Do I need an MMP if I only run Apple Ads or Google App Campaigns?
Strictly, no: single-channel advertisers can rely on the platform's own reporting plus store analytics. The MMP becomes necessary the moment a second paid channel enters, because self-attributing networks will each claim installs under their own rules and the totals will exceed reality. Given that AppsFlyer, Adjust, and Tenjin all offer free tiers, most teams integrate one before the second channel launches rather than after.
How do MMPs handle iOS attribution now?
Through a combination of SKAdNetwork and AdAttributionKit postbacks, consent-based deterministic matching where users allow tracking, and modeled or probabilistic methods within Apple's rules. Practical implication: iOS numbers are aggregated, delayed, and partially modeled, while Android remains largely deterministic. Good MMPs manage conversion value schemas and modeling for you, but expecting iOS data to behave like Android data leads to bad decisions.
What does an MMP cost?
Pricing typically follows attributed conversions or installs. Free tiers at AppsFlyer, Adjust, and Tenjin comfortably cover small apps. Beyond that, expect costs that scale with UA volume, with fraud protection and advanced analytics often gated to higher tiers. For most teams the MMP bill lands around one to a few percent of UA spend, which is cheap insurance against misattributed budgets.