LINE Ads stopped accepting applications for new accounts on June 30, 2026, and has been integrated into LINE Yahoo Ads. For businesses that want to start advertising on LINE now, this article explains how LINE placements work in LINE Yahoo Ads and how to get started, using the latest information for 2026.
Conclusion: LINE Ads has ended new sign-ups and merged into LINE Yahoo Ads
If you found this article by searching for "LINE Ads," here is the key point: LINE Ads has already stopped accepting new applications as a standalone service. To start advertising on LINE now, you need to apply through LINE Yahoo Ads. First, here is a timeline of the integration.
Timing | Event |
|---|---|
April 1, 2026 | LINE Ads and Yahoo! JAPAN Ads merge into a single service called LINE Yahoo Ads |
June 30, 2026 | LINE Ads stops accepting applications for new accounts |
Now | To start advertising on LINE, apply through LINE Yahoo Ads |
On April 1, 2026, LINE Ads and Yahoo! JAPAN Ads merged into a single service called LINE Yahoo Ads. Following a transition period, LINE Ads stopped accepting applications for new accounts as of June 30, 2026. At the time of writing, there is no longer a way to sign up for a new service under the name "LINE Ads." LINE Yahoo Ads is now the only entry point for businesses considering advertising on LINE.
Source: LY Corporation
The image above shows the notice on the official LINE Ads page about the integration and the transition to LINE Yahoo Ads. If you are searching for information using "LINE Ads," use the sections below to consider advertising through LINE Yahoo Ads. At the time of writing, the official page does not provide specific migration instructions for businesses that already have a LINE Ads account, so also check the FAQ below.
Much of the information online still uses the pre-integration name "LINE Ads." When looking for information, think in terms of selecting LINE delivery (Display Ads) within LINE Yahoo Ads rather than looking for a standalone LINE Ads service. This makes it easier to find what you need.
LINE placements in LINE Yahoo Ads: Display ads in the chat list
LINE Yahoo Ads offers two main options: Search Ads and programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads. Search Ads appear above non-advertising search results on Yahoo! JAPAN based on the keywords users search for. These ads are designed for Yahoo! JAPAN search results and do not appear inside the LINE app.
Programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads, meanwhile, deliver banners and videos across a range of ad placements. These include the LINE app's chat list and LINE NEWS, the Yahoo! JAPAN homepage, Yahoo! JAPAN News, Yahoo! JAPAN Transit, and major partner websites. To place ads in LINE's chat list, you need to choose programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads rather than Search Ads. LINE placements previously served through LINE Ads, such as the chat list, are now integrated into this Display Ads option.
According to the official LINE Yahoo Ads website, the service can deliver ads to a combined audience of more than 100 million people, approximately 80% of Japan's population. This is based on LINE's 100 million monthly active users as of the end of March 2026 and Yahoo! JAPAN's 54 million monthly logged-in user IDs as of the end of March 2025. Note that this figure represents the combined scale of LINE and Yahoo! JAPAN placements, not LINE placements alone.
The main creative formats are banners (still images) and videos. Users encounter ads in different contexts on a chat list, where message conversations are listed, and on content-based placements such as the Yahoo! JAPAN homepage or Yahoo! JAPAN News. Preparing creative with each placement's appearance in mind may help the ads feel more natural to users.
For an overview of LINE Yahoo Ads and details of its ad options, also see What is LINE Yahoo Ads?
What businesses should do to start advertising on LINE now
Here is the practical process businesses should understand when considering advertising on LINE for the first time. If you already have experience managing ads on other platforms, the overall flow is similar. However, understanding the ad options specific to LINE Yahoo Ads beforehand can help avoid confusion.
Find the LINE Yahoo Ads application page rather than the LINE Ads page. LINE Ads no longer accepts new standalone accounts, so complete the process through LINE Yahoo Ads.
Clarify your advertising objective. Whether you want to build brand awareness or generate store visits, purchases, or inquiries will affect your choice of ad options and placements.
Choose an ad option. If you want to include LINE placements such as the chat list, select programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads rather than Search Ads.
Prepare banner and video creative. Programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads primarily use banner and video formats.
Submit your ads and begin delivery after review.
Continually review your creative and delivery settings while checking results.
In particular, whether you prioritize LINE or Yahoo! JAPAN placements affects the number of creative assets you need and the direction of your messaging. Clarifying your delivery objectives and target audience in advance helps make creative production and ad review smoother after applying.
When preparing creative, review the LINE Ads creative requirements to help avoid having ads returned for revision after submission. For businesses that already have a LINE Ads account, the official page does not explain in detail how existing accounts will be handled at the time of writing. Check the guidance on the official LINE Yahoo Ads website or contact your ad agency or representative directly. If you do not have an internal ad operations team, it is also worth considering an ad agency or using an ad management tool such as those discussed below.
Features of LINE placements and the businesses they suit
Programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads delivered to LINE placements, such as the chat list, have several distinctive features. LINE is a widely used communication app in Japan, with 100 million monthly active users as of the end of March 2026, according to the official LINE Yahoo Ads website. A key feature is the ability to place ads in the chat list, which users open in their daily lives. Because these placements do not depend on search activity, they also make it easier to create opportunities to build awareness and interest among people who are not yet actively looking for a product or service.
Programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads that include LINE placements may be an option for the following businesses.
B2C businesses that want to build awareness among a broad audience rather than a specific age group
Businesses that want more opportunities to reach people across both Yahoo! JAPAN and LINE placements
Businesses with the resources to produce banner and video creative on an ongoing basis
Businesses that want to reach potential customers before they start searching, beyond what Search Ads alone can cover
Businesses that want to test results across different conversion objectives, such as store visits and requests for information
A distinctive strength of programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads, including LINE placements, is the ability to reach people who are not yet clearly aware of their needs or problems, as well as those who are "actively looking right now," whom Search Ads reach. This makes it easier to design a staged approach that builds awareness first and then captures demand through Search Ads.
Because LINE placements deliver ads within a communication app, clarifying how they fit into the broader range of social media advertising options can make platform selection easier.
Tips for managing LINE Yahoo Ads
When managing LINE Yahoo Ads, consider budget allocation in light of the different objectives and placement characteristics of Search Ads and programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads. Search Ads reach people who are actively searching and have an expressed need. Display Ads reach potential customers in everyday settings such as the chat list. Keeping these roles in mind helps you allocate spending efficiently. Because Display Ads run across both LINE and Yahoo! JAPAN placements, it is advisable to keep improving creative for how it appears in each placement rather than reusing a single asset everywhere. Now that the LINE Ads and Yahoo! JAPAN Ads options have been consolidated into LINE Yahoo Ads, this is also a good opportunity to review how you organize ad operations.
Businesses also running ads on other platforms, such as Google Ads and Meta Ads, face another challenge: separate interfaces and metrics can increase the workload. The integration of LINE Ads into LINE Yahoo Ads can be an opportunity to review the structure of your ad accounts and your platform mix.
Search Ads and programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads also differ in the paths that lead to results and the metrics you should track. Regularly review not only click-through and conversion rates but also differences in response by placement, and adjust budget allocation accordingly. Standardize report formats in advance so you can compare LINE Yahoo Ads figures side by side with data from Google Ads, Meta Ads, and other platforms. Metric names and units can differ by platform. A process for mapping them to common internal metrics makes decisions easier after the integration.
Another way to reduce the workload of managing multiple platforms is to use a tool such as Cascade, an AI agent for ad management. Cascade is a platform that lets you manage operations across multiple ad platforms from a single interface, including Google Ads, Meta Ads, TikTok Ads, and Search Ads and Display Ads (formerly Yahoo! JAPAN Ads). It includes AI capabilities to optimize budget allocation, generate ad creative, and create reports automatically. These features support data-based decisions while reducing the work previously done separately for each platform. For a broader explanation of using AI in ad operations, also see AI for ad management.
For a comparison of billing methods and minimum ad spend for social media advertising, including LINE Yahoo Ads, see Social media ad costs: Billing methods by platform and how to set a budget.
FAQ
Here are common questions from businesses about the integration of LINE Ads into LINE Yahoo Ads.
Are LINE Ads and LINE Yahoo Ads the same service?
On April 1, 2026, LINE Ads and Yahoo! JAPAN Ads merged into a single service called LINE Yahoo Ads. They now share one name, and LINE Yahoo Ads is the official entry point for starting to advertise on LINE. The standalone service name "LINE Ads" is no longer used for new applications. Including "LINE Yahoo Ads" in your searches can make information easier to find.
What happens to existing LINE Ads accounts?
LINE Ads stopped accepting applications for new accounts as of June 30, 2026. At the time of writing, the official page does not specify the migration schedule or detailed procedures for businesses that already have accounts. For accurate information, check the guidance on the official LINE Yahoo Ads website or contact your ad agency or representative. Make a habit of checking official primary sources before proceeding on your own assumptions.
Should I choose Search Ads or programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads?
Search Ads appear in Yahoo! JAPAN search results and are not delivered to LINE placements. Programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads deliver banners and videos to placements such as the LINE app's chat list, the Yahoo! JAPAN homepage, and major partner websites. If your goal is exposure on LINE, you need to choose programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads. Combining both options is also possible, depending on your objectives.
Summary
LINE Ads merged with Yahoo! JAPAN Ads to become LINE Yahoo Ads on April 1, 2026, and stopped accepting applications for new accounts on June 30, 2026. Businesses that want to start advertising on LINE now can reach LINE placements, such as the chat list, by applying for programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads through LINE Yahoo Ads. Start by clarifying your advertising objectives, consider whether Search Ads or programmatic (auction-based) Display Ads best suits your business, and prepare banner and video creative.
If you want to make ad operations more efficient across multiple platforms, including LINE Yahoo Ads, Cascade, an AI agent for ad management, is one option. For details on features and pricing plans, visit the official Cascade website.
