AppSamurai
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
AppSamurai firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AppSamurai
- Legal name
- App Samurai Inc.
- Website
- https://appsamurai.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AppSamurai industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Marketing & Advertising Technology
- NAICS
- Advertising Agencies (54181), Media Buying Agencies (54183), Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Advertising (7310), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mobile & App Performance Marketing (UA, App Store Ads) (BPAFACAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores (BPAMAKAB), OEM & Device-Embedded App Stores (BPAMADAD), Mobile Game Stores & Alternative App Stores (MPAFACAD)
Keywords
Where AppSamurai is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
AppSamurai business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Programmatic DSP Advertising (UA & Retargeting): The primary revenue stream. AppSamurai operates a full-stack programmatic DSP enabling advertisers to buy mobile ad inventory across 80,000+ app integrations. Revenue is generated through ad spend markups on CPM/CPC/CPA bids, with the platform taking a margin on campaign spend. Advertisers deposit funds and are charged based on impressions, clicks, or installs depending on campaign model.
- Rewarded Playtime / Offerwall (AppsPrize): A dual-value rewarded engagement model that functions both as a user acquisition channel and a publisher monetization layer. For outbound UA, advertisers pay for milestone-based conversions (e.g., tutorial completion, Level 70). For inbound offerwalls, publishers earn revenue share per completed partner task inside their own apps. Generates eCPM-based revenue from ad networks and CPI/CPA from advertiser campaigns.
- CPI / CPA Campaign Pricing: Core campaign pricing model where AppSamurai charges on a cost-per-install basis as the default. Advertisers deposit a minimum of $1,000 to create their first campaign. Additional pricing models including cost-per-click and cost-per-action are available upon communication with the AppSamurai team. Capped installs may be exceeded by up to 10%, in which case the advertiser is charged for the overage.
- OEM App Discovery: Revenue generated from placing apps on OEM devices through manufacturer partnerships (Samsung Galaxy Store, Xiaomi GetApps, Oppo App Market, Vivo V-appstore, Huawei AppGallery, etc.) and carrier storefronts (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T). Formats include pre-loaded app installs (PAI), icon placements, native splash screens, and smart push notifications. Advertisers pay on a per-install or per-placement basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Standard CPI Campaign Pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels11 records
Marketing channels11 records
AppSamurai product offering
Product offeringCore offering
AppSamurai operates an AI-powered mobile growth platform combining a programmatic demand-side platform (DSP) for user acquisition and retargeting, OEM-based on-device app discovery through device manufacturer and carrier partnerships, and the proprietary AppsPrize rewarded playtime and offerwall system for user acquisition and monetization. Customers include mobile gaming studios, brand advertisers, and publishers buying mobile ad inventory on a CPI/CPC/CPA basis.
Product overview
AppSamurai is a global mobile growth platform offering AI-powered user acquisition, retargeting, and monetization solutions for app marketers and mobile game developers. The integrated platform comprises four core solutions: AppSamurai DSP (programmatic advertising engine), OEM App Discovery (pre-install and on-device discovery via manufacturer partnerships), AppsPrize (rewarded playtime UA and offerwall monetization), and AppSamurai for Games (specialized gaming growth with LTV/ROAS optimization). Supporting resources include educational playbooks (Mobile Growth Strategy Guide, Rewarded Playtime Handbook, Monetization Playbook) and tools (ROI Calculator, ROAS Forecaster) that help growth teams model budget allocation across channels with estimated CAC and ROAS projections.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AppsPrize: Rewarded playtime and offerwall monetization platform for publishers
Products and services
- AppSamurai DSP AI-powered programmatic advertising platform for mobile user acquisition, retargeting, and branding. Provides bid-level transparency, automated whitelisting and blacklisting, session-depth visibility, and predictive ROAS optimization across 80,000 app integrations. Built for mobile app marketers, gaming studios, and brand advertisers.
- App Discovery (OEM) On-device app discovery through OEM partnerships enabling pre-installs (Play-Auto-Install), icon placements, native splash screens, and smart push notifications on Android devices. Reaches 800 million active Android devices and 1.2 billion monthly active users via Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, Huawei, Realme, OnePlus, and carriers T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T.
- AppsPrize (Rewarded Playtime) Rewarded user acquisition and monetization platform. Pays users real-world rewards (gift cards, coupons, cash) for time spent and milestones achieved. Functions as an outbound UA channel placing games on partner publisher sites and an inbound offerwall integrated inside host apps for non-paying user monetization. Generates 2-3x higher LTV than standard incentivized installs.
- AppSamurai for Games Specialized mobile gaming growth solution focused on LTV maximization and ROAS optimization. Bundles dedicated UA campaigns, rewarded playtime integration, and LiveOps-ready acquisition strategies tailored for mobile game developers and publishers.
Quantifiable outcome
- 45% increase in D1 Retention for gaming clients via rewarded UA strategies
- +9 more outcomes
Companies that use AppSamurai
Customer profileNamed customers19 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
AppSamurai technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
AI capability9 records
Feature6 records
AppSamurai partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- AdjustcoreNative SDK integration enabling campaign attribution and analytics. Advertisers can connect AppSamurai DSP campaigns to Adjust's mobile measurement platform for tracking installs, in-app events, and ROAS across all UA channels.
- AppsFlyercoreNative SDK integration enabling cross-platform campaign attribution, analytics, and privacy-cloud compliant measurement. AppsFlyer supports SKAN 5.0 and Android Privacy Sandbox integration for signal-loss-era campaign tracking.
- KochavacoreSDK and server-to-server integration providing mobile attribution, analytics, and clean room capabilities for AppSamurai's programmatic campaigns.
- BranchcoreCross-platform measurement and deep linking integration enabling AppSamurai to deliver precise retargeting with direct deep-link routing to specific in-app content.
- TenjincoreCampaign attribution and analytics integration for AppSamurai's gaming-focused customers, providing cost, revenue, and retention data across UA channels.
- AirbridgecoreCross-device and app-to-web attribution integration supporting AppSamurai's APAC-focused campaigns, particularly for markets with complex device ecosystems.
- SamsungcoreOEM partnership for on-device app discovery on Samsung Galaxy devices via Galaxy Store, Samsung Daily, and native system apps. Formats include Play-Auto-Install (PAI), Icon Placements, Native Splash, and Smart Push Notifications. Reaches Samsung's global user base of hundreds of millions of users.
- XiaomicoreOEM partnership for on-device app discovery on Xiaomi devices via GetApps and Mi Browser. Enables pre-load and recommendation engine placements reaching Xiaomi's extensive global user base, particularly strong in APAC.
- OppocoreOEM partnership for app discovery placements on Oppo devices via App Market and Theme Store, reaching Oppo's global user base of hundreds of millions of users.
- VivocoreOEM partnership for app discovery placements on Vivo devices via V-appstore, extending AppSamurai's on-device reach into Vivo's global subscriber base.
- HuaweicoreOEM partnership for app discovery placements on Huawei devices via AppGallery, enabling reach to Huawei's user base particularly strong in China and EMEA markets.
- T-MobilecoreCarrier partnership for device-level app pre-load and discovery placements on T-Mobile Android devices, reaching T-Mobile's North American subscriber base through carrier storefronts and on-device placements.
- VerizoncoreCarrier partnership for device-level app pre-load and discovery placements on Verizon Android devices, reaching Verizon's extensive North American subscriber base.
- AT&TcoreCarrier partnership for device-level app pre-load and discovery placements on AT&T Android devices, reaching AT&T's North American subscriber base.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
AppSamurai competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Vungle (now GameSquare): Vungle is a mobile ad network specializing in rewarded video and in-app advertising for gaming apps, competing for the same gaming studio UA budgets that AppSamurai serves with its DSP and rewarded playtime solutions.
- Fyber (now Digital Turbine): Fyber, now part of Digital Turbine, provides mobile UA and offerwall monetization for app publishers, directly comparable to AppSamurai's rewarded playtime/offerwall stack for non-paying user monetization.
- Liftoff: Liftoff is a mobile UA DSP focused on performance advertising for apps and games, with a comparable suite of programmatic buying, retargeting, and creative optimization tools aimed at the same growth marketer buyer as AppSamurai.
- Tapjoy: Tapjoy operates a rewarded offerwall and mobile UA platform that mirrors AppSamurai's AppsPrize model, paying users for engagement and serving as both an acquisition channel and a publisher monetization layer.
- Digital Turbine: Digital Turbine specializes in on-device app delivery through carrier and OEM partnerships, directly overlapping AppSamurai's OEM App Discovery solution. Both compete to monetize pre-loads, icon placements, and recommendation-engine inventory on Android devices.
- ironSource (Unity): ironSource, now part of Unity, provides mobile UA, rewarded video, and offerwall monetization, directly overlapping AppSamurai's AppsPrize rewarded playtime and DSP offerings for app developers.
- AppLovin: AppLovin operates one of the largest mobile user acquisition and monetization platforms, with the AXON AI-driven DSP and a strong gaming focus. It is a direct competitor to AppSamurai's DSP + rewarded playtime offering for mobile UA and ad monetization.
- Chartboost (now LoopMe): Chartboost, now part of LoopMe, historically operated a mobile gaming ad network and programmatic exchange, overlapping AppSamurai's DSP and in-app monetization offerings for mobile game publishers.
- Moloco: Moloco operates an AI-powered programmatic DSP for mobile app user acquisition and retargeting, competing head-to-head with AppSamurai on ML-driven bidding and global open-inventory scale.
Broad incumbents
- InMobi: InMobi is a broader mobile ad-tech platform with programmatic DSP and exchange capabilities, competing with AppSamurai for mobile UA budgets while also serving as a supply-side integration partner within AppSamurai's open internet inventory pool.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Customer concentration
AppSamurai social profiles
Digital presenceAppSamurai compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
AppSamurai financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AppSamurai leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
AppSamurai funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds4 records
Investors6 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AppSamurai M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about AppSamurai
What does AppSamurai do?
AppSamurai operates an AI-powered mobile growth platform combining a programmatic demand-side platform (DSP) for user acquisition and retargeting, OEM-based on-device app discovery through device manufacturer and carrier partnerships, and the proprietary AppsPrize rewarded playtime and offerwall system for user acquisition and monetization. Customers include mobile gaming studios, brand advertisers, and publishers buying mobile ad inventory on a CPI/CPC/CPA basis.
Is AppSamurai a public or private company?
AppSamurai is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was AppSamurai founded?
AppSamurai was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is AppSamurai based?
AppSamurai is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does AppSamurai make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Programmatic DSP Advertising (UA & Retargeting) is the primary driver. The others are rewarded Playtime / Offerwall (AppsPrize), CPI / CPA Campaign Pricing and OEM App Discovery.
Who are AppSamurai's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Vungle (now GameSquare), Fyber (now Digital Turbine), Liftoff, Tapjoy, Digital Turbine, ironSource (Unity), AppLovin, Chartboost (now LoopMe) and Moloco. InMobi is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does AppSamurai have an API?
Yes. AppSamurai offers a Campaign Spend API that allows customers to retrieve their campaign spend data using a simple GET request. This enables programmatic access to campaign performance and spending metrics. Developer documentation is at help.appsamurai.com/en/articles/11105087-appsamurai-campaign-spend-api.
What industry is AppSamurai in?
AppSamurai's product category is Mobile Marketing & Advertising Technology. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFACAF, Mobile & App Performance Marketing (UA, App Store Ads), with a secondary code of BPAMAKAB, Mobile Game Publishing & App Game Stores. Its NAICS code is 54181 and its SIC code is 7310.