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📊 Ad network comparison

Which ad network actually pays you more?

Compare estimated earnings, CPM and effective RPM across AdSense, Ezoic, Mediavine, Adsterra, Monetag and more — for your exact traffic, country tier, niche and ad format.

Short answer: there’s no single best-paying ad network — it depends on your traffic. If most of your readers are in Tier-1 countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia) reading content-style pages, a display network like AdSense, Ezoic or a premium managed network (Mediavine, Raptive) usually wins. If your traffic is Tier-2/Tier-3 or entertainment-heavy, multi-format networks like Adsterra and Monetag typically earn more because their popunder and push demand fills where display can’t. The smartest publishers stack both.

In short: Tier-1 content → display/premium. Tier-2/3 or entertainment → multi-format. Growing fast → stack a clean display network with a multi-format one.

Monthly pageviews100,000
Traffic GEO tier
Ad format

Best fit for your setup

Ezoic

Est. monthly earnings

$1,200 – $4,000

NetworkCPM usedEffective RPMEst. monthly range
Ezoic BEST FIT$12 – $40$26$1,200 – $4,000
Google AdSense $8 – $30$19$800 – $3,000
Adsterra $2 – $12$7$200 – $1,200
Monetag $2 – $10$6$200 – $1,000
PropellerAds $1.8 – $10$5.9$180 – $1,000
For Tier 1 display banner traffic, Ezoic leads here — and premium managed networks (Mediavine at ~50k sessions, Raptive at ~100k pageviews) can push this meaningfully higher once you qualify. Until then, an AdSense + Ezoic combo is the realistic stack.

Estimates only — real CPM depends on niche, season, placement and traffic quality. Effective RPM is revenue per 1,000 pageviews (what you actually take home), not per 1,000 ad impressions. AdSense/Ezoic don’t run popunder/push; multi-format networks (Adsterra, Monetag, PropellerAds) shine there. Many publishers run a display network plus a multi-format one together.

Profiles

Ad network profiles compared

Approval difficulty, traffic minimums, payout thresholds, terms, formats and honest pros & cons for each network.

Google AdSense

Displaystrict approval

The default starting point — trusted, clean, but you plateau at its base rates until you add mediation or move to a premium network.

Min traffic

No traffic minimum, but strict content approval

Payout

$100

Terms

Paid ~21st of the following month (Net-30-ish)

Best for

New and mid-size content sites that want the safest, cleanest ads

Ezoic

Mediationeasy approval

A smart mediation layer that A/B tests placements for you — usually lifts RPM over raw AdSense once you have steady traffic.

Min traffic

No minimum (Access Now tier); better results at scale

Payout

$20

Terms

Net-30

Best for

Sites already on AdSense that want higher RPM through testing

Mediavine

Premiumstrict approval

One of the highest-RPM managed networks — the goal most bloggers grow toward, but you need real, mostly Tier-1 traffic to qualify.

Min traffic

~50,000 sessions/month (Journey program lower)

Payout

$25

Terms

Net-65

Best for

Established content creators (recipes, lifestyle, travel) at scale

Raptive (AdThrive)

Premiumstrict approval

Top-of-market managed RPMs with a 100k-pageview bar — where large content sites land once they outgrow Mediavine's entry point.

Min traffic

~100,000 pageviews/month

Payout

$25

Terms

Net-45

Best for

High-traffic US publishers wanting top-tier managed RPM

Media.net

Displaymoderate approval

The classic AdSense alternative powered by Yahoo/Bing contextual demand — decent for US/UK traffic, weaker outside Tier-1.

Min traffic

No hard minimum; quality content required

Payout

$100

Terms

Net-30

Best for

English, Tier-1 sites wanting an AdSense alternative or backup

Adsterra

Multi-formateasy approval

A workhorse multi-format network — fast approval, low payout, and it monetizes the Tier-3 traffic display networks ignore.

Min traffic

None

Payout

$5 (varies by method)

Terms

Net-15 (bi-weekly)

Best for

Any-GEO sites, including Tier-2/3 traffic AdSense underpays

Monetag

Multi-formateasy approval

Formerly PropellerAds' publisher arm — reliable multi-format monetization with strong push and onclick demand worldwide.

Min traffic

None

Payout

$5

Terms

Net-15 (bi-weekly)

Best for

Sites monetizing global/Tier-3 traffic and push subscribers

PropellerAds

Multi-formateasy approval

A long-standing multi-format network with deep push and popunder demand — dependable for large, mixed-GEO audiences.

Min traffic

None

Payout

$5

Terms

Net-15 (varies by volume)

Best for

High-volume global traffic and arbitrage-style monetization

HilltopAds

Multi-formateasy approval

A lesser-known but fast-paying multi-format option — good complementary demand for popunder-friendly, high-volume niches.

Min traffic

None

Payout

$10 (auto), $50 (some methods)

Terms

Net-7 to Net-15

Best for

Entertainment, streaming and high-volume Tier-2/3 traffic

Adcash

Multi-formateasy approval

A stable European multi-format network with anti-adblock tech — useful as a secondary partner to lift overall fill.

Min traffic

None

Payout

$25

Terms

Net-30 (bi-weekly available)

Best for

Global sites wanting an extra multi-format demand source

Facts like payout thresholds and terms change — always confirm on each network’s official site before signing up. Listing here isn’t an endorsement, and figures are for planning only.

CPM rates by country

Rough display & popunder CPM ranges by country and tier — search for yours.

CountryTierDisplay CPMPopunder CPM
United StatesTier 1$5 – $15$2 – $8
United KingdomTier 1$4 – $12$1.5 – $6
CanadaTier 1$4 – $12$1.5 – $6
AustraliaTier 1$4 – $11$1.5 – $6
GermanyTier 1$3.5 – $10$1.4 – $5.5
NorwayTier 1$4 – $12$1.6 – $6
SpainTier 2$1.5 – $5$0.8 – $3.5
ItalyTier 2$1.5 – $5$0.8 – $3.5
BrazilTier 2$1 – $4$0.6 – $3
MexicoTier 2$1 – $4$0.6 – $3
UAETier 2$2 – $6$1 – $4
PolandTier 2$1.2 – $4.5$0.7 – $3
IndiaTier 3$0.5 – $2$0.4 – $1.8
PakistanTier 3$0.4 – $1.6$0.3 – $1.5
BangladeshTier 3$0.4 – $1.6$0.3 – $1.5
NigeriaTier 3$0.4 – $1.5$0.3 – $1.4
IndonesiaTier 3$0.5 – $1.8$0.3 – $1.6
PhilippinesTier 3$0.5 – $1.9$0.3 – $1.6

Rough industry ranges (USD per 1,000 impressions) for planning only — actual CPM varies by niche, season and traffic quality.

How to actually read these numbers

The first mistake I made years ago was chasing the biggest CPM number I could find. CPM is what an advertiser pays per thousand impressions — but you don’t bank impressions, you bank pageviews. That’s why the calculator shows effective RPM: revenue per thousand pageviews, after the messy real-world stuff like fill rate and how many ad slots you run. When you compare networks, compare RPM. A network with a lower headline CPM but better fill can quietly out-earn a flashier one.

If you want the deeper breakdown with real examples, I wrote a full comparison of Adsterra vs Monetag vs AdSense CPMs, and a roundup of the best AdSense alternatives for low-traffic sites.

Display vs multi-format — which fits you

Display networks (AdSense, Ezoic, Media.net) and premium managed networks (Mediavine, Raptive) keep the reading experience clean, which is why they pay best on Tier-1 content traffic where advertisers compete hard for attention. Multi-format networks (Adsterra, Monetag, PropellerAds) add popunder, push and social-bar demand. Those formats are more aggressive, but they’re often the only way to earn real money from Tier-2/Tier-3 or entertainment traffic that display networks barely value.

Not sure whether ads are even your best money method? Run the monetization advisor, or browse every network and platform in the networks directory. If you’re still weighing revenue models, this breakdown of ads vs affiliate vs CPA vs products is worth ten minutes.

Can you run two networks at once?

Yes — and past a certain point you probably should. The reliable play is one clean display network for reader trust plus one multi-format network to monetize what display leaves on the table. There’s one hard rule: never run popunder or onclick ads on the same pages as AdSense. It breaks AdSense policy and the bans are usually permanent. Keep them on separate pages, or keep AdSense off the pages where you run aggressive formats.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Does AdSense or Adsterra pay more?
It depends on your traffic. For Tier-1 (US/UK/CA/AU) content-style traffic on display ads, AdSense usually pays more per visitor. For Tier-2/Tier-3 traffic or entertainment/streaming audiences, Adsterra’s popunder and social-bar formats often earn more because AdSense demand is thin there. Many publishers run both — AdSense for clean display, Adsterra to monetize the rest.
What is a realistic CPM for Tier-3 traffic?
Rough display CPMs for Tier-3 countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Indonesia) sit around $0.30–$2.00, while popunder can run $0.30–$2.00 as well. Multi-format networks like Adsterra, Monetag and PropellerAds tend to monetize this traffic better than pure display networks. Use the calculator above to see ranges for your exact niche and format.
Can I run two ad networks at the same time?
Yes, and most serious publishers do. The common stack is one clean display network (AdSense or a managed network) plus one multi-format network (Adsterra/Monetag) to capture traffic display can’t monetize. The one rule: don’t run popunder/onclick ads on the same pages as AdSense — it violates AdSense policy and can get you banned.
What is the difference between CPM and RPM?
CPM is what advertisers pay per 1,000 ad impressions. RPM (page RPM) is what you actually earn per 1,000 pageviews after fill rate, viewability and the number of ad slots. RPM is the number that matters for your income — the calculator shows effective RPM so you can compare networks on a like-for-like basis.
Which ad network is best for a new blog with low traffic?
With little traffic and no minimums, AdSense (if approved), Ezoic’s Access Now tier, or a multi-format network like Adsterra/Monetag are the realistic starting points. Premium managed networks — Mediavine (~50k sessions) and Raptive (~100k pageviews) — pay far more but require real traffic first, so treat them as a growth goal.
How much traffic do I need for Mediavine or Raptive?
Mediavine generally requires about 50,000 sessions per month (its Journey program is lower), and Raptive (formerly AdThrive) requires roughly 100,000 pageviews per month, with a majority Tier-1 audience. Below those thresholds, an AdSense + Ezoic stack is the usual bridge.
Are these earnings estimates guaranteed?
No. Every figure here is a rough planning range, not a promise. Real earnings depend on niche, season, ad placement, viewability, traffic quality and how many ad slots you run. We publish ranges rather than fake screenshots so you can plan honestly.
What ad formats earn the most?
For Tier-1 content sites, well-placed display and native ads earn the most while keeping readers happy. For global or entertainment traffic, popunder and push formats often earn the highest CPM but hurt user experience, so use them deliberately. The calculator lets you compare formats side by side for your setup.