In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, one question continues to challenge advertisers: Where should you place your ads to get the best ROI—Shopping apps, OTT platforms, or Gaming apps? With millions of users interacting across these verticals, knowing how each app category performs in terms of ad engagement, click-through rate (CTR), and conversion is critical. This blog decodes ad metrics, user behavior, and campaign performance across these popular app categories—helping you make smarter advertising decisions using platforms like AdzBasket’s Brand Tech AI platform.
Understanding the App Ecosystem – User Behavior by Category
- Shopping Apps:
Shopping apps like Flipkart, Amazon, and Meesho are action-oriented platforms. Users open these apps with a strong buying intent, making them ideal for conversion-focused ads.
- High Purchase Intent – Users are often already in the buying mindset.
- Retargeting Works Well – Abandoned cart reminders and deal-based creatives get high response.
- Peak Times – Sale events (like Big Billion Days) drive spikes in traffic.
- OTT Platforms (Over-the-Top):
OTT apps like Hotstar, SonyLIV, and MX Player host long-format content. Viewers are immersed in videos, making it perfect for brand recall campaigns and high-quality storytelling ads.
- Strong Brand Lift – Full-screen video ads see up to 80% completion rates.
- Non-Skip Options – Pre-roll ads create awareness even before the content starts.
- Passive Engagement – Best suited for top-of-funnel objectives.
- Gaming Apps:
Gaming apps like Ludo King, Candy Crush, and PUBG Mobile are highly interactive and time-consuming platforms. Users here are highly engaged, and reward-based or playable ads perform well.
- High Engagement – Users spend more than 30 minutes per session.
- Gamified Ads Work – Interactive formats see a 3–5x lift in engagement.
Diverse Demographics – From casual gamers to competitive users across age groups.
Comparing Ad Metrics – Performance Benchmarks by App Type
Key Insight: If you’re aiming for direct conversions, Shopping apps are your go-to. For brand visibility, OTT platforms offer immersive placements. And for engagement-heavy campaigns, Gaming apps outperform in CTR and time spent.
Choosing the Right App for Your Brand Type
E-commerce & D2C Brands
Best suited for Shopping apps due to immediate sales potential and actionable metrics. Pairing display banners with limited-time offers can boost ROAS significantly.
Entertainment, Fashion, and FMCG Brands
OTT platforms work best when you want to build strong brand affinity. Full-screen storytelling ads during binge-worthy content sessions make your brand memorable.
Youth-Centric & Tech-Savvy Brands
Gaming apps offer a goldmine for brands targeting Gen Z and millennials. Interactive ads integrated within gameplays can enhance emotional connection with the brand.
Why Brands Are Shifting to Advertising Using AI Platforms
With the increase in multichannel ad clutter, brands are relying on AI-driven decision-making to optimize ad placements. Using a Brand Tech AI platform like AdzBasket allows marketers to:
- Predict which app category will drive the best results for their target audience.
- Automatically adjust budget allocation across Shopping, OTT, and Gaming apps based on real-time data.
- Track campaign performance with granular metrics and optimize creatives on the go.
This eliminates guesswork and ensures your campaigns are data-backed and result-oriented.
How AdzBasket's Brand Tech AI Platform Helps You Choose the Best App for Your Campaign
At AdzBasket, we’ve built a powerful AI-powered Brand Tech platform that unifies your marketing campaigns across In-App, OOH, DOOH, and Transit Media. With our intuitive dashboard, brands can:
- Analyze historical campaign data by app category
- Compare performance across Shopping, OTT, and Gaming apps
- Launch hyper-targeted ad campaigns with AI-based recommendations
- Access campaign performance reports in real time
Our AI engine understands your industry, goals, and budget to suggest the optimal ad mix, taking the complexity out of multichannel marketing.
Whether you’re a startup or a large brand, you can now start your campaign directly from our dashboard using smart AI suggestions for both In-App and OOH advertising.
Make Smarter Media Decisions with Brand Tech
In today’s competitive ad landscape, shopping apps, OTT platforms, and gaming apps each offer unique value—but placing your bets on the right one is what drives success. Don’t just follow trends—use data and AI to guide your media strategy.
With AdzBasket’s Brand Tech AI Platform, brands can launch, track, and scale campaigns intelligently—no matter the platform. Explore how advertising using AI platform can optimize your campaign performance like never before.
Ready to boost your ROI? Let AdzBasket help you place your ads where they matter most.
