Are ad networks still worth it for indie developers?

Hey everyone 👋

I’ve been thinking a lot about how digital products are monetized today, especially for indie developers and small teams.

Ad networks have been the default choice for years, but they often feel like a black box — limited control, unclear revenue logic, and dependency on algorithms.

At the same time, direct advertiser partnerships sound great in theory, but they’re hard to access and manage.

So I’m curious:

• Are you satisfied with your current monetization setup?

• Have you ever tried working directly with advertisers?

• Do you think there’s a better alternative to ad networks?

I’ve been building something around this idea and would really love to hear your thoughts before launch.