and personal data. This policy reflects the requirements of the EU ePrivacy Directive and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). When seeking consent, you must identify each ad network in your mediation chain that may collect, receive, or use personal data and provide information about each network's use. Google currently is unable to pass the user's consent choice to such networks automatically.

In SDK version 8.1.0, Chartboost added the addDataUseConsent() method. The following sample code sets data use consent to NON_BEHAVIORAL. If you choose to call this method, it is recommended that you do so prior to requesting ads through the Google Mobile Ads SDK.

Java

DataUseConsent dataUseConsent = new GDPR(GDPR.GDPR_CONSENT.NON_BEHAVIORAL);
Chartboost.addDataUseConsent(context, dataUseConsent);

Kotlin

val dataUseConsent = GDPR(GDPR.GDPR_CONSENT.NON_BEHAVIORAL)
Chartboost.addDataUseConsent(context, dataUseConsent)

See Chartboost's GDPR article and their Android Privacy Methods for more details and the values that can be provided in each method.

US states privacy laws

U.S. states privacy laws require giving users the right to opt out of the "sale" of their "personal information" (as the law defines those terms), with the opt-out offered via a prominent "Do Not Sell My Personal Information" link on the "selling" party's homepage. The U.S. states privacy laws compliance guide offers the ability to enable restricted data processing for Google ad serving, but Google is unable to apply this setting to each ad network in your mediation chain. Therefore, you must identify each ad network in your mediation chain that may participate in the sale of personal information and follow guidance from each of those networks to ensure compliance.

In SDK version 8.1.0, Chartboost added the addDataUseConsent() method. The following sample code sets data use consent to OPT_IN_SALE. If you choose to call this method, it is recommended that you do so prior to requesting ads through the Google Mobile Ads SDK.

Java

DataUseConsent dataUseConsent = new CCPA(CCPA.CCPA_CONSENT.OPT_IN_SALE);
Chartboost.addDataUseConsent(context, dataUseConsent);

Kotlin

val dataUseConsent = CCPA(CCPA.CCPA_CONSENT.OPT_IN_SALE)
Chartboost.addDataUseConsent(context, dataUseConsent)

See Chartboost's CCPA article and their Android Privacy Methods for more details and the values that can be provided in each method.

Step 5: Add required code

Modify AndroidManifest

Other elements

Add the following attribute to each activity in the AndroidManifest.xml file that will be showing Chartboost ads and supports different orientations:

android:configChanges="keyboardHidden|orientation|screenSize"

Lifecycle events

Per Chartboost's recommendation, Add the following code to all of your activity's lifecycle events that will be showing Chartboost ads.

Java

import com.chartboost.sdk.Chartboost;
// ...

@Override
public void onBackPressed() {
    // If an interstitial is on screen, close it.
    if (Chartboost.onBackPressed()) {
        return;
    } else {
        super.onBackPressed();
    }
}

Kotlin

import com.chartboost.sdk.Chartboost
// ...

@Override
fun onBackPressed() {
    // If an interstitial is on screen, close it.
    if (Chartboost.onBackPressed())
        return
    else
        super.onBackPressed()
}

Step 6: Test your implementation

Enable test ads

Make sure you register your test device for AdMob and enable test mode in Chartboost UI.

Important: Disable test mode for AdMob and Chartboost before releasing your app.

Verify test ads

To verify that you are receiving test ads from Chartboost, enable single ad source testing in ad inspector using the Chartboost (Waterfall) ad source(s).

Optional steps

Permissions

For optimal performance, Chartboost recommends adding the following optional permissions to your app's AndroidManifest.xml file:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE" />

Error codes

If the adapter fails to receive an ad from Chartboost, you can check the underlying error from the ad response using ResponseInfo.getAdapterResponses() under the following classes:

com.google.ads.mediation.chartboost.ChartboostAdapter
com.google.ads.mediation.chartboost.ChartboostMediationAdapter

Here are the codes and accompanying messages thrown by the Chartboost adapter when an ad fails to load:

Error code	Reason
0-99	Chartboost SDK returned an error. See Chartboost's documentation for more details.
101	The requested ad size does not match a Chartboost supported banner size.
102	Chartboost can only load 1 ad per location at a time.
103	Chartboost server parameters configured in the AdMob UI are missing/invalid.
104	The Chartboost interstitial or rewarded ad is not ready to be shown.

Chartboost Android Mediation Adapter Changelog

Version 9.7.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK version 9.7.0.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 23.0.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 23.0.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.7.0.

Version 9.6.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK version 9.6.1.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 22.6.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.6.1.

Version 9.6.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK version 9.6.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 22.5.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.6.0.

Version 9.5.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK version 9.5.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 22.3.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.5.0.

Version 9.4.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK version 9.4.1.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 22.2.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.4.1.

Version 9.4.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK version 9.4.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 22.1.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.4.0.

Version 9.3.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK version 9.3.1.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 22.1.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.3.1.

Version 9.3.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK version 9.3.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 22.0.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.3.0.

Version 9.2.1.1

• Updated adapter to use new VersionInfo class.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 22.0.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 22.0.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.2.1.

Version 9.2.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 9.2.1.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 21.5.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.2.1.

Version 9.2.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 9.2.0.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 21.5.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 21.5.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.2.0.

Version 9.1.1.0

• Added the ChartboostMediationAdapter.setAppParams(String, String) method as an optional way to hardcode which app ID and app signature to use to initialize the Chartboost SDK.
• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 9.1.1.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 21.3.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 21.3.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 9.1.1.

Version 8.4.3.1

• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 21.0.0.
• Updated the minimum required Android API level to 19.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 21.0.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.4.3.

Version 8.4.3.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.4.3.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 20.6.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.4.3.

Version 8.4.2.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.4.2.
• Updated compileSdkVersion and targetSdkVersion to API 31.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 20.6.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 20.6.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.4.2.

Version 8.4.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.4.1.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 20.6.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 20.6.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.4.1.

Version 8.3.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.3.1.
• Updated the adapter to use new AdError API.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 20.5.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.3.1.

Version 8.3.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.3.0.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 20.5.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 20.5.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.3.0.

Version 8.2.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.2.1.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 20.1.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 20.1.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.2.1.

Version 8.2.0.1

• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 20.0.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 20.0.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.2.0.

Version 8.2.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.2.0.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 19.5.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 19.5.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.2.0.

Version 8.1.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.1.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 19.2.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.1.0.

Version 8.0.3.2

• Added descriptive error codes and reasons for adapter load/show failures.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 19.2.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 19.2.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.0.3.

Version 8.0.3.1

• Added support for Chartboost banner ads.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 19.1.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.0.3.

Version 8.0.3.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.0.3.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 19.1.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 19.1.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.0.3.

Version 8.0.2.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.0.2.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 19.0.1.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 19.0.1.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.0.2.

Version 8.0.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 8.0.1.
• Requires Chartboost SDK 8.0.1 or higher.
• Activity context is no longer required to load ads.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 18.3.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 8.0.1.

Version 7.5.0.1

• Fixed a bug where Chartboost adapter failed to invoke ad events.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 18.3.0.

Built and tested with:

• Google Mobile Ads SDK version 18.3.0.
• Chartboost SDK version 7.5.0.

Version 7.5.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 7.5.0.
• Migrated the adapter to use AndroidX dependencies.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 18.1.1.

Version 7.3.1.1

• Updated adapter to support new open-beta Rewarded API.
• Updated the minimum required Google Mobile Ads SDK version to 17.2.0.

Version 7.3.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 7.3.1.

Version 7.3.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 7.3.0.

Version 7.2.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 7.2.1.

Version 7.2.0.1

• Updated the adapter to invoke the onRewardedVideoComplete() ad event.

Version 7.2.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 7.2.0.

Version 7.1.0.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 7.1.0.

Version 7.0.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 7.0.1.
• Added support for new Chartboost error codes.
• Updated the Adapter project for Android Studio 3.0

Version 7.0.0.0

• Updated the adapter to make it compatible with Chartboost SDK 7.0.0.

Version 6.6.3.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 6.6.3.

Version 6.6.2.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 6.6.2.

Version 6.6.1.0

• Verified compatibility with Chartboost SDK 6.6.1.

Version 6.6.0.0

• Changed the version naming system to [Chartboost SDK version].[adapter patch version].
• The adapters can now be added as a compile dependency by adding the following to the build.gradle file's dependencies tag: compile 'com.google.ads.mediation:chartboost:6.6.0.0'
• Moved to distributing the adapter as an aar instead of a jar file (see README for additional instructions).

Version 1.1.0

• Removed Chartboost Ad Location from Chartboost extras. Ad Location is now specified in the AdMob console when configuring Chartboost for mediation.

Version 1.0.0

• Initial release. Supports reward-based video ads and interstitial ads.