MRAID vs. DAPI: The Showdown of Playable Ad Frameworks

So, you’ve heard the news. IronSource is waving goodbye to DAPI (yes, Digital Advertising API), and if you’ve been working with it, you’re probably feeling a bit betrayed. Don’t worry, though—we’ve all been there. But now you’re staring down the barrel of the MRAID vs. DAPI debate, and you have to make the switch to MRAID.

Before you panic and wonder how this shift is going to mess with your flawless workflow, let’s do a head-to-head breakdown of what really matters in this transition. Here’s the truth: MRAID is going to be your new best friend, and we’re going to make it work for you.

For those who’ve been riding the DAPI train and are now reluctantly hopping on the MRAID express, here’s a refresher: MRAID (Mobile Rich Media Ad Interface Definitions) is the ad framework that’s been around for a long time, helping interactive ads work in mobile apps across different networks. It’s your old faithful, and let’s be honest—it works. No frills, no nonsense.

IronSource’s exit from DAPI means MRAID is now the go-to for delivering playable ads within their network. MRAID may not have been the rockstar framework you dreamed of for your next-gen ads, but it's the dependable choice for getting your ads running across a variety of devices. And hey, sometimes reliability is better than wishful thinking, right?

Ah, DAPI, the cool new kid on the block. If you were working with DAPI, you probably got used to its flexibility and modern approach to playable ads. DAPI made creating interactive, game-focused ads a breeze, giving you greater creative control over how users interacted with your content. It had that next-gen feel, and it was perfect for game developers like you, especially if you wanted to fine-tune user engagement.

But with IronSource pulling the rug from under DAPI, we’ve got to face the reality: DAPI is done for now, at least in this specific ad network. So what does that leave us with? Well, MRAID—your not-so-glamorous but reliable friend who’s still sticking around.