Monetizing a blog with Google AdSense is a common starting point for many content creators. However, when your traffic begins to grow and your AdSense revenue isn’t keeping pace—particularly if your RPM (revenue per mille) remains frustratingly low—it may be time to explore better-paying alternatives. Serious bloggers looking to diversify their income need to know which other networks can offer higher returns while maintaining a good user experience.
TLDR: If your blog’s traffic is increasing but earnings from AdSense are stagnant, shifting to more lucrative ad platforms is a wise move. Options like Media.net, Ezoic, and AdThrive often offer higher RPMs and better support for growth-oriented publishers. These networks use advanced ad technology and optimization strategies to lift earnings where AdSense falls short. Testing multiple platforms can identify the best fit for your audience and revenue goals.
1. Media.net – The Best Contextual Ad Alternative
Media.net is one of the most well-known alternatives to AdSense, powered by the Yahoo! Bing network. It specializes in contextually relevant ads, which can lead to better user engagement and higher earnings for niche sites.
- Minimum Traffic Requirement: No strict minimum, but quality and niche matters.
- Best For: Blogs with targeted, contextual content like finance, tech, or health.
- Key Feature: Native ad units that blend well with content.
Many bloggers report higher RPMs with Media.net compared to AdSense, especially if their audience mostly comes from the United States, Canada, or the UK. Users also have access to a dedicated account manager, providing optimization assistance and performance insights.
2. Ezoic – AI-Driven Optimization for Higher Earnings
Ezoic differentiates itself by using machine learning to optimize ad placements, sizes, and formats over time. It’s a Google Certified Publishing Partner and known for helping creators significantly boost their earnings through data-driven decisions.
- Minimum Traffic Requirement: None (for their Access Now program).
- Best For: Publishers looking to automate ad testing and site speed improvements.
- Key Feature: Advanced analytics and revenue reporting tools.
Unlike AdSense’s set-it-and-forget-it model, Ezoic actively works to improve monetization outcomes by customizing ad experiences for each visitor.
Note: Initial setup may be slightly complex compared to AdSense, but their support and results usually justify the effort.
3. AdThrive – Premium Earnings for Premium Publishers
AdThrive is a premium ad network that focuses on serving high-quality ads from top-tier advertisers. It’s known for exceptional RPMs, often several times higher than AdSense. However, it’s very selective about who they work with.
- Minimum Traffic Requirement: 100,000 monthly pageviews, primarily U.S. traffic.
- Best For: High-traffic lifestyle, food, parenting, DIY, or travel blogs.
- Key Feature: Full-service management with minimal effort needed from publishers.
Participating blogs are often vetted for content quality, user engagement, and consistent traffic. Once accepted, bloggers frequently notice a considerable revenue increase due to better monetized ad placements and brand partnerships.
Image not found in postmeta4. Monumetric – Balance Between User Experience and Revenue
Monumetric offers a blend of programmatic advertising and publisher support similar to AdThrive but with a significantly lower entry barrier. It provides tailored ad setups that prioritize both user experience and payouts.
- Minimum Traffic Requirement: 10,000 monthly pageviews (there’s a setup fee under 80K).
- Best For: Mid-sized bloggers ready to scale and optimize monetization intelligently.
- Key Feature: Human-managed ad testing and performance scaling.
Monumetric strikes a middle ground between DIY networks like Ezoic and fully-managed services like AdThrive. The RPMs are generally higher than AdSense, often enough to justify the minimal setup fee for smaller blogs.
5. PropellerAds – Monetizing International and Mobile Traffic
PropellerAds is an ad network that excels in monetizing global audiences and mobile traffic. Unlike AdSense, it offers various ad formats beyond standard display ads, including push notifications, interstitials, and in-page push ads.
- Minimum Traffic Requirement: None.
- Best For: Websites with significant mobile traffic or international audiences.
- Key Feature: Multiple ad formats including aggressive monetization tools.
While PropellerAds may not suit every content niche, it can outperform AdSense in cases where the audience is mostly mobile or from emerging markets. It offers real-time stats and a user-friendly dashboard for optimizing campaigns.
6. Mediavine – Optimal for Lifestyle and Long-Form Content
Mediavine is another highly respected ad management provider similar to AdThrive, known for very high RPMs and a strong support team. It’s ideal for blogs producing long-form, evergreen content in niches like food, parenting, home, and travel.
- Minimum Traffic Requirement: 50,000 sessions per month.
- Best For: Bloggers producing high-quality content with strong user engagement.
- Key Feature: Full-service monetization and SEO-focused tools.
Mediavine takes performance seriously. They optimize every ad placement to balance viewability and user experience, which helps in attracting high CPM advertisers and improving RPM over time.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Right AdSense Alternative
When RPMs are low despite growing traffic, it’s often a sign that AdSense is no longer the most efficient way to monetize your blog. Testing alternatives like Media.net and PropellerAds can benefit smaller blogs, while AdThrive and Mediavine make more sense for blogs with substantial monthly traffic.
Here are some quick considerations when choosing:
- Audience Geo: U.S. and Canada-based audiences usually earn higher RPM.
- Content Niche: Some networks perform better with specific niches like finance, lifestyle, or tech.
- Traffic Volume: More traffic opens access to premium networks like AdThrive and Mediavine.
- User Experience: Avoid overly aggressive ads that damage your brand or SEO integrity.
Ad monetization is not a one-size-fits-all solution. It may be worth running controlled A/B tests to compare networks or even combine select monetization methods (where policies allow). The key is continual optimization. Don’t assume your initial setup is your best setup. Use your growing traffic wisely and align with platforms that reward your content fairly.