WTF is AppLovin - Can It Actually Help Shopify Brands Scale in 2025?

The Ad Platform That Could Change the Game—Here’s What You Need to Know

Hey Bylders,

If you’ve been glued to Meta and Google for your ad spend, it’s time to shake things up. Let’s talk AppLovin—the ad platform that’s stepping out of its mobile gaming stronghold and into eCommerce.

The Big Question:
Can Shopify brands win big with AppLovin in 2025? Let’s break it down.

🔥 What’s the Buzz?
AppLovin is no newbie—they’ve been crushing it in the mobile gaming ad space for years. Now, they’re opening the floodgates for Shopify merchants. Their promise? AI-powered ads reaching over 1.4 billion daily users (yes, billion with a “B”) through mobile apps.

Imagine your brand in front of new audiences while your competitors are still duking it out on Meta and TikTok.

Who’s Going to Win with AppLovin?

• Brands with Big Ad Budgets:
  If you’re spending $20K+ per day on Meta, AppLovin could be your golden ticket. Early adopters are reporting higher returns on ad spend (ROAS) compared to the usual suspects.

• Ambitious Brands Looking to Diversify:
  Let’s face it: relying on just one or two platforms is risky. AppLovin offers access to mobile-first customers—an untapped audience that might not even be on Meta.

What’s the Catch?

It’s not all sunshine and ROAS. Here are some speed bumps:

1️⃣ Ad Format:
AppLovin’s bread and butter are unskippable ads in mobile games. That’s great for visibility but tough if your creative doesn’t grab attention. Think: short, punchy, and impossible-to-ignore.

2️⃣ Tracking Woes:
Currently, AppLovin’s tracking isn’t on par with Meta’s (no server-side integration). If you’re a data nerd, this might feel like flying blind.

So… Should You Jump In?

Here’s my take:

AppLovin is perfect for mid-to-large Shopify brands with the budget to experiment and the guts to try something new. If you’re spending $1,000 a day on ads, this might not be your move just yet.

But if you’ve got scale—and you’re tired of Meta eating your margins—testing AppLovin is a no-brainer. Start small, monitor results, and double down if it works.

The Bylders Verdict:
AppLovin is shaping up to be the wild card of 2025. It won’t replace Meta or TikTok (yet), but it could be the secret weapon your competitors don’t see coming.

Cheers to a big year!
Parker Burr

As always, let’s connect on Linkedin

*PS - This is not a sponsored review. These are just genuine thoughts on the emerging channel of AppLovin. Good luck out there & see you next week.