We have investigated the structure, morphology and opto-electric properties of CdO and Ag-incorporated CdO thin films prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) method. The X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) study confirms that CdO samples are highly polycrystalline with cubic structure. The AFM study shows smooth surfaces both for CdO and Ag-CdO thin films. The direct band gap energy varies from 2.25 to 2.50 eV depending on Ag content in the films. Urbach energy reversal in optical band gap indicates that several localized states are present above Fermi level or near at the conduction band. The optical properties, such as refractive index, optical conductivity and nonlinear optical susceptibility, are found dependent on Ag content. A combined effect on the transport properties has been observed with the incorporation of Ag in CdO. The metal-like electric conduction of CdO film has been removed up to a temperature T c for Ag doping. The n-type carrier concentration of CdO is reduced with increasing Ag content and the concentration is of the order of ~ 10 20 cm −3 .