7 Best Ad Networks for Bloggers

The saying “there’s light at the end of the tunnel”, is literally how bloggers feel when they finally get to reap the food of their labor.

One way to earn substantial income from your blog is by joining ad networks.

Ad networks are platforms that connect businesses that want to run advertisements with websites & blogs that wish to host them.

There are many ad networks out there but we’ll focus on the 7 best ad networks that are worth your time and effort.
We’ll look at their individual pros, and cons, payment models, minimum payout thresholds, and traffic requirements.

Let’s begin.

How Ad Networks Work

Ad networks are essentially a middleman between advertisers and publishers.

Advertisers pay ad networks to display their ads and publishers sign up with the ad network to display those ads on their websites.

The Ad networks pay the publishes based on the various payment models we’ll discuss shortly and keep a certain small fraction for themselves.

There are several ad terms and different payment models that ad networks use such as:

– CPM (cost per mille): In the advertisement industry, Mille means a thousand, so CPM can be interpreted as cost per thousand impressions.

The CPM model pays publishers a set amount for every thousand ad impressions.

– CPC (cost per click): This model pays publishers each time a visitor clicks on an ad.

– CPA (cost per action): This model pays publishers when a visitor takes a specific action after clicking on an ad, such as making a purchase or filling out a form.

– CPI (cost per install): This model pays publishers when a visitor installs an app after clicking on an ad.

– CPL (cost per lead): This model pays publishers when a visitor clicks on an ad and then submits their contact information, such as their email address.

– RPM (revenue per thousand impressions): While CPC is the cost per thousand impressions, RPM is your actual total revenue after revenue share.

– EPMV (earning per thousand visits): This is how much money you earn for every 1000 visits to your website.

EPMV automatically takes into account the impact of your ads on bounce rate and page views per visit. If the bounce rate goes up, or pv/v goes down, then this is reflected in the EPMV.

With this aside, let’s hop on the 7 best Ad networks for bloggers.

Best Ad Networks for Publishers

1. Ezoic

Ezoic is a unique ad network that uses machine learning to optimize your ad placements and maximize your earnings.

It offers a range of ad types like display ads, native ads, and video ads providing one of the best flexible advertising options for publishers.

As a Google Certified Publishing Partner, Ezoic offers several features like site speed optimization, and mobile optimization, which can improve your blog’s overall performance.

Ezoic is a popular ad network that uses artificial intelligence to optimize ad placement and maximize revenue for publishers.

Ezoic offers a variety of ad formats, and it’s known for its excellent customer support.

Pros:

• Uses machine learning to optimize ad placements and maximize earnings
• Offers varieties of ad formats
• Publishers have full control over their ads and monetization
• Good payment rates
• Ezoic gives publishers access to top-rated ad partners.
• Data-driven insights
• Suitable for users of all levels
• Fully automated solutions
• Offers timely payments through several payment methods like PayPal, Payoneer, and wire transfer
• No strict traffic requirements, anyone can join Ezoic.
• Multiple payment options.

Cons:

• It can be a slightly difficult learning curve for beginners.

Ezoic Joining Requirement

No strict traffic requirements, free for all.

Ezoic Payment Methods

Ezoic makes payments to publishers through the following methods:

• Check
• Bank transfer with Wise
• Paypal
• Direct Deposit
  International Wire Transfer via Payoneer

Ezoic’s Minimum Payout Threshold

$20

My Take on Ezoic

I’d say Ezoic is like a blessing to bloggers because they’ve made it easy for newbies to earn from their blogs.
It has not always been this way. In the past, publishers needed a minimum of 10k monthly visits to get into Ezoic.

Now, the restriction has been removed and anyone regardless of their traffic size can hop into Ezoic.

However, growing sites with less than 10,000 monthly pageviews will first have to sign-up for the Ezoic Access Now program.

2. Mediavine

Mediavine is a full-service ad management partner with a broad user base and quality ad placement techniques.

Unlike Ezoic, not every blogger can get into Mediavine as you’d need a minimum of 50,000 monthly sessions in the last 30 days to join the platform.

Despite the high requirement, Mediavine has won the heart of many bloggers mostly due to its robust community, easy-to-use interface, high RPMs, and top-tier advertisers.

Another factor distinguishing Mediavine from other ad networks is its impeccable revenue-sharing system, where a publisher gets at least 75% (The highest compared to other Ad networks).

Pros

• High earning capacity
• offers various ad formats, including display, video, and native ads, allowing bloggers to monetize their content effectively.
• Provides detailed reporting and analytics, giving website owners valuable insights into their ad performance.
• Transparency in report and analytics
• User-friendly dashboard
• Resourceful community.

Cons

• High minimum session requirement
• Prohibits other ads on your site

Mediavine Joining Requirement

• 50,000 sessions in the previous 30 days (per Google Analytics)
• Good standing with Google AdSense
• Original content in ANY niche as a lifestyle publisher
• Long-form, engaging content

 Mediavine Payment Methods

Minimum Payment Threshold

– $25 minimum payout across all Mediavine payment methods except for ACH-International with a minimum payout of $200.

My Take on MediaVine

Not all bloggers make it to Mediavine, some quit blogging without hitting such milestones.

If you’re a new blogger then one of your major goals should be to make it to Mediavine.

Not until you such high milestones, you haven’t really enjoyed the benefits of blogging.
There are 2 things I like about Mediavine.

The first one is the Mediavine Facebook group, only accessible to Mediavine members.

 This group consists of 6,000+ other Mediavine publishers all sharing ideas, asking questions and growing together.

If you have any site issues and you share them on the group, there’s always someone out there who may have experienced the same issues that you are having and can help out.

The second is the Mediavine support team, they are 100% active and quick to respond to your query.

Mediavine is indeed a good place to be.

If you’re just starting out, you should understand that you don’t just wake up to 50k sessions on a new blog.
So I’d encourage you to not give up and keep going. It might take you months or 1-2 years but if you keep doing things right, you’d certainly get there.

3. Google Adsense

Almost all blogger knows Google Adsense or has heard of it.

This is because Adsense is a Google-owned Ad network making it one of the most popular ad networks for bloggers.
It’s easy to join and offers a wide range of ad formats, including display ads, text ads, and link units.
You can customize the look and feel of the ads to match your blog’s design.

AdSense pays on a CPC basis and has a minimum payout threshold of $100. There are no traffic requirements to join AdSense.

Pros

• No traffic requirement
• Broad customization option
• Auto ads make it more flexible
• Easy partnership requirements
• Multiple ad formats and quality ad units
• Provides analytics for traffic
• Effortless payments

Cons

• A $100 minimum payment threshold might be too much for publishers that have just started out
• Google AdSense ads may affect your site speed
• AdSense provides very limited human support
• Configuring analytics could be challenging for new users.

Google Adsense Eligibility Requirement

• No traffic requirements
• Your content must be high-quality, original, and attract an audience.
• Your content complies with the AdSense Program policies
• You must be at least 18 years old.

Google Adsense Payment Methods

• Google Adsense users are able to choose from any of the following payment methods:
  Cheque
• Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)
• Bank Transfer

Minimum Payment Threshold

Each country has its own payment threshold. For the United States, you need to accrue $100 in AdSense earnings to meet the threshold and get paid.

Here is more information regarding other countries.

My Verdict on Google Adsense

Back then, getting accepted into Google Adsense was one of the earliest motivations of every blogger right before the birth of other Ad networks.
If you’re new to blogging, I’d advise you not to join Google Adsense, join Ezoic instead.

Unlike Google Adsense which pays you per click (CPC), Ezoic actually pays you every time a reader sees an Ad on your website without them having to click the Ad.

As a result, EPVM (earnings per thousand visits) is much better with Ezoic compared to Google Adsense.

There are many recorded cases of publishers increasing their earnings by 300% – 500% just by moving from Google Adsense to Ezoic.

4. AdThrive

AdThrive is a premium ad network and is often seen by bloggers as the “Holy Grail” of ad networks due to its high CPM rates and personalized support.

AdThrive offers a range of ad formats, including display ads, native ads, and video ads.

They also have strict policies on ad placement and content to ensure a high-quality user experience.

They also provide an excellent user experience, ensuring that ads are not intrusive or disruptive to website visitors.

With an incredible 75% payout to publishers, it’s no wonder this is one of the best platforms for onsite advertisements on the market today.

However, Adthrive may not be the best AdSense alternative for newcomers as you need to have a minimum of 100,000 monthly visitors, the majority of which are from the U.S., before you can be eligible to join.

Pros

• High earning potential
• AdThrive offers excellent customer service and support to publishers.
• The highest display and video monetization incentivizes ad optimization
• Premium ad units designed to be more visually appealing and engaging.
• Advanced proprietary technology
• Google Certified Publishing Partner (GCPP)
• Get paid whether advertisers pay or not

Cons

• AdThrive has a high traffic requirement, with a minimum of 100,000 pageviews per month required to join the network.
• They require exclusivity, meaning that you cannot run other ads on your website if you use AdThrive.

AdThrive Eligibility

• Google Analytics installed with a minimum of 100,000 monthly pageviews
• Majority of traffic from US, CA, UK, AU or NZ
• Unique, original content that engages the audience and is a great fit for advertisers

AdThrive Payment Methods

AdThrive Minimum Payment Threshold

AdThrive has a minimum payment threshold of $25. This means that even if you’re brand new to AdThrive you should receive a payout on your first month.

5. Monumetric

Formerly known as The Blogger Network, Monumetric is a blog-focused ad network that offers one of the best ways for publishers to monetize their blogs with advertising space.

Unlike networks like AdSense, where they display static ads, Monumetric is dynamic.

They also offer various types of ad units such as banner ads, videos, and in-text ads depending on the user’s browsing behavior.

This is different from other networks that only serve one ad per session, resulting in lower click-through rates (CTRs).

However, to join Monumetric, you need to have at least 10,000 page views per month and pay a one-time setup fee of $99.

Although this fee may seem high, it is a better option compared to AdSense and Ezoic, and it is the closest you can get to Mediavine if you have less than 50,000 monthly sessions.

Pros

• It’s a dynamic network that customizes ad units based on the audience
• High earning potential
• Full-service ad revenue platform
• Dedicated monetization and data teams
• Custom dashboard displays to measure results and growth
• They handle the ad setup for you
• Wide variety of ads

Cons

• $99 set-up fee for websites with fewer than 80,000 monthly visitors
• The platform pays on net60 terms (one month plus 60 days)
• Revenue doesn’t reflect on your dashboard until the next day

Monumetric Eligibility Requirement

Here’s an overview of their requirements:

• Minimum of 10,000 monthly pageviews
• Must be a WordPress or Blogger site – Learn more about blog platforms here
• The sidebar must be at least 300px wide
• The site must be approved by major ad providers
• Minimum 50% traffic from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
• Must be willing to pay the $99 one-time implementation fee.

Monumetric Payment Method

• Paypal
• Bank Transfer

Monumetric Minimum Payment Threshold

A low minimum payout of $10

6. Media.net

Media.Net is one of the internet’s largest and most popular Contextual Ad networks.

Unlike other networks that will serve ads based on what the audience likes, these kinds of ads are typically related to the content on your website.

Media.net is powered by Yahoo and Bing, which are excellent alternative sources of traffic used by a wide range of advertisers.

Also, Media.Net has no traffic requirement, making monetization easy for small blogs.

The advertising network offers PPC (pay per click) payment model and a compelling dashboard designed to make it easy for you to keep track of your ad analytics.

Pros

• Large Ad inventory
• Excellent customer support
• Best RPMs for contextual ads
• The network pays monthly
• Offers prompt customer support
• Choose from a variety of flexible ad options
• A massive pool of global advertisers

Cons

• The platform doesn’t update revenue in real-time
• It only works with web traffic from the US, Canada, and U.K.
• Visitors have to double-click ads
• High payout threshold

Media.net Eligibility Requirement

Here’s an overview of their requirements:

• Your content needs to be in native English
• The majority of the traffic source needs to come from the US, UK, and Canada
• A significant amount of premium content needs to be featured on the website
• There are no strict requirements for the number of visitors, but more traffic will likely lead to quicker approval

Media.net Payment Method

• Wire transfer
• Paypal

Media.net Minimum Payment Threshold

The minimum threshold is $100.

7. Adsterra

Adsterra is a fast-growing advertising platform that serves an impressive number of large brands. The platform offers innovative and aggressive ad formats that can compete with Google AdSense.

Adsterra is user-friendly and provides excellent solutions for both advertisers and publishers looking for more effective alternatives to traditional ad networks.

Pros

• Multiple ad formats
• Self-serve platform
• Powerful in-house and 3rd-party fraud detection systems
• Publishers and advertisers get dedicated account managers
• The platform has a wide variety of high-converting formats for your ads

Cons

• No chat support
• High payout threshold for wire transfer

Adsterra Eligibility Requirement

• Your site must have a minimum of 5,000 website visitors for pop-unders.
• To qualify for banner displays your site must have a minimum of 50,000 impressions per month.

Adsterra Payment Methods

Adsterra offers two types of payment options.

The first one includes payment methods that almost immediately refill your balance. They are called instant payment methods and you may check them below with their minimum deposit amounts and fees listed.

• Paxum – $100, fee – $1
• UnionPay, Visa and Mastercard – $100, fee 3.15% + €0.25

The second type is the payment method on request.

• Wire Transfer – $1000, no fixed fee
• Capitalist – $100, no fee

Adsterra Minimum Payment Threshold

The minimum payout sum is:

• $5 for WebMoney and Paxum
• $100 for Bitcoin, PayPal and Tether
• $1000 for Wire transfer.

I’ve created a complete guide on starting a blog, you can see it here:
How to Start a Profitable Blog: A Detailed Step-By-Step Guide

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

– Which Ad Network Pays the Best?

Mediavine and Adthrive are the best-paying Ad networks.

Bloggers can earn anywhere between $35 – $55 per 1,000 visits using any of the two platforms.

– What Are the Top Five Ad Networks for Bloggers?

The top 5 ad networks for bloggers to consider:

• Ezoic
• Mediavine
• Media.Net
• Google Adsense
• AdThrive

– Which Is the Best Contextual  Ad Network for Bloggers?

Media.net remains the best contextual ad network on the internet. It’s also relatively easy to join.

– How Do I Choose the Best Ad Network

To choose the best ad network, you’ll have to consider factors such as your blog niche, traffic requirements, payment payout, and other necessary criteria that best suit your current stance.

– Can I use multiple ad networks on my blog

Yes, you can. However, it’s important to know that some ad networks don’t permit it.

Also, keep in mind that too many ads can negatively impact user experience and slow down your site.

Even if your chosen Ad network permits, It’s not ideal to use more than 2 ad networks.

– How much money can I make with ad networks?

The amount of money you can make with ad networks depends on a variety of factors, including the type of ads you display, the amount of traffic your site receives, and your audience demographics.

It’s best to experiment with different ad networks and ad types to see what works best for your blog.

– Can I use ad networks if my blog is new?

Most ad networks require a minimum amount of traffic before they will accept your site.

However, some networks, such as Ezoic, have no traffic requirements.

It’s important to focus on building your audience and creating high-quality content before applying to ad networks.

– What is the best ad network for small blogs?

Ezoic is a great option for small blogs, as there are no traffic requirements and it’s easy to set up.

– Can I control which ads are displayed on my blog?

Most ad networks offer some level of ad control, allowing you to block certain types of ads or specific advertisers.

However, keep in mind that too much ad blocking can negatively impact your earnings.

Final Thoughts on Best Ad Networks

Choosing the right ad network for your blog depends on your traffic, niche, and personal preferences.

Before choosing an ad network, it’s essential to consider the pros and cons of each option, check their requirements and determine which one aligns with your blog’s goals and values.

If you’re a new blogger with an appreciable amount of traffic then start with Ezoic but don’t feel relaxed yet, aim to get into Ad network like Mediavine and when you do, start working towards growing your blog to a minimum of 100k visits per month to step into the “holy grail”, Adthrive.

Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day. Same way growing a blog takes time and dedication, try not to get overwhelmed.

If you have about 5k visits per month, don’t bother much about monetization as the incentive will be pretty low.

At this level, it’s best to focus on building your blog rapidly to about 10k visits then you can apply for monetization afterward.

If you wish to grow and monetize your blog the right way, then keep an eye on this site; Website Hurdles as we take you through everything you need to know to become a successful blogger.

Till we meet again on another helpful article, happy blogging.