DIRECT vs RESELLER in app-ads.txt
The third field of every app-ads.txt line says who controls the account: you (DIRECT) or a company selling your inventory for you (RESELLER).
DIRECT
The account belongs to you — you signed up with the ad network, and it pays you directly. Your AdMob publisher ID, your AppLovin account, your Unity organization: all DIRECT.
google.com, pub-0000000000000000, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
RESELLER
The account belongs to an intermediary that is allowed to resell your inventory — typically a partner exchange of your ad network. Networks publish these partner lines; you copy them into your file so their bids can be verified.
pubmatic.com, <partner account ID>, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace
Common mistakes
- Marking a partner’s account as DIRECT — buyers see a mismatch with the ad system’s sellers.json.
- Listing the same account as both DIRECT and RESELLER.
- Adding a vendor you (or your partners) have no relationship with — the line authorizes nobody and only adds noise.
- Leaving out a network’s RESELLER lines — part of its demand can’t verify your inventory.
FAQ
Should every network have a DIRECT line?
Every network you have your own account with — yes. Partner exchanges that come with a network are RESELLER lines.
Why do networks give me so many RESELLER lines?
They sell your inventory through partner exchanges too; each partner needs its line so buyers there can verify you.
Related guides
- How app-ads.txt works
- Certification authority ID (TAG-ID)
- What is app-ads.txt?
- Fix: app-ads.txt not found
More
- app-ads.txt generator & hosting
- Top App Publishers
- Top Publishers by Errors
- Top Publishers by Missing Lines
- Top Publishers by Encoding Problem
- Top Ad Optimised Publishers
- Top Publishers by Access Errors
- Top Publishers by Broken app-ads.txt Format
- Recent App-Ads.txt Validations
- Publisher Monetisation Intelligence
- Ad networks in app-ads.txt
- Top Advertising Platforms
- Methodology