> What OWNERDOMAIN and MANAGERDOMAIN declare in app-ads.txt, when to use each, and how buyers use them to match DIRECT accounts.

Source: https://appsupplyindex.com/learn/ownerdomain-managerdomain · Updated: 2026-10-07 · License: CC BY 4.0 (App Supply Index)

---
[Learn](https://appsupplyindex.com/learn/) · Variables

# OWNERDOMAIN and MANAGERDOMAIN in app-ads.txt

Updated Oct 7, 2026 · data from 12 App Store genres · top free + top grossing charts · US · iOS + Android

**Short answer:** **OWNERDOMAIN** declares the business domain of the company that owns the apps. **MANAGERDOMAIN**
declares the business domain of a primary or exclusive monetization partner of the inventory. Both were added in version
1.1 of the IAB Tech Lab specification to make the file's relationships easier to verify.

## OWNERDOMAIN

```
OWNERDOMAIN=examplegames.com
```

Buyers can compare this domain with the domain listed for DIRECT accounts in ad systems' sellers.json. It's
especially useful when the developer website is a product domain (for example a game's site) while ad accounts are
registered under the company's corporate domain.

In this index, 40% of app-ads.txt files declare OWNERDOMAIN.

## MANAGERDOMAIN

```
MANAGERDOMAIN=examplepartner.com
```

The specification describes it as the business domain of a primary or exclusive monetization partner. Check the
specification and your partner's guidance for the exact form before adding it.

## Common questions

Neither variable replaces correct DIRECT/RESELLER labels: a seat operated by a partner is still RESELLER, even
when that partner is your MANAGERDOMAIN.

## Related

- [Should app-ads.txt include OWNERDOMAIN?](https://appsupplyindex.com/fix/missing-ownerdomain)
- [DIRECT account registered to another domain](https://appsupplyindex.com/fix/direct-account-other-domain)
- [How the index checks files](https://appsupplyindex.com/methodology)

Based on the [IAB Tech Lab
ads.txt/app-ads.txt](https://iabtechlab.com/ads-txt/) and [sellers.json](https://iabtechlab.com/sellers-json/)
specifications. Numbers are automated observations of public files on the date above.
