INFLUENCER MARKETING

Interstitial Ads: Real Examples + Best Practices That Work

Interstitial ads are everywhere: in mobile games, websites, and the apps you use daily.

Used right, interstitials drive serious engagement and revenue. Used wrong, they break your UX and push users away fast. Most brands either overload their audiences or play it too safe and miss huge growth opportunities.

A study by Adnimation found that interstitial ads deliver a 4,094% higher average eCPM than traditional banner ads. And that’s just a small preview of what smart timing and placement can unlock.

If you want better conversions without wrecking your user experience, you’ll need our plan.

So, we’ll break down real examples, key data, and proven best practices to help you build interstitials that win trust and drive results. Let’s take a look, shall we?

TL;DR

Here’s a quick breakdown of what you need to know about interstitial ads:

• Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that show up during natural content breaks or transitions.
• They outperform banner ads in CTR, viewability, and advertising revenue potential.
• Best placements include mobile apps, gaming levels, website exits, and streaming platforms.
• Poor timing or oversaturation kills UX, user retention rates, and even SEO rankings.
• Top metrics to track: CTR, bounce rate, conversion rate, and time on site or app.
• Big brands like Pinterest and Airbnb saw app installs jump 100–300% after optimizing interstitial strategies.
• Great interstitials respect natural user flow, offer easy exits, and feel relevant to the user journey.
• Smart frequency capping and mobile optimization separate winning interstitials from annoying ones.

What Are Interstitial Ads, and How Do They Work?

Interstitial ads are full-screen ads that show up during natural pauses or transitions.

Think about a pause between levels in a game, before a page switch on a website, or right when you’re about to leave an app.

Unlike pop-ups that feel like random attacks, well-placed interstitials work with the flow, not against it.

What Defines This Ad Type

An interstitial advertising completely covers the interface of the app or website you're using.

It’s not just a banner floating around; it owns the entire screen for a few seconds. That’s what gives it serious power to grab attention and drive action.

What separates the interstitial ad format from other ads is when it appears: at natural transition points.

They don’t just jump out of nowhere surprising users; these ads land during natural breaks where they feel less intrusive, and way more effective.

When and Where Are Interstitial Ads Shown?

Here’s where interstitial ads usually live:

• Mobile gaming apps: Between level transitions, after completing a challenge, or before unlocking rewards.
• Utility and lifestyle apps: During screen transitions, like after setting up a task or changing settings.
• Content-heavy websites: Right before moving between sections or articles.
• Social media apps: Integrated between Stories and feed updates.
• E-commerce sites: Triggered during exit intent, like when users hover to close the tab.
• Email campaigns: Embedded pop-up-style interstitials promoting flash sales or signups.
• Streaming services: Between episodes or during content loading screens.
• Survey and feedback platforms: Before or after survey completions.
• Mobile websites: During page loads or after a content action.

No matter the advertising platform, the best interstitials feel like a natural part of the experience, not a rude interruption.

Are Interstitial Ads Effective?

When used right, interstitial ads crush traditional display formats in almost every important metric.

CTRs skyrocket. Engagement shoots up. And revenue? You’ll see higher CPMs without needing to flood your app or site with junk.

But (and it’s a big but) if you get the placement, frequency, or design wrong, interstitials can do more harm than good. They can drive to poor user experience, damage your SEO rankings, and seriously hurt your retention rates.

Let’s break down both sides of the coin.

Benefits of Interstitial Ads

Here’s why smart brands love interstitials:

• High click-through rates (CTR). Full-screen takeovers force a real choice: click or close. No clutter. No distractions. Just you and the ad. That’s why CTRs for interstitials blow banner ads out of the water with 5% CTR rates for Android.
• Strong user engagement and viewability. You can’t ignore full-page ads. Banners get ghosted. Interstitials demand attention. When they show up during a natural pause, users stop, look, and interact, resulting in a positive user experience.
• Solves banner blindness. Regular ads are background noise. People tune them out without even thinking. Instead, interstitials snap users out of autopilot. They reset the brain just enough to make someone notice and act.
• High revenue potential. Advertisers are ready to pay up when an ad format works. Premium CPM rates mean you make more money per impression without spamming users with a million tiny ads.
• Creative freedom. Static banner formats are dead. Interstitials let you go big: video clips, animations, quizzes, bold designs. It’s your chance to tell a story, spark emotion, and move users to act. All in a few fast seconds.

Real-world proof: Pinterest and Airbnb optimized their interstitial strategies and saw app installations jump by 100% and 300%, respectively.

Key Metrics to Track for Interstitial Ads

If you’re serious about understanding whether your interstitials are performing (or hurting your UX), you need to track these metrics closely:

• CTR (Click-Through Rate): If they’re not clicking, your ad’s invisible. As a side note, here’s a more complete guide to calculating your CTR.
• Bounce rate: If it spikes after your ad shows, you’re annoying people, not engaging them.
• Conversion rate: Views mean nothing if nobody’s taking action.
• Time-on-site or time-in-app: Good ads make users stick around longer. Bad ones make them rage-quit.

Bottom line: Good interstitials lift all four. Bad ones tank them fastly. No middle ground here.

Drawbacks and UX Risks

Interstitials are powerful, but mishandle them and they can quickly work against you. Here’s where brands often go wrong:

• Google SEO penalties. Frustrate users with poorly designed interstitials, and Google will push your rankings down.
• User fatigue. Too many ads = angry users = lower retention.
• Broken content flow. Throw an ad at the wrong moment and your whole UX is ruined.
• Page speed hits. Heavy interstitials slow you down. Slow means bounce. Bounce means lost money.

Interstitials aren't magic tricks; they're power tools. Used smart, they build. Used in a bad way? They destroy.

Interstitial Ads: Real-World Examples

Let’s stop talking theory. Let’s see how real brands use interstitials to drive results without killing UX. Here’s how the best players do it:

Interstitial Video Ads in Mobile Apps and Games

Mobile apps and games are prime territory for interstitial video ads.

You finish a level, complete a task, or move between app sections, and then a full-screen video ad appears. It doesn’t feel random. It fits into a natural flow because users expect a short pause before the next action kicks in.

Here are some examples:

• Toon Blast drops a colorful, fast-paced video ad right after level completions. The creative uses humor and action, perfectly aligned with the energy of the game.

• Ads for brain-training style games often appear after small wins, using logic or memory challenges to hook users. It feels like a seamless continuation of the gameplay loop.

• Builder-style mobile games use interactive ads that let users try simple mechanics (like unscrewing parts or sorting items) before taking them to the app store. Or, like in this example, they feature real people promoting the game while gameplay runs in parallel.

These examples work because they show up at the right moment, when users are mentally ready for a break and more open to exploring something new.

Exit Intent Interstitials

Exit intent is a marketer’s last shot, and smart brands know how to make it count. Just take a look at these examples:

• Coursera plays it smart with a full-screen interstitial that balances branding and action. The top pushes value (free courses, certificates, big-name universities) while the bottom asks for quick feedback. Two goals, one move: keep users engaged or leave with insight.

• GQ takes a sharper approach with a bold email capture form. As you’re about to leave, it promotes their daily newsletter with social proof and a minimalist signup flow. It’s visually polished and built to convert with just one field and a clear value pitch.

Done right, exit intent interstitials feel like a helpful reminder, not a desperate grab.

Interstitial Ads on Websites

Websites don’t just toss interstitials randomly; they use them to move users down the funnel.

Example:

• The New York Times shows a full-screen ad encouraging you to log in or offering a digital subscription before you hit the juicy part of the article. It’s not annoying because it highlights real value: full access, exclusives, and other premium content.

• Blogs and news sites often use newsletter signup interstitials, offering the latest updates in exchange for an email. These work best when they show up after you’ve already engaged a little, not immediately when you land.

Interstitial Ads in Streaming Services

Streaming services play it smart, too. You just finished an episode, and right before the next one autoplays, a short ad teases a new show or movie.

Here are two relatable examples:

• Disney+ drops a quick, visually sharp promo for an exclusive series right between episodes. It doesn’t interrupt the binge. It feels like part of it.
• Netflix plays fast trailers after an episode ends, teasing new releases without making you feel like you’re stuck in an ad trap.

Interstitials displayed after content on streaming services win because they respect the binge, while sneaking in promotion naturally.

Best Practices for Interstitial Ad Design and Timing

Want interstitials that drive clicks, installs, and revenue, without hurting the user experience? Stick to these proven best practices, drawn from our specialists’ experience:

Prioritize User Experience in Contextual and Natural Transitions

Interstitials perform best when they slide into natural pauses.

End of a game level. After submitting a form. Right before switching app sections. These well-times moments help preserve linear user experiences, without causing friction.

According to our experts:

• Pause app activity while the ad shows (no game action or background noise).
• Never throw interstitials right after a tap or interaction; that just causes accidental clicks and frustration.
• Don’t drop interstitials during app load or when users are exiting. Those moments are sacred.

Control Ad Frequency to Avoid Saturation

Want to tank your retention rates? Slam users with five ads in a row. Want to keep them happy? Cap your ad frequency.

Our rule of thumb:

• Set logical frequency caps.
• Track session behavior.
• Let users breathe between ads.

Less is more if you want people to stick around.

Ensure Clear and Accessible Exit Options

Nothing burns user trust faster than an ad you can’t close easily. Do this instead:

• Make the close button big, obvious, and not hidden in weird corners.
• Use a visual timer if the ad has a forced wait (like “Close in 5 seconds”). Set expectations.
• Never, ever camouflage exit options. Users notice, and they don’t forgive.

Optimize for Mobile Screens

Most users experience your interstitials on mobile devices. Not on fancy big monitors. If your ad isn’t made for thumbs, quick views, and tiny screens, you’re losing.

Here’s what matters:

• Fast loading. Nobody’s waiting 5 seconds for your ad to show.
• Clean visuals. Tiny text and cluttered designs get ignored (or worse, closed instantly).
• Vertical formats. People don’t rotate their phones anymore. Meet them where they are, using mobile ad formats.

Key Tip: A great interstitial doesn’t just pop up; it feels sharp, fast, and impossible to ignore on mobile. Get InBeat’s top tips for designing high-impact mobile ad creatives to ensure your visuals hit the mark.

Align Message with User Intent

Interstitials that feel random get closed. Period.

If your ad matches what the user’s already doing or thinking about, you’ll win their attention instead of their frustration. Here’s how to get it right:

• Selling something? Show the offer after users browse or add to cart.
• Promoting an app? Target users are already exploring similar tools.
• Asking for feedback? Wait until after they complete a meaningful action.

That's how you preserve the flow of user engagement instead of interrupting it.

Stay Within Platform Guidelines

Interstitials can boost your engagement rate or crush your rankings. Google, Apple, and ad networks are serious about UX. Mess up, and you’ll feel it hard in SEO, ASO, and lost traffic.

The rules are simple:

• Only drop interstitials during natural transitions. No blocking content.
• Pre-load the ad to avoid awkward lags that ruin the flow.
• Stay updated; platform rules change, and ignorance won’t save you from penalties.

Break the rules? Lose your audience. Simple as that.

Recommended Interstitial Ad Sizes (Mobile and Web)

Interstitial ads need to look slick across screens without dragging down your load times.

Here’s a cheat sheet, so keep in mind:

• Mobile (portrait): 320x480 px
• Mobile (landscape): 480x320 px
• Tablet (portrait): 768x1024 px
• Tablet (landscape): 1024x768 px
• Desktop: 1024x768 px minimum (but scalable HTML5 is the real MVP)

Key Tip: Responsive, lightweight designs aren’t “nice to have” anymore. They’re non-negotiable if you want users to stick around.

Tools and Platforms for Running Interstitial Ads

Choosing the right platform is a make-or-break move for your interstitial strategy.

The good ones help you scale faster, optimize smarter, and reach the right users without slowing things down. The wrong ones? They drag down your UX and drain your budget fast.

Here’s a quick look at the top platforms that actually deliver:

Google AdMob

When it comes to mobile app monetization, Google AdMob stands out as one of the biggest names.

Built specifically for app developers, it supports interstitials, banners, and rewarded video ads, and connects seamlessly with Firebase and Google Analytics.

Real-time reporting, smart targeting, and smooth ad delivery make it a top choice. If you're serious about scaling with mobile interstitials, AdMob should be on your radar.

Unity Ads

If you're part of the gaming world, Unity Ads is practically made for you.

It hooks publishers up with a huge ad exchange and demand sources, helping games monetize through full-screen interstitials and rewarded videos without wrecking UX.

Plus, their real-time analytics let you tweak performance fast based on actual user behavior. Building on Unity? This platform’s a go-to option.

Meta Audience Network (MAN)

Meta Audience Network stretches Facebook’s insane targeting capabilities into external apps and mobile sites.

It’s built for speed, lightweight delivery, and maximum performance without dragging down load times. You also get access to Meta’s optimization tools without having to live inside Facebook’s ecosystem.

AppLovin

Scaling fast? AppLovin has your back.

This powerhouse offers everything from interstitials to playable ads, backed by real-time QA testing and tight fraud protection.

It’s fully certified by IAB, works across iOS, Android, and Unity, and gives brands direct access to deep, actionable analytics and solid brand safety controls.

InMobi

Looking to go global? InMobi reaches over 1.5 billion devices worldwide.

Their platform covers interstitials, banners, native, and rewarded video ads. This is perfect for publishers who want to scale without killing UX.

With InMobi, you can expect flexible CPMs (typically $2 to $7, depending on region, according to MonetizeMore) and strong optimization options to keep revenue growing smartly.

Start.io

Data-driven? Start.io (formerly StartApp) leans hard into first-party data, pulling insights from over 500,000 integrated apps.

They offer guaranteed 100% fill rates for interstitials and native ads, even as third-party cookies phase out.

If you're monetizing messaging or social apps, Start.io should be high on your list.

ExoClick

ExoClick delivers at scale, serving over 12 billion geo-targeted ads daily. Designed for publishers who want strong control, it supports 20+ formats like interstitials, push notifications, and in-stream videos.

Real-time analytics, granular targeting, and around-the-clock support make it a go-to choice for precision-focused campaigns.

PubMatic

For publishers chasing serious programmatic revenue, PubMatic is built to deliver.

Their SSP connects inventory owners with premium demand sources through both open and private marketplaces.

It’s all about maximizing revenue while keeping the user experience sharp and clean.

Adsterra

If mobile is your focus, Adsterra is worth a hard look. They handle over 30 billion monthly impressions, with highly visual interstitials that grab between 45–80% of the screen without suffocating UX.

Their built-in anti-fraud system and tight quality controls keep ad performance clean. That way, you can scale mobile campaigns without risking revenue or user trust.

Are Interstitial Ads Right for You?

Interstitial ads aren’t a one-size-fits-all move. Sometimes they’ll skyrocket your revenue. Other times, they’ll just annoy your users and wreck your metrics.

Here’s when they make sense:

• You have natural breaks in your app or website flow. Think level completions, checkout exits, or section changes, not mid-swipe or mid-scroll attacks.
• You want to maximize high-intent moments. Catch users when they’re already primed to take an action, not when they’re deep into something else.
• You’re ready to respect UX. If you're willing to cap frequency, load fast, and offer clean exits, interstitials can drive serious conversions without feeling sleazy.

But if you’re thinking about slapping interstitials anywhere just because they pay well, don't.

Bad timing = lost trust, higher bounce rates, angry users, and worse SEO.

Smart brands don’t just throw ads at users. They build an experience that users want to come back to.

Key Tip: Interstitial ads are just one piece of a bigger puzzle. If you want long-term growth, pair them with smart full-funnel strategies. Check out our guide to 15 advanced app marketing strategies to crush it from acquisition to retention.

It’s Time to Use Interstitial Ads the Right Way

As you can see, interstitial ads aren’t going anywhere. When you nail the timing, the design, and the context, they deliver massive returns without wrecking your UX.

When you don't? They torch your reputation faster than a slow-loading page.

If you want interstitials that work, not just fill space, you need a strategy built on user behavior, smart placement, and data-backed decisions.

That’s exactly what we do at inBeat Agency. We don’t just throw ads into the void and hope they stick. We build full-funnel ad strategies that connect, convert, and keep users coming back for more.

Ready to stop guessing and start scaling? Let’s talk. Your users and your revenue deserve better.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "interstitial" mean in advertising?

The interstitial ad's meaning is simple. It consists of full-screen advertisements that appear during natural breaks or transitions in the user journey. It temporarily takes over the screen, forcing a yes-or-no interaction before letting the user continue.

When used right, it feels smooth. When used wrong, it feels like a bad pop-up from 2007.

What is an example of an interstitial ad?

Picture this: You beat a level in a mobile game, and before the next level loads, a short, full-screen video ad appears promoting another game.

That’s a textbook video interstitial. It shows up between meaningful actions, not in the middle of the action.

What is the difference between pop-up ads and interstitial ads?

Pop-up ads are ambushes. They show up whenever, often blocking the screen mid-action.

Interstitial ads, on the other hand, wait for a natural pause, like finishing a game level or moving between pages. One interrupts you. The other fits into the flow.

What is the difference between rewarded ads and interstitial ads?

Rewarded ads offer users something in exchange for watching (like coins, lives, discounts). Interstitials just happen during transitions, with no direct reward attached.

Both formats grab attention, but rewarded ads incentivize engagement, while interstitials ask for it.

When should you use interstitial ads?

Use them when your app, site, or game already has natural breaks where users expect a pause.

Level ups. Check out exits. Page loads. Content transitions. If you have to force a break just to show an ad, you’re doing it wrong.

What is the best frequency capping for interstitial ads?

There’s no magic number, but a good rule is to provide one interstitial every 2–3 minutes of active use or after major user actions.

Set session caps, too. Users will forgive a few smart ads. They’ll hate you for spamming.

How much do interstitial ads pay?

Interstitial ads usually deliver higher CPM rates than banner ads because of their strong visibility. Rates vary a lot, but you can expect something like $2 to $7+ CPM depending on the app category, user geography, and ad quality.

Premium inventory (gaming, lifestyle, finance apps) can pull even higher numbers if your UX is on point.