AdSense, Ezoic, Mediavine, Raptive, Adsterra — I've run most of them. Here's the honest RPM comparison, the traffic you need to qualify, and how to choose.
Updated July 2, 2026 5 min read
For most bloggers, the right ad network depends entirely on your traffic level. Under ~50,000 sessions, start with AdSense or Ezoic (or Adsterra for instant approval). Once you hit 50,000 monthly sessions, Mediavine typically doubles or triples your RPM. At 100,000+ pageviews, Raptive (formerly AdThrive) is worth comparing. The single biggest factor in your earnings isn't the network — it's your niche and where your readers live.
I've run display ads on several sites over the years, across most major networks. Ad income is the most "set and forget" monetization there is once it's live — but choosing the wrong network (or joining a premium one before you qualify) costs real money. Here's the unglamorous, numbers-first breakdown.
Before you switch networks chasing a higher RPM, run the math on your actual pageviews. Our free blog income calculator shows what a change from, say, $6 to $18 RPM means for your traffic — it's often the difference between a hobby and a real income.
RPM = revenue per 1,000 pageviews (or sessions, depending on the network). It bundles ad rates, fill, viewability and layout into one comparable figure. When someone says "I make $X from ads," RPM is how you translate that to your traffic. Two blogs with identical traffic can earn 5x differently purely on niche and network — which is exactly why RPM, not total dollars, is the honest comparison. We go deeper on squeezing it higher in our RPM guides.
Threshold: none. Realistic RPM: low, often $2–$8.
AdSense is where almost everyone begins. Approval can be strict on thin content, but there's no traffic minimum. It's reliable and pays on time. The ceiling is low because it doesn't optimize placements aggressively — but as a first step while you build traffic, it's fine.
Threshold: effectively none. Realistic RPM: low, varies by format.
Adsterra approves new sites instantly, which makes it useful before you qualify for anything better. My advice: stick to banner and native formats and avoid pop-unders and social-bar ads — they hurt dwell time and can get your pins rejected on Pinterest. Treat it as a starter, not a destination.
Threshold: effectively works from low traffic. Realistic RPM: usually beats AdSense once its machine-learning optimization settles in.
Ezoic sits between AdSense and the premium networks. It tests placements automatically, and after a few weeks of learning, most sites see a meaningful RPM lift over raw AdSense. The trade-off is that aggressive ad density can slow your site, so watch your Core Web Vitals.
Threshold: 50,000 monthly sessions. Realistic RPM: often $15–$40+ depending on niche.
Hitting Mediavine is a milestone. For most bloggers it's the moment ad income becomes serious. It requires exclusivity and good site quality, but the RPM jump from an entry network is frequently 2–3x. If you're near the threshold, this is the goal to aim at.
Threshold: 100,000 monthly pageviews. Realistic RPM: premium, comparable to or above Mediavine in many niches.
Raptive plays in the same premium league. At this traffic level, compare it against Mediavine for your specific niche — both are excellent, and the winner varies.
Here's the simple decision tree I'd give a new blogger:
Don't let ad density wreck your user experience. A page smothered in ads earns more per view in the short term but tanks dwell time, rankings, and repeat visitors. Google's page-experience signals are real. Balance income against a reader actually enjoying your site.
Ads are wonderful because they're passive — but for most niches they are not the highest-earning monetization. On my sites, well-placed affiliate links (see best affiliate programs) and digital products often out-earned display ads per visitor, without the page-speed cost. The winning strategy is usually a stack: ads for baseline passive income, affiliates and products for the upside.
And none of it matters without traffic. If you're not yet at the thresholds above, your time is better spent there. Two of the most reliable free-traffic engines are search and Pinterest — start with our Pinterest SEO guide and keyword research basics.
Pick the best network your traffic qualifies for today, keep the reading experience clean, and graduate up the tiers as you grow. Then remember that ads are the floor of your income, not the ceiling — the ceiling is what you build on top with affiliates and products.
Next: learn how to lift the number that decides it all in our RPM guides, or model your own numbers with the free blog income calculator.
It varies wildly by niche and network. On entry-level networks, $3–$8 RPM is common. On premium networks like Mediavine or Raptive, finance and money niches can see $20–$40+ RPM. Your niche matters more than the network.
AdSense and Adsterra have no minimum. Ezoic effectively works from low traffic. Mediavine requires 50,000 monthly sessions and Raptive requires 100,000 monthly pageviews. Start low and graduate up.
For sites that qualify, premium networks (Mediavine, Raptive) consistently pay the highest RPMs. But you need the traffic threshold first. Below that, Ezoic usually beats AdSense once its optimization kicks in.
Generally no — most premium networks require exclusivity on display ads. You can combine display ads with non-display monetization like affiliates, which is where the real money often is.
Adsterra approves almost any site instantly and is useful on day one, but RPMs are lower and some formats hurt user experience. I use it as a starter, then graduate to higher-paying networks.
