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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2025

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation—The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"). Consolidated financial statements include accounts and operations of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. In accordance with the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 810, Consolidation, the Company is also required to consolidate any variable interest entities ("VIE") when it is the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary has both the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the VIE’s economic performance and the obligation to absorb losses of the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE, or the right to receive benefits from the VIE that could potentially be significant to the VIE. The Company evaluates its relationships with all VIEs on an ongoing basis. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated upon consolidation.

Certain prior period amounts reported in the Company's consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation where applicable.

Use of Estimates—The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported and disclosed in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. The Company bases its estimates on assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. On an ongoing basis, the Company evaluates its estimates, including, but not limited to, those related to valuation of long-lived assets and their associated estimated useful lives, valuation of goodwill, valuation of non-marketable equity securities, valuation of equity method investments, income taxes, stock-based compensation, and other contingent liabilities. These estimates are inherently subject to judgment and actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Apps Business Divestiture—On May 7, 2025, the Company and its subsidiaries Morocco, Inc. and AppLovin GmbH entered into a purchase agreement with Tripledot and its subsidiaries Eton Games Inc. and Tripledot Group Holdings Limited to sell the equity interests of certain wholly-owned subsidiaries that operated the Company’s Apps business (the “Apps Business”). The sale was completed on June 30, 2025. The Company determined that the divestiture of the Apps Business met the criteria for presentation as discontinued operations in the second quarter of the year ended December 31, 2025, as it represented a strategic shift that had a major impact on the Company’s operations and financial results. Accordingly, the results of the Apps Business, including the gain on divestiture, are reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated statements of operations, and as such, have been excluded from both continuing operations and segment results for all periods presented. Further, the assets and liabilities of the Apps Business were reclassified as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2024. The consolidated statements of cash flows continue to be presented on a consolidated basis for both continuing and discontinued operations. Certain costs previously allocated to the Apps Business for segment reporting purposes do not meet the criteria for classification within discontinued operations, and as such, these costs were reallocated to continuing operations. In addition, historical intercompany balances and transactions between the Company and the divested Apps Business that were eliminated in consolidation were not included in the results of either continuing or discontinued operations. Unless otherwise indicated, all references in the notes to the consolidated financial statements relate to continuing operations. See Note 3—Discontinued Operations for additional information.

Segment Reporting—Following the divestiture of the Apps Business, the Company has determined that it currently operates as a single operating and reportable segment at the consolidated level. Prior period segment results and related disclosures have been recast to conform to the current period segment presentation. See Note 14—Segment and Geographic Information for further details.

Equity Method Investments—The Company accounts for investments under the equity method when it has the ability to exercise significant influence, but not control, over the financial and operating policies of an investee, unless the fair value option is elected. Equity method investments are initially recorded at cost and subsequently adjusted for the Company’s proportionate share of the investee’s net income or loss and the amortization of basis differences resulting from the excess of the investment cost over the Company’s share of the investee’s underlying net assets. The Company records its share of the investee’s results and any related basis difference amortization one quarter in arrears in other income (expense), net in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company evaluates equity method investments for impairment on an ongoing basis and records an impairment loss when a decline in fair value below carrying value is determined to be other than temporary.

In connection with the sale of its Apps Business, the Company received 596.9 million ordinary shares of Tripledot,

representing approximately a 22% ownership interest, with an estimated fair value of $285.0 million at the acquisition date. The Company accounts for this investment under the equity method. The Company’s share of Tripledot’s income and related basis difference amortization was not material for the year ended December 31, 2025. See Note 3—Discontinued Operations and Note 15—Related Party Transactions for additional information.

Revenue from Contracts with Customers—The Company generates substantially all of its revenue from Axon Ads Manager, the Company's AI-powered advertising solution that matches advertiser demand with publisher supply of advertising inventory through auctions at vast scale and microsecond-level speeds. The Company’s performance obligation is to provide customers with access to its advertising solution, which facilitates the advertisers’ purchase of advertising inventory from publishers on an impression or action basis.

The Company does not control the advertising inventory prior to its transfer to the advertiser because it does not have the substantive ability to direct the use of, or obtain substantially all of the remaining benefits from, the advertising inventory. In addition, the Company is not primarily responsible for fulfillment. Therefore, the Company is an agent in these arrangements and presents revenue net of advertising inventory costs.

The transaction price is determined dynamically based on advertisers’ campaign goals, less consideration paid or payable to publishers. Revenue is recognized for impression-based arrangements when an ad impression is delivered; for action-based arrangements, when the specified action (such as a click or install) occurs.

The Company’s terms and conditions generally stipulate payment terms of 30 days after the end of the month. Substantially all of the Company's contracts with customers are cancelable at any time.

Revenue from other services was not material for any period presented.

The Company presents taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental authorities on a net basis.

Disaggregation of Revenue—Revenue disaggregated by geography, based on user location, consisted of the following (in thousands):


	Year Ended December 31,
	2025		2024		2023
United States	$	2,827,248	$	1,726,202	$	1,015,897
Rest of the world	2,653,469		1,497,856		825,865
Total revenue	$	5,480,717	$	3,224,058	$	1,841,762

Cash and Cash Equivalents—Cash and cash equivalents primarily consist of cash held in checking and interest-bearing deposit accounts as well as investments in money market funds. The Company classifies highly liquid investments with original maturities of 90 days or less from the date of purchase as cash equivalents.

Non-Marketable Equity Investments—Non-marketable equity securities are investments without readily determinable fair values. For investments that qualify for the net asset value (“NAV”) practical expedient, the Company estimates fair value based on their NAV. All other non-marketable equity securities are accounted for under the measurement alternative and recorded at cost, less any impairment, plus or minus changes resulting from qualifying observable price changes. An impairment loss is recognized when events or circumstances indicate a decline in value. Non-marketable equity securities are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets, and changes in carrying amount are included in other income (expense) net in the consolidated statements of operations. See Note 4—Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements for additional information.

Accounts Receivable, net—The Company records accounts receivable at the invoiced amount, net of allowance for potentially uncollectible amounts. The Company reviews accounts receivable periodically and estimates the allowance based on known troubled accounts, historical experience, and other currently available evidence. As of December 31, 2025 and 2024, the allowance for uncollectible amounts was not material.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments—The Company uses a three-tier fair value hierarchy to classify and disclose all assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as well as assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis, in periods subsequent to their initial measurement. The hierarchy requires the Company to use observable inputs when available, and to minimize the use of unobservable inputs when determining fair value. The three tiers are defined as follows:

Level 1—Observable inputs that reflect quoted prices (unadjusted) for identical assets or liabilities in active markets.

Level 2—Inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1 that are observable either directly or indirectly.

Level 3—Unobservable inputs of which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop its own assumptions.

Financial assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis include investments in money market funds and non-marketable equity securities in private equity funds measured using the NAV practical expedient. Financial assets measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis include non-marketable equity securities in privately held companies. All other financial assets

and liabilities are carried at cost, with fair value disclosed when required. Refer to Note 4—Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements and Note 9—Debt for additional information.

Concentration of Credit Risk and Uncertainties—The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, and accounts receivable. The Company maintains its cash and cash equivalents with large, reputable financial institutions in amounts that exceed Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation limits.

The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally requires no collateral for its accounts receivable. No individual customer represented 10% or more of the Company’s accounts receivable, net as of December 31, 2025 or 2024. No individual customer represented 10% or more of the Company’s total revenue during the years ended December 31, 2025, 2024, or 2023.

Property and Equipment, net—Property and equipment are stated at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which is as follows:


						Useful Life
Leasehold improvements						Over the shorter of useful life (up to 10 years) or lease term
Software and licenses						3 years
Furniture and fixtures						3-5 years
Computer equipment						3-5 years

When assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the cost and accumulated depreciation and amortization are removed from the accounts and any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations in the period realized. Maintenance and repairs are charged to operations as incurred.

Leases—Leases consist primarily of operating leases for office facilities and finance leases for servers and networking equipment. The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception. The Company accounts for lease and non-lease components as a single lease component and does not recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for leases with a term of 12 months or less. Payments under the Company's lease arrangements are primarily fixed, however, certain lease agreements contain variable payments, primarily including common-area maintenance, utilities, taxes or other operating costs, which are expensed as incurred and not included in the lease right-of-use assets and liabilities.

Operating and finance lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are recognized at the lease commencement date based on the present value of lease payments over the lease term. Lease payments consist primarily of the fixed payments under the arrangement, less any lease incentives. The Company generally uses an incremental borrowing rate estimated based on the information available at the lease commencement date or on the date of lease modification, if applicable, to determine the present value of lease payments unless the implicit rate is readily determinable. The Company estimates its incremental borrowing rate based on the rate of interest it would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis with an equal lease payment amount, over a similar term, and in a similar economic environment. Generally, the lease term is based on non-cancelable lease term when determining the lease assets and liabilities. The lease terms may include periods under options to extend or terminate the lease when it is reasonably certain that the Company will exercise that option.

Operating leases are included in operating lease right-of-use assets, operating lease liabilities, current, and operating lease liabilities, non-current on the Company's consolidated balance sheets. Finance leases are included in property and equipment, net, accrued and other current liabilities, and other non-current liabilities on the Company's consolidated balance sheets.

Operating lease costs are recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease terms. Finance lease assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease terms.

Acquisitions—The Company applies a screen test to evaluate if substantially all of the fair value of the gross assets acquired is concentrated in a single identifiable asset or a group of similar identifiable assets to determine whether a transaction is accounted for as an asset acquisition or business combination.

For transactions accounted for as business combinations, the Company allocates the fair value of acquisition consideration to the identifiable tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, except for revenue contracts acquired, which are recognized in accordance with the Company's revenue recognition policy, based on their estimated fair value, with excess recorded as goodwill. Management’s estimates of fair value are based upon assumptions believed to be reasonable, but which are inherently uncertain and unpredictable, and as a result, actual results may differ from estimates. During the measurement period, which is one year from the acquisition date, the Company may record adjustments to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed with the corresponding offset to goodwill. Upon the conclusion of the measurement period, any subsequent adjustments are recorded to earnings. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred. There were no business combinations during the years ended December 31, 2025 or 2024.

For transactions accounted for as asset acquisitions, the cost, including certain transaction costs, is allocated to the assets acquired on the basis of relative fair values. The Company generally includes contingent consideration in the cost of the assets acquired only when the uncertainty is resolved. The Company amortizes contingent consideration adjustments to the cost

of the acquired assets prospectively using the straight-line method over the remaining useful life of the assets. No goodwill is recognized in asset acquisitions. There were no asset acquisitions during the years ended December 31, 2025 or 2024.

Software Development Costs—The Company incurs development costs related to internal-use software. Development costs meet the criteria for capitalization once the preliminary project stage is complete and it is probable that the project will be completed and the software will be used to perform the function intended. Software development costs that meet the capitalization criteria were not material for any period presented.

Goodwill—The Company allocates goodwill to reporting units based on the expected benefit from the business combination. In the event of changes in reporting units, the Company reassigns goodwill using a relative fair value allocation approach. The Company tests goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level on an annual basis during the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that goodwill may be impaired. A goodwill impairment is recognized for the amount that the carrying value of the reporting unit, including goodwill, exceeds its fair value, limited to the total amount of goodwill allocated to that reporting unit. Refer to Note 3—Discontinued Operations and Note 7—Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net for additional information.

Intangible Assets—Intangible assets are carried at cost and amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives. The Company determines the appropriate useful life of its intangible assets based on their expected cash flows.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets—The Company reviews long-lived assets that are held and used for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable. If such indicators are present, the Company assesses the recoverability of the asset or asset group by comparing its carrying value to the undiscounted future cash flows expected to be generated by the asset or asset group. If the future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset or asset group, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying value of the asset or asset group exceeds its estimated fair value. Impairment related to long-lived assets that are held and used was not material for any period presented.

Stock-Based Compensation—The Company measures and recognizes stock-based compensation for share-based awards, primarily including restricted stock units ("RSUs"), performance-based RSUs (“PSUs”) with both service and market-based conditions, stock options and stock purchase rights granted under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("ESPP"), based on the grant-date fair value of the awards. The Company accounts for forfeitures for all awards as they occur.

The fair value of RSUs is based on the closing price of the Company's Class A common stock on the grant date, with stock-based compensation recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period, which is generally one or four years.

The fair value of PSUs with both service and market conditions is estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation pricing model, which incorporates various assumptions including the expected stock price volatility, the risk-free interest rate, the expected dividend yield and the discount for awards subject to post-vesting restrictions, with stock-based compensation recognized using the accelerated attribution method over the derived service period, regardless of whether the market conditions are achieved. If the market conditions are achieved earlier than the derived service period, the Company adjusts its stock-based compensation to reflect the cumulative expense associated with the vested awards.

The fair value of stock options and purchase rights granted under the ESPP is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, which incorporates various assumptions including the expected term, the expected stock price volatility, the risk-free interest rate, and the expected dividend yield, with stock-based compensation recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

Income Taxes—The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method, which requires the recognition of deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements. Under this method, the Company determines deferred tax assets and liabilities on the basis of the differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities by using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. The effect of a change in tax rates on deferred tax assets and liabilities is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.

The Company recognizes deferred tax assets to the extent that these assets are more likely than not to be realized. In making such a determination, the Company considers all available positive and negative evidence, including future reversals of existing taxable temporary differences, projected future taxable income, tax-planning strategies, and results of recent operations. If the Company determines that it would be able to realize deferred tax assets in the future in excess of their net recorded amount, an adjustment to the deferred tax asset valuation allowance would be made to reduce the provision for income taxes. The Company presents deferred tax assets and liabilities on a net basis by jurisdictional filing group. Net deferred tax assets are included in other assets, while net deferred tax liabilities are included in other non-current liabilities on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

The Company records uncertain tax positions on the basis of a two-step process in which determinations are made (1) whether it is more likely than not that the tax positions will be sustained on the basis of the technical merits of the position; and (2) for those tax positions that meet the more-likely-than-not recognition threshold, the Company recognizes the largest amount of tax benefit that is more than 50% likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement with a tax authority.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits on the income tax expense line in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. Accrued interest and penalties are included on the related tax liability line in the consolidated balance sheets.

Foreign Currency Transactions—Generally, the functional currency of the Company's international subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. In cases where the functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, the Company translates the financial statements of these subsidiaries to U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at the balance sheet date for assets and liabilities, and average exchange rates during the period for revenue and expenses. The Company records translation gains and losses in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as a component of stockholders’ equity. The Company records foreign currency transaction gains and losses from transactions denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the subsidiary involved in other income (expense), net on the Company's consolidated statements of operations.

Comprehensive Income (Loss)—Comprehensive income (loss) is composed of net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss). Other comprehensive income (loss) consists of foreign currency translation adjustments.

Net Income (Loss) Per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders—Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is computed under the two-class method required for participating securities. The Company considers options exercised by non-recourse promissory notes, early exercised unvested stock options, and common stock subject to certain share repurchase agreements to be participating securities. Under the two-class method, the net loss attributable to common stockholders is not allocated to participating securities as the holders of these instruments do not have a contractual obligation to share in the Company’s losses. Net income is attributed to common stockholders and participating securities based on their respective participation rights. Basic net income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by dividing the net income (loss) attributable to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted income (loss) per share attributable to common stockholders is computed by giving effect to all potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the period. For periods in which the Company reports net losses, diluted net loss per share attributable to common stockholders is the same as basic net loss per share attributable to common stockholders, because potentially dilutive common shares are anti-dilutive.

As the liquidation and dividend rights are identical for Class A and Class B common stock, the undistributed earnings are allocated on a proportional basis and the resulting basic and diluted EPS are the same for Class A and Class B common stock on an individual or combined basis.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Issued and Adopted)—In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2023-09, Income Taxes: Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, which requires disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The amendment may be applied prospectively or retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company adopted this ASU for the year ended December 31, 2025 and applied the new disclosure requirements on a prospective basis. For additional information, see Note 13—Income Taxes.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements (Issued and Not Yet Adopted)—In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU 2024-03, Income Statement: Reporting Comprehensive Income-Expense Disaggregation Disclosures, which requires disaggregated disclosures, in the notes to the financial statements, of certain categories of expenses that are included in expense line items on the face of the income statement. The amendments will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The amendments may be applied prospectively or retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company's disclosures.

In September 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-06, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—Internal-Use Software: Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Internal-Use Software, which provides updated recognition and disclosure framework for internal-use software costs. The amendments will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2027, and interim periods within those annual reporting periods. The amendments may be applied prospectively or retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company's disclosures.

In December 2025, the FASB issued ASU 2025-11, Interim Reporting (Topic 270): Narrow-Scope Improvements, which clarifies the applicability of the interim reporting guidance, the types of interim reporting, and the form and content of interim financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Per the FASB, the amendment does not intend to change the fundamental nature of interim reporting or expand or reduce current interim disclosure requirements but rather provide clarity and improve navigability of the existing interim reporting requirements. The amendments will be effective for interim reporting periods within annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2027. The amendments may be applied prospectively or retrospectively, and early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating this ASU to determine its impact on the Company's disclosures.