Creative Preview vs Smaato Ad Preview
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Creative Preview
Test mobile ads directly on your smartphone or tablet before they go live. Scan QR codes or enter creative URLs to preview display and video ads. Review reporting metrics within the app's console.
- Preview display and video creatives
- Test ads on smartphone or tablet
- Scan QR codes for preview
- Manually add creative URLs
- Review reporting metrics
Read full descriptionHide full description
Make sure you know how consumers will experience your ad when it goes live. Creative Preview helps you test mobile ads directly on a smartphone or tablet. Scan a QR code from a Google Marketing Platform product to preview an ad on your device, or manually add a creative URL. Test on your device using the supported mobile ad SDKs or in any mobile browser, and review reporting metrics in the app's console. Use Creative Preview to: * Preview and test display and video creatives directly on your mobile device. Supported mobile ad SDKs: * Google Mobile Ads * Interactive Media Ads (IMA) Permissions Notice: * Camera: Needed to scan QR codes. * Microphone: Needed to preview creatives using mobile ads SDKs that support audio recording. * Storage: Needed to attach photos, videos, and local files for submitting app feedback. It's also needed to save your preview list and app settings.
Smaato Ad Preview
Read full descriptionHide full description
Unlock the full potential of your mobile ad campaigns with Smaato Ad Preview - an app designed exclusively for Demand-Side Platforms (DSPs) looking to elevate their ad creative rendering experience. Simplify the process of testing ad mark-ups and gain valuable insights into the quality of your ad creatives and its rendering experience on an app, with ease. Ensure that your ad creatives stand out. Smaato Ad Preview provides a comprehensive solution for DSPs, allowing you to visualize and optimize your ad creatives with unparalleled convenience. - Effortless creative rendering testing. - Real-time feedback - User-friendly interface - Managed support from Smaato Ad Operations
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Smaato Ad Preview at every 11 days against Creative Preview's every 4 months. Smaato Ad Preview also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Creative Preview ships an update every 4 months, Smaato Ad Preview every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on July 27, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Creative Preview | Smaato Ad Preview |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (24 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 24 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 11 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 30 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Smaato Inc. | |
In-app purchases
Creative Preview
No in-app purchases
Smaato Ad Preview
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Creative Preview free?
Is Smaato Ad Preview free?
Do Creative Preview or Smaato Ad Preview have ads?
Which is updated more often, Creative Preview or Smaato Ad Preview?
Other comparisons
