15 Best Ad Networks for Publishers (AdSense Alternatives)

Choosing from an ad network list is one of the most important decisions a publisher makes, because the right network can double your income while the wrong one wastes your traffic. This guide covers 15 of the best ad networks for publishers, grouped by tier, with a comparison table, honest notes on traffic requirements, real RPM expectations, and approval difficulty. Whether you have 1,000 visitors or a million, there is a network here that fits your stage.

Ad networks compared at a glance

Requirements and thresholds change often, so always verify the current numbers on each network’s site before applying, especially for premium networks whose entry bars move.

Premium networks: highest RPMs, highest bars

Premium networks pay the most per visitor but require substantial traffic. If you qualify, they usually beat everything else on earnings.

1. Mediavine

Mediavine is a favorite among content creators and bloggers, known for high RPMs and excellent optimization. It requires around 50,000 sessions per month and favors quality, original content in niches like food, lifestyle, and travel. Approval is selective, but publishers who get in often see a big income jump over AdSense. It handles ad setup for you and focuses on user experience, so ads perform without wrecking your site speed.

2. Raptive

Raptive, formerly AdThrive, sits at the top tier alongside Mediavine and typically requires around 100,000 page views per month. It offers premium demand, strong RPMs, and hands on support, making it a top choice for established publishers. Approval is competitive and content quality matters, but qualifying publishers report some of the best display earnings in the industry, which is why many aim for Raptive as a long term goal.

3. PubMatic

PubMatic is a programmatic platform serving larger publishers with header bidding and access to premium demand. It suits sites with significant, consistent traffic that want sophisticated, real time auction based monetization. It is less plug and play than AdSense and better suited to publishers with some technical support, but for high volume sites it can drive strong programmatic revenue that beginner networks simply cannot reach.

Mid tier networks: strong pay, moderate requirements

Mid tier networks are the sweet spot for growing sites, offering better RPMs than beginner networks with more reachable entry points.

4. Ezoic

Ezoic is popular because it has no strict traffic minimum and uses machine learning to optimize ad placements automatically. It often pays better than AdSense once its system learns your site, and it provides useful analytics. Newer sites can join and grow into higher tiers. The tradeoff is that its testing can affect layout and speed, so it needs some setup care, but the earnings lift is real for many.

5. Monumetric

Monumetric accepts sites from around 10,000 page views per month, filling the gap between beginner and premium networks. It offers managed ad placements and solid RPMs, with hands on setup. There is a setup fee for smaller sites, but the personalized service and higher earnings can be worth it for growing blogs that are not yet ready for Mediavine or Raptive.

6. Sovrn

Sovrn is an accessible network with no strict minimum that offers display ads and access to quality demand. It is a good option for small and mid sized publishers who want better fill and RPMs than a basic network, without a high entry bar. Its tools and reporting are straightforward, making it an easy addition or alternative for sites still building their traffic.

7. Setupad

Setupad uses header bidding to connect publishers with multiple demand sources at once, aiming to push RPMs higher through competition. It generally suits sites with around 50,000 monthly views. For publishers who want programmatic style earnings with managed support rather than building header bidding themselves, Setupad is a capable mid to upper tier choice worth testing against your current setup.

Beginner friendly networks: low or no barrier

These networks accept new and small sites, making them the natural starting point while you build traffic toward premium tiers.

8. Google AdSense

AdSense is where most publishers start, with no traffic minimum and a huge pool of advertisers. Setup is easy, payments are reliable, and it works on almost any site once approved. RPMs are modest compared with premium networks, but its reach and simplicity make it the default first network. Many publishers run AdSense until they qualify for something better, and it remains a solid, trustworthy option.

9. Media.net

Media.net is a strong AdSense alternative powered by the Yahoo and Bing network, specializing in contextual ads that match your content. It has no strict traffic minimum and can pay well in the right niches, particularly with English language traffic from major markets. Its contextual approach can complement or replace AdSense, and many publishers run it as a second network to compare earnings.

10. Infolinks

Infolinks offers in text and overlay ad formats that do not take up traditional banner space, making it easy to add alongside other networks. It has no traffic minimum and is simple to set up, which suits smaller sites. Earnings are modest, but because its formats differ from standard display ads, it can add incremental revenue without crowding your existing ad layout.

11. PropellerAds

PropellerAds is a high fill network with formats like push notifications, interstitials, and pop style ads, plus a very low payout threshold. It accepts almost any site and pays quickly, which appeals to publishers with international traffic. The formats can be aggressive, so use them carefully to protect user experience, but for monetizing traffic that premium networks reject, it is a practical option.

Native and specialist networks

Native networks blend ads into your content as recommendations, and specialist networks fill particular needs.

12. Taboola

Taboola is a leading native advertising network, showing content recommendation widgets usually at the end of articles. It works best for high traffic content sites and can add meaningful revenue alongside display ads. Approval favors larger publishers. The recommendation format feels editorial rather than like a banner, which some audiences respond to well, making it a useful extra income layer for established sites.

13. Outbrain

Outbrain is Taboola’s main rival in native advertising, offering similar content recommendation units for publishers with substantial traffic. It partners with many major media sites and can deliver solid native revenue. Like Taboola, it suits high volume content publishers rather than small blogs. Testing both against each other is common, since performance varies by audience and niche, and the better fit is not always obvious upfront.

14. Adsterra

Adsterra is a flexible network with many ad formats, high fill rates, and a low payout threshold, accepting sites of all sizes. It is popular for international and entertainment traffic and pays reliably. As with other high fill networks, some formats are aggressive, so balance earnings against user experience. For publishers whose traffic does not fit premium networks, Adsterra offers dependable monetization with fast payments.

15. Amazon Publisher Services

Amazon Publisher Services brings Amazon’s demand and header bidding tools to publishers, and can be combined with other networks for extra competition on your inventory. It suits sites ready for programmatic setups and can lift RPMs by adding a strong demand source to the auction. It is more technical than beginner networks, but pairing it with your main network can meaningfully increase earnings on larger sites.

Which network by traffic level

• 0 to 10,000 sessions: Start with AdSense, and test Media.net, Ezoic, or Infolinks alongside it.
• 10,000 to 50,000 sessions: Move up to Ezoic or Monumetric for higher RPMs while you grow.
• 50,000 plus sessions: Apply to Mediavine, and aim for Raptive as you cross 100,000 page views.

You can also layer a native or specialist network on top of your main display network for extra income, as long as it does not harm the user experience or slow your pages. Do not switch networks too often either, since each one needs a few weeks of data before its earnings settle and you can judge it fairly. To combine ad income with other revenue, see our guide to affiliate programs for bloggers, and protect your AdSense account by learning to check invalid traffic in AdSense.

Verdict

The best ad network depends entirely on your traffic. Beginners should start with AdSense and Media.net, growing sites should move to Ezoic or Monumetric, and established publishers should target Mediavine and Raptive for the highest earnings. Native networks like Taboola and Outbrain add income for large content sites. Whatever you choose, verify current requirements and payout terms before applying, since they change, and always weigh earnings against a clean user experience.

Frequently asked questions

Which ad network pays the most?

Premium networks like Mediavine and Raptive generally pay the highest RPMs, often well above AdSense, but they require substantial traffic to join. For high volume content sites, they usually deliver the best display earnings. Actual pay depends on your niche, audience location, and content, so the top payer for one site may differ for another.

What are the requirements for Mediavine?

Mediavine typically requires around 50,000 sessions per month, original quality content, good standing with Google, and compliance with its content policies. Exact requirements can change, so check the current criteria on Mediavine’s site before applying. Sites in niches like food, lifestyle, and travel often perform especially well on the network.

Is AdSense still worth it?

Yes, AdSense is still worth it, especially for new and small sites, because it has no traffic minimum, is easy to set up, and pays reliably. Its RPMs are lower than premium networks, so many publishers upgrade once they qualify. As a starting point and a dependable option, AdSense remains valuable for most publishers.

Can I use two ad networks together?

Yes, many publishers run more than one network, such as a display network plus a native or in text network, to maximize revenue. The key is to follow each network’s policies and avoid harming user experience or page speed. Some premium networks have exclusivity rules, so check their terms before combining them with others.

How much traffic do I need to monetize?

You can start monetizing from your very first visitors with networks like AdSense, Media.net, and Ezoic that have no traffic minimum. Earnings are small at low traffic, but they grow as you scale. Premium networks with much higher RPMs require tens of thousands of sessions, so most publishers begin small and upgrade over time.