Google AdSense isn’t your only option for making money from your website. Better alternatives include Mediavine, AdThrive, Ezoic, Propeller Ads, and several others. Each has different approval requirements, payment rates, and features. The best choice depends on your traffic volume, niche, and how much control you want over ad placement.
Why Look Beyond Google AdSense?
Many website owners hit limitations with AdSense. Maybe you got rejected. Maybe your earnings feel too low. Maybe you want more control over which ads appear on your site.
The reality is simple: AdSense works well for some people and not at all for others. If you’re in the second group, you have real alternatives. They’re not all harder to get approved for. Some actually pay better rates.
This guide walks you through your actual options. No fluff. Just honest information about what works, what doesn’t, and how to pick the right platform for your situation.
Understanding Ad Network Types
Before diving into specific platforms, understand how ad networks actually work.
Ad networks fall into three categories.
Display Ad Networks
These show banner ads, sidebar ads, and in-content ads across your pages. Google AdSense is the most famous example. They’re easy to install and require minimal effort after setup.
The tradeoff: earnings per thousand impressions (called CPM) tend to be lower. You have less control over advertiser selection.
Native Ad Networks
These blend ads with your content. The ads look like part of your site rather than obvious advertisements. Readers engage with them more naturally.
Examples include Taboola and Outbrain. These typically pay better than display networks but require more integration work.
Premium Ad Networks
These require significant traffic to join. They assign you a dedicated account manager. You get better rates because you’re a larger publisher.
Mediavine and AdThrive fall here. They have strict approval requirements but offer higher earnings and more control.
Top Alternatives to Google AdSense
Mediavine
Mediavine serves advertisers directly to your site. No middleman between you and the brands paying to advertise.
Who should use it: Websites with at least 25,000 monthly sessions. Content sites, blogs, news publishers, lifestyle sites.
How it works: Mediavine places their code on your site. They handle all advertiser relationships. You earn from the ads that display.
Payment rates: CPM averages $15 to $25, sometimes higher. This is significantly better than AdSense for most niches.
Approval process: They review your site for quality and traffic. Content must be original. No adult content, gambling, or illegal material. The approval takes 1 to 2 weeks typically.
Best for: Established blogs with consistent traffic in health, finance, lifestyle, or news.
Real advantage: Direct access to premium advertisers. Better reporting. Faster payment processing.
Drawback: High traffic requirement keeps smaller sites out.
AdThrive
AdThrive is Mediavine’s primary competitor in the premium space.
Who should use it: Sites with 100,000+ monthly pageviews. Food blogs, parenting sites, lifestyle publishers.
Payment rates: Similar to Mediavine, typically $15 to $25+ CPM.
Approval requirements: Higher traffic threshold than Mediavine. They’re very selective about content quality. No thin content. No copying.
Features: Responsive ads that work on mobile and desktop. Advanced ad placement optimization. Support for header bidding.
Best for: Food bloggers, parenting writers, lifestyle publishers with solid traffic.
Real advantage: Excellent customer support. Dedicated account managers for all publishers.
Drawback: Even higher traffic requirement than Mediavine.
Ezoic
Ezoic uses artificial intelligence to optimize ad placement and types automatically.
Who should use it: Sites with 10,000+ monthly sessions. Any niche. Any content type.
How it works: Ezoic wraps around your existing ad setup. Their AI tests different ad placements and formats. The system learns what works best on your specific site.
Payment rates: Varies widely based on content and traffic. Generally $3 to $10 CPM, but can reach higher with optimization.
Approval process: Less strict than Mediavine or AdThrive. Most sites get approved quickly.
Best for: Sites experimenting with monetization. Publishers wanting to keep existing AdSense while adding Ezoic.
Real advantage: Works alongside Google AdSense. Doesn’t require high traffic. Good for testing.
Drawback: Variable earnings. AI takes time to optimize (usually 1 to 2 months).
Propeller Ads
Propeller Ads combines multiple ad formats on a single platform.
Who should use it: Any traffic level. Niche sites. International traffic.
Ad types offered: Display ads, native ads, push notifications, pop-ups, interstitials.
Payment rates: CPM ranges from $0.50 to $5 depending on traffic quality and geography.
Approval process: Very lenient. Most publishers get approved within days.
Best for: Sites willing to use multiple ad formats. International publishers. New blogs building traffic.
Real advantage: Multiple formats in one platform. Works with low traffic. Easy approval.
Drawback: Lower rates than premium networks. Ads can feel intrusive if overused.
Monumetric
Monumetric focuses on mid-tier publishers.
Who should use it: Sites with 10,000 to 100,000 monthly sessions.
Payment rates: $5 to $15 CPM typical range.
Features: Responsive ads. Header bidding. Support for multiple formats.
Approval: Moderate requirements. They want decent traffic and original content.
Best for: Growing blogs in between the Ezoic and Mediavine range.
Real advantage: Sweet spot pricing for mid-tier sites.
Drawback: Less well-known than Mediavine. Smaller advertiser pool.
Sovrn
Sovrn (formerly VigLink) works with content publishers and e-commerce sites.
Who should use it: Blogs with consistent traffic. Niche publishers.
Payment rates: $3 to $15 CPM depending on geography and content.
Features: Direct advertiser relationships. Reporting tools. Payment flexibility.
Best for: Publishers wanting more control. Niche audiences.
Real advantage: Good reporting. Transparent pricing. Works with various traffic levels.
Drawback: Requires decent traffic to see good earnings.
Criteo
Criteo specializes in retargeting ads. They show ads to people who visited your site before.
Who should use it: E-commerce sites. Content sites with good traffic.
How it works: Criteo tracks visitors and shows them relevant ads elsewhere online. You earn when they see or click those ads.
Payment rates: Highly variable. Depends on product quality and user behavior.
Best for: E-commerce. Product review sites. Niche communities.
Real advantage: Different monetization model. Doesn’t replace other ad networks.
Drawback: Lower earnings for pure content sites.
Comparing Payment Models
Different ad networks use different ways to pay you.
| Network | Payment Model | CPM Range | Min Traffic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediavine | CPM | $15 to $25+ | 25,000 sessions |
| AdThrive | CPM | $15 to $25+ | 100,000 pageviews |
| Ezoic | CPM/Hybrid | $3 to $10+ | 10,000 sessions |
| Propeller Ads | CPM/CPC | $0.50 to $5 | None |
| Monumetric | CPM | $5 to $15 | 10,000 sessions |
| Sovrn | CPM | $3 to $15 | Varies |
CPM means cost per thousand impressions. That’s the main payment model for display ads.
CPC means cost per click. You earn when someone clicks the ad.
CPM tends to be more stable and predictable.
How to Choose the Right Network for Your Site
Your choice depends on four factors.
1. Your Current Traffic Level
Small traffic (under 10,000 monthly sessions): Propeller Ads, start with multiple networks
Growing traffic (10,000 to 50,000): Ezoic, Monumetric
Strong traffic (50,000+): Mediavine, AdThrive, Sovrn
Don’t apply to high-traffic networks if you don’t qualify. They’ll reject you, and that rejection might harm your reputation.
2. Your Niche
Some niches pay better CPM rates.
Finance, health, technology, and business content gets higher advertiser demand. CPM rates run $10 to $30+.
Entertainment, lifestyle, and hobby content gets moderate rates. CPM runs $5 to $15.
Other niches vary widely.
Check your AdSense earnings first. If you’re already approved and earning there, your niche is monetizable.
3. Your Content Quality
Premium networks require original content. No thin pages. No copied material. No AI-generated content without significant human addition.
If your site is newer or has thin pages, start with more lenient networks like Propeller Ads or Ezoic. Build quality first.
4. Your Control Preference
Do you want to control exactly where ads appear? Premium networks give you more control and reporting.
Do you want hands-off optimization? Ezoic’s AI handles placement automatically.
Do you want maximum earning potential even if ads feel intrusive? Propeller Ads lets you use multiple formats.
Getting Approved: What Networks Actually Want
Most rejection happens for preventable reasons. Here’s what networks actually check.
Original Content
Networks verify your content is yours. They look for plagiarism, spinning, and AI-generated filler.
If you hire writers, keep their work verifiable. Keep original research notes.
Adequate Traffic
Most networks require traffic data before approval. Google Analytics is standard. Some want Search Console data too.
Traffic must be real and organic. Bot traffic gets you rejected permanently from some networks.
Clear Navigation
Your site must be easy to navigate. Menus should work. Internal linking should make sense.
Networks want users to stay on your site. That means more ads viewed.
Contact Information
Include an about page. Include contact information. Include privacy policy and terms of use.
Networks need to verify you’re legitimate and can be reached.
Legal Compliance
Your site must comply with local laws. No illegal content. No banned products.
Gambling, adult content, and weapons face extra scrutiny. Most networks have clear policies listing what’s prohibited.
Combining Multiple Networks
You don’t have to choose just one. Many successful publishers use multiple networks simultaneously.
Here’s a smart approach:
Start with Google AdSense if you don’t have it. It’s easy to get and requires low traffic.
Add Ezoic or Propeller Ads as a second network. They work alongside AdSense.
Once you hit 25,000 sessions, apply to Mediavine.
Use complementary networks for specific purposes. For example, add Criteo for retargeting even if you use Mediavine for display.
Each additional network takes a small processing hit on your site. More than three or four networks usually causes slowdowns that hurt more than the extra earnings gain.
Native Advertising Networks
If you want different monetization beyond display ads, native networks are worth considering.
Taboola and Outbrain
These show recommended content widgets at the bottom of your articles. They look like part of your site.
How they work: You place their widget on pages. Readers click interesting headlines. Taboola and Outbrain pay you for those clicks.
Payment: CPC model, typically $0.50 to $5 per click.
Best for: High-traffic sites with engaged readers.
Advantage: Different revenue stream. No impact on display ads.
Drawback: Lower earnings for smaller sites. Takes space on your pages.
Infolinks
Infolinks converts specific words in your text into ads. Readers hover over highlighted words and see ads.
How it works: Their system automatically identifies keywords. Hovering shows ads related to those keywords.
Payment: CPM and CPC hybrid. Typically $1 to $5 per thousand impressions.
Best for: Content sites with good keyword density.
Advantage: Doesn’t take page space. Blends into content naturally.
Drawback: Can feel intrusive. Reader experience varies.
International Considerations
If your traffic comes from outside the US, check each network’s coverage.
US and Western European traffic pays significantly higher CPM rates. $10 to $20 CPM is common.
Asian, South American, and Eastern European traffic typically pays $2 to $5 CPM.
African and Middle Eastern traffic varies widely, sometimes below $1 CPM.
If your audience is international:
Ezoic and Propeller Ads handle international traffic well.
Mediavine and AdThrive focus primarily on US and developed markets.
Sovrn supports global traffic.
This doesn’t mean international traffic is bad. It just means earnings will be lower. Plan your monetization strategy accordingly.
Setting Up Your First Alternative Network
Here’s the actual step-by-step process.
Step 1: Audit Your Current Performance
Check your Google Analytics. Write down:
Your monthly sessions
Your geographic traffic breakdown
Your top performing content
Your traffic trends over the last three months
This information helps you choose the right network.
Step 2: Review Network Requirements
Visit each network’s eligibility page. Compare their traffic requirements against yours.
Don’t apply if you fall short. Most networks have application limits. Multiple rejections in a short period can flag your account.
Step 3: Prepare Your Site
Add an about page if you don’t have one.
Write a clear privacy policy.
Add contact information.
Fix broken links.
Ensure mobile navigation works properly.
This takes an afternoon typically.
Step 4: Apply
Follow each network’s application process exactly. They list required information upfront.
Don’t exaggerate traffic numbers. Most networks verify claims. Lies get permanent bans.
Write a clear publisher description. Explain what your site covers and why ads fit naturally.
Step 5: Wait for Approval
Most networks respond within 1 to 7 business days. Premium networks take longer, sometimes 2 to 3 weeks.
During waiting, don’t change your site significantly. Major changes during review can trigger re-evaluation.
Step 6: Install and Monitor
Once approved, follow setup instructions carefully. Wrong installation causes ads to not display.
Monitor your earnings for two weeks. Report any issues immediately.
Most networks have support systems. Use them.
Common Mistakes That Kill Earnings
Over-Placing Ads
Stuffing ads everywhere reduces user experience. Readers leave. Earnings drop.
Smart placement: One above the fold, one mid-article, one below. One sidebar ad max.
Mixing Too Many Networks
Every network code adds processing weight. Beyond three or four, your site slows down. Slow sites earn less.
Not Optimizing for Mobile
Mobile now drives most traffic. Ads must display correctly on phones.
Poor mobile experience kills earnings faster than anything else.
Ignoring Traffic Quality
Networks care about bounce rate. High bounce rates signal low-quality traffic.
Improve this by:
Writing better headlines
Improving article quality
Optimizing article length
Reducing loading time
Changing Networks Too Quickly
Each network needs 2 to 3 months to optimize for your content. Don’t switch constantly.
Real Earnings Expectations
Be realistic about what you’ll make.
A 50,000 session blog with $15 CPM earns $750 monthly. Not $5,000.
A 1,000,000 session site with $5 CPM earns $5,000 monthly.
Calculate your realistic earning potential:
(Monthly Sessions / 1000) × Average CPM = Monthly Earnings
If you earn $100 monthly now with AdSense and your CPM is $2:
(Your Sessions / 1000) × $2 = $100
That tells you your monthly session count.
When you switch to a network with $10 CPM, your earnings multiply by five. The traffic amount stays the same.
Don’t expect miracles. But expect legitimate improvement over AdSense in most cases.
Testing Before Committing
Most publishers worry about switching networks.
Smart approach: Run a split test first.
Use Ezoic’s wraparound service. They let you keep AdSense while adding their optimization on top. See the difference before committing.
Or add Propeller Ads to half your pages. Monitor earnings on those pages against AdSense pages.
This takes risk out of the decision.
Troubleshooting Low Earnings
If your new network earns less than AdSense, diagnose why.
Check Impressions
Are ads actually displaying? Use browser tools to verify.
Some networks have minimum traffic thresholds. Below that threshold, fewer ads show.
Review Geography
International traffic earns less. If your geography mix changed, that’s why.
Examine Traffic Quality
High bounce rate means low-quality traffic. Networks pay less for low-quality.
Wait for Optimization
New networks need time to learn your audience. Two months minimum before judging performance.
Conclusion
Google AdSense is easy to get approved for but not your only option. Better alternatives exist depending on your traffic level and niche.
Mediavine and AdThrive pay significantly higher rates but require substantial traffic. Ezoic works at lower traffic levels and optimizes automatically. Propeller Ads needs no approval but pays lower rates.
The best network depends on your specific situation. Audit your current performance. Identify your traffic level. Choose accordingly.
Don’t try every network. Focus on one or two that match your requirements. Give them time to work. Monitor earnings carefully.
Most important: your content quality and traffic volume matter far more than your ad network choice. Build better content first. Optimize traffic next. Choose your ad network last.
FAQ
Can I use multiple ad networks at the same time?
Yes, but limit yourself to 2 to 4 networks maximum. More than that slows your site down. Most successful publishers run 2 to 3 networks simultaneously. Common combinations include Google AdSense plus Ezoic, or Mediavine plus a native network like Taboola.
How long does approval take?
Most networks take 1 to 7 business days. Mediavine and AdThrive take 2 to 3 weeks. Propeller Ads usually approves within 2 to 3 days. Exact timing varies based on their current volume and your site complexity.
What happens if my traffic drops below network requirements?
Most networks don’t immediately remove you. However, some reduce your rates or suspend your account after 30 to 90 days below the threshold. Check individual network policies. Generally, higher traffic networks like Mediavine are stricter than lower threshold networks like Ezoic.
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