Native setups in Android and iOS

Native ads are presented to users using UI components native to the platform—for example, a View on Android or a UIView on iOS.

This guide shows you how to load, display, and customize native ads using platform-specific code.

Prerequisites

Always test with test ads

When building and testing your apps, make sure you use test ads rather than live, production ads. The easiest way to load test ads is to use our dedicated test ad unit ID for native ads:

Android

ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/2247696110

iOS

ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/3986624511

The test ad units are configured to return test ads for every request, so you can use them in your own apps while coding, testing, and debugging—just make sure you replace them with your own ad unit IDs before publishing your app.

Platform-specific setups

To create your native ads, you'll need to write platform-specific code for iOS and Android, followed by modifying your Dart implementation to take advantage of the native code changes you made.

Android

Import the plugin

The Android implementation of the Google Mobile Ads plugin requires a class implementing the NativeAdFactory API. In order to reference this API from your Android project, add the following lines to your settings.gradle:

def flutterProjectRoot = rootProject.projectDir.parentFile.toPath()
def plugins = new Properties()
def pluginsFile = new File(flutterProjectRoot.toFile(), '.flutter-plugins')
if (pluginsFile.exists()) {
    pluginsFile.withInputStream { stream -> plugins.load(stream) }
}

plugins.each { name, path ->
    def pluginDirectory = flutterProjectRoot.resolve(path).resolve('android').toFile()
    include ":$name"
    project(":$name").projectDir = pluginDirectory
}

Implement NativeAdFactory

Next, create a class that implements NativeAdFactory and overrides the createNativeAd() method.

package io.flutter.plugins.googlemobileadsexample;

import android.graphics.Color;
import android.view.LayoutInflater;
import android.widget.TextView;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.nativead.NativeAd;
import com.google.android.gms.ads.nativead.NativeAdView;
import io.flutter.plugins.googlemobileads.GoogleMobileAdsPlugin.NativeAdFactory;
import java.util.Map;

/**
 * my_native_ad.xml can be found at
 * github.com/googleads/googleads-mobile-flutter/blob/main/packages/google_mobile_ads/
 *     example/android/app/src/main/res/layout/my_native_ad.xml
 */
class NativeAdFactoryExample implements NativeAdFactory {
  private final LayoutInflater layoutInflater;

  NativeAdFactoryExample(LayoutInflater layoutInflater) {
    this.layoutInflater = layoutInflater;
  }

  @Override
  public NativeAdView createNativeAd(
      NativeAd nativeAd, Map<String, Object> customOptions) {
    final NativeAdView adView =
        (NativeAdView) layoutInflater.inflate(R.layout.my_native_ad, null);

    // Set the media view.
    adView.setMediaView((MediaView) adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_media));

    // Set other ad assets.
    adView.setHeadlineView(adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_headline));
    adView.setBodyView(adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_body));
    adView.setCallToActionView(adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_call_to_action));
    adView.setIconView(adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_app_icon));
    adView.setPriceView(adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_price));
    adView.setStarRatingView(adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_stars));
    adView.setStoreView(adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_store));
    adView.setAdvertiserView(adView.findViewById(R.id.ad_advertiser));

    // The headline and mediaContent are guaranteed to be in every NativeAd.
    ((TextView) adView.getHeadlineView()).setText(nativeAd.getHeadline());
    adView.getMediaView().setMediaContent(nativeAd.getMediaContent());

    // These assets aren't guaranteed to be in every NativeAd, so it's important to
    // check before trying to display them.
    if (nativeAd.getBody() == null) {
      adView.getBodyView().setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
    } else {
      adView.getBodyView().setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
      ((TextView) adView.getBodyView()).setText(nativeAd.getBody());
    }

    if (nativeAd.getCallToAction() == null) {
      adView.getCallToActionView().setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
    } else {
      adView.getCallToActionView().setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
      ((Button) adView.getCallToActionView()).setText(nativeAd.getCallToAction());
    }

    if (nativeAd.getIcon() == null) {
      adView.getIconView().setVisibility(View.GONE);
    } else {
      ((ImageView) adView.getIconView()).setImageDrawable(nativeAd.getIcon().getDrawable());
      adView.getIconView().setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
    }

    if (nativeAd.getPrice() == null) {
      adView.getPriceView().setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
    } else {
      adView.getPriceView().setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
      ((TextView) adView.getPriceView()).setText(nativeAd.getPrice());
    }

    if (nativeAd.getStore() == null) {
      adView.getStoreView().setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
    } else {
      adView.getStoreView().setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
      ((TextView) adView.getStoreView()).setText(nativeAd.getStore());
    }

    if (nativeAd.getStarRating() == null) {
      adView.getStarRatingView().setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
    } else {
      ((RatingBar) adView.getStarRatingView()).setRating(nativeAd.getStarRating()
          .floatValue());
      adView.getStarRatingView().setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
    }

    if (nativeAd.getAdvertiser() == null) {
      adView.getAdvertiserView().setVisibility(View.INVISIBLE);
    } else {
      adView.getAdvertiserView().setVisibility(View.VISIBLE);
      ((TextView) adView.getAdvertiserView()).setText(nativeAd.getAdvertiser());
    }

    // This method tells the Google Mobile Ads SDK that you have finished populating your
    // native ad view with this native ad.
    adView.setNativeAd(nativeAd);

    return adView;
  }
}

For an example of configuring your NativeAdView layout, see my_native_ad.xml.

Register your NativeAdFactory

Each NativeAdFactory implementation is required to be registered with a factoryId, a unique String identifier, when calling MainActivity.configureFlutterEngine(FlutterEngine). The factoryId will be used later when instantiating a native ad from Dart code.

A NativeAdFactory can be implemented and registered for each unique native ad layout used by your app, or a single one can handle all layouts.

Note that when building with add-to-app, the NativeAdFactory should also be unregistered in cleanUpFlutterEngine(engine).

Once you've created NativeAdFactoryExample, set up yourMainActivity as follows:

package my.app.path;

import io.flutter.embedding.android.FlutterActivity;
import io.flutter.embedding.engine.FlutterEngine;
import io.flutter.plugins.googlemobileads.GoogleMobileAdsPlugin;

public class MainActivity extends FlutterActivity {
  @Override
  public void configureFlutterEngine(FlutterEngine flutterEngine) {
    flutterEngine.getPlugins().add(new GoogleMobileAdsPlugin());
    super.configureFlutterEngine(flutterEngine);

    GoogleMobileAdsPlugin.registerNativeAdFactory(flutterEngine,
        "adFactoryExample", NativeAdFactoryExample());
  }

  @Override
  public void cleanUpFlutterEngine(FlutterEngine flutterEngine) {
    GoogleMobileAdsPlugin.unregisterNativeAdFactory(flutterEngine, "adFactoryExample");
  }
}

iOS

Implement NativeAdFactory

The iOS implementation of the Google Mobile Ads plugin requires a class implementing the FLTNativeAdFactory API. Create a class that implements NativeAdFactory and implement the createNativeAd() method.

#import "FLTGoogleMobileAdsPlugin.h"

/**
 * The example NativeAdView.xib can be found at
 * github.com/googleads/googleads-mobile-flutter/blob/main/packages/google_mobile_ads/
 *     example/ios/Runner/NativeAdView.xib
 */
@interface NativeAdFactoryExample : NSObject <FLTNativeAdFactory>
@end

@implementation NativeAdFactoryExample
- (GADNativeAdView *)createNativeAd:(GADNativeAd *)nativeAd
                      customOptions:(NSDictionary *)customOptions {
  // Create and place the ad in the view hierarchy.
  GADNativeAdView *adView =
      [[NSBundle mainBundle] loadNibNamed:@"NativeAdView" owner:nil options:nil].firstObject;

  // Populate the native ad view with the native ad assets.
  // The headline is guaranteed to be present in every native ad.
  ((UILabel *)adView.headlineView).text = nativeAd.headline;

  // These assets are not guaranteed to be present. Check that they are before
  // showing or hiding them.
  ((UILabel *)adView.bodyView).text = nativeAd.body;
  adView.bodyView.hidden = nativeAd.body ? NO : YES;

  [((UIButton *)adView.callToActionView) setTitle:nativeAd.callToAction
                                         forState:UIControlStateNormal];
  adView.callToActionView.hidden = nativeAd.callToAction ? NO : YES;

  ((UIImageView *)adView.iconView).image = nativeAd.icon.image;
  adView.iconView.hidden = nativeAd.icon ? NO : YES;

  ((UILabel *)adView.storeView).text = nativeAd.store;
  adView.storeView.hidden = nativeAd.store ? NO : YES;

  ((UILabel *)adView.priceView).text = nativeAd.price;
  adView.priceView.hidden = nativeAd.price ? NO : YES;

  ((UILabel *)adView.advertiserView).text = nativeAd.advertiser;
  adView.advertiserView.hidden = nativeAd.advertiser ? NO : YES;

  // In order for the SDK to process touch events properly, user interaction
  // should be disabled.
  adView.callToActionView.userInteractionEnabled = NO;

  // Associate the native ad view with the native ad object. This is
  // required to make the ad clickable.
  // Note: this should always be done after populating the ad views.
  adView.nativeAd = nativeAd;

  return adView;
}
@end

For an example of configuring your GADNativeAdView layout, see NativeAdView.xib.

Register your NativeAdFactory

Each FLTNativeAdFactory needs to be registered with a factoryId, a unique String identifier, in registerNativeAdFactory:factoryId:nativeAdFactory:. The factoryId will be used later when instantiating a native ad from Dart code.

An FLTNativeAdFactory can be implemented and registered for each unique native ad layout used by your app, or a single one can handle all layouts.

Once you've created FLTNativeAdFactory, set up your AppDelegate as follows:

#import "FLTGoogleMobileAdsPlugin.h"
#import "NativeAdFactoryExample.h"

@implementation AppDelegate
- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application
      didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions {
  [GeneratedPluginRegistrant registerWithRegistry:self];

  // Must be added after GeneratedPluginRegistrant registerWithRegistry:self];
  // is called.
  NativeAdFactoryExample *nativeAdFactory = [[NativeAdFactoryExample alloc] init];
  [FLTGoogleMobileAdsPlugin registerNativeAdFactory:self
                                          factoryId:@"adFactoryExample"
                                    nativeAdFactory:nativeAdFactory];

  return [super application:application didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:launchOptions];
}
@end

Load ad

After you've added your platform-specific code, turn to Dart to load ads. Make sure factoryID match the ID you registered earlier.

class NativeExampleState extends State<NativeExample> {
  NativeAd? _nativeAd;
  bool _nativeAdIsLoaded = false;

 // TODO: replace this test ad unit with your own ad unit.
 final String _adUnitId = Platform.isAndroid
      ? 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/2247696110'
      : 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/3986624511';

  /// Loads a native ad.
  void loadAd() {
    _nativeAd = NativeAd(
        adUnitId: _adUnitId,
        // Factory ID registered by your native ad factory implementation.
        factoryId: 'adFactoryExample',
        listener: NativeAdListener(
          onAdLoaded: (ad) {
            print('$NativeAd loaded.');
            setState(() {
              _nativeAdIsLoaded = true;
            });
          },
          onAdFailedToLoad: (ad, error) {
            // Dispose the ad here to free resources.
            print('$NativeAd failedToLoad: $error');
            ad.dispose();
          },
        ),
        request: const AdRequest(),
        // Optional: Pass custom options to your native ad factory implementation.
        customOptions: {'custom-option-1', 'custom-value-1'}
    );
    _nativeAd.load();
  }
}

Native ad events

To be notified of events related to the native ad interactions, use the listener property of the ad. Then, implement NativeAdListener to receive ad event callbacks.

class NativeExampleState extends State<NativeExample> {
  NativeAd? _nativeAd;
  bool _nativeAdIsLoaded = false;

 // TODO: replace this test ad unit with your own ad unit.
 final String _adUnitId = Platform.isAndroid
      ? 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/2247696110'
      : 'ca-app-pub-3940256099942544/3986624511';

  /// Loads a native ad.
  void loadAd() {
    _nativeAd = NativeAd(
        adUnitId: _adUnitId,
        // Factory ID registered by your native ad factory implementation.
        factoryId: 'adFactoryExample',
        listener: NativeAdListener(
          onAdLoaded: (ad) {
            print('$NativeAd loaded.');
            setState(() {
              _nativeAdIsLoaded = true;
            });
          },
          onAdFailedToLoad: (ad, error) {
            // Dispose the ad here to free resources.
            print('$NativeAd failedToLoad: $error');
            ad.dispose();
          },
          // Called when a click is recorded for a NativeAd.
          onAdClicked: (ad) {},
          // Called when an impression occurs on the ad.
          onAdImpression: (ad) {},
          // Called when an ad removes an overlay that covers the screen.
          onAdClosed: (ad) {},
          // Called when an ad opens an overlay that covers the screen.
          onAdOpened: (ad) {},
          // For iOS only. Called before dismissing a full screen view
          onAdWillDismissScreen: (ad) {},
          // Called when an ad receives revenue value.
          onPaidEvent: (ad, valueMicros, precision, currencyCode) {},
        ),
        request: const AdRequest(),
        // Optional: Pass custom options to your native ad factory implementation.
        customOptions: {'custom-option-1', 'custom-value-1'}
    );
    _nativeAd.load();
        
  }
}

Display ad

To display a NativeAd as a widget, you must instantiate an AdWidget with a supported ad after calling load(). You can create the widget before calling load(), but load() must be called before adding it to the widget tree.

AdWidget inherits from Flutter's Widget class and can be used like any other widget. On iOS, make sure you place the widget in a container with a specified width and height. Otherwise, your ad may not be displayed.

final Container adContainer = Container(
  alignment: Alignment.center,
  child: AdWidget adWidget = AdWidget(ad: _nativeAd!),
  width: WIDTH,
  height: HEIGHT,
);

Dispose ad

A NativeAd must be disposed of when access to it is no longer needed. The best practice for when to call dispose() is after the AdWidget associated with the native ad is removed from the widget tree and in the AdListener.onAdFailedToLoad() callback.

Next steps

Complete example on GitHub

Native Platform