The top ad networks for bloggers are:
- Google AdSense
- Mediavine
- Raptive
- Media.net
- Ezoic
- Monumetric
- Amazon Publisher Services
- Adsterra
You get ads for your blog by partnering with ad networks. Ad networks act as the middleman between websites with traffic and advertisers that want to run ads in front of that traffic. Ad networks for bloggers work by allowing qualified advertisers to pay for advertising space on a website. The ad network takes a cut of the advertising fees for connecting the blogger and the advertiser, and the blogger keeps the rest.
Bloggers use ad networks rather than direct sales because it optimizes their income potential through competitive bidding. Ad networks partner with thousands of advertisers to run ads. These advertisers compete for advertising space by submitting bids to show their ad. The advertiser willing to pay the most gets to run their ad on your blog. Websites that sell advertising space to advertisers directly don’t allow for competition to dictate the price.
I’ve run many blogs over the last decade, including this website. I’ve used various methods to monetize these blogs, including ad networks. In the following article, I discuss which ad networks are the best for bloggers. Also, the factors you should consider when choosing who to partner with.
1. Google AdSense
Google AdSense is an Ad network. Google AdSense is one of the top ad networks for bloggers because it’s the most popular ad network on the internet. 58.5 million websites use Google AdSense, according to business media outlet Fast Company. The platform offers a variety of ad types, including display ads, text ads, and video ads. Google Adsense leverages contextual advertising. It shows relevant ads to blog visitors based on a website’s content and user behavior.
You can use another ad network with AdSense. Google allows you to use other ad networks alongside AdSense as long as those ad networks don’t break Google’s content policies.
Pros
Easy to set up by pasting a simple code onto a website
Access to a massive pool of advertisers running Google Ads
Reliable monthly payments
Cons
High minimum payment threshold of $100
Limited control over ad content so you can't choose specific brands to work with
Google's strict policies mean account suspensions are common
2. Mediavine
Mediavine is one of the top ad network choices for high traffic blogs. It offers high revenue potential. At the same time, it maintains website aspects like user experience and site speed. Mediavine leverages advanced technologies like lazy loading and header bidding. These optimize ad performance. It offers standard ad format options like display, native and video ads.
Mediavine has built some unique products around its ad platform. Grow by Mediavine is one of those products. Grow is a user engagement suite that helps independent publishers build first-party data. Mediavine also offers the premium WordPress plugin, Trellis. Trellis is designed to optimize a WordPress blog for speed and advertising revenue.
Mediavine requires that a blog have at least 50,000 monthly sessions. Unlike other platforms, Mediavine does not allow a blogger to run ads from multiple ad networks alongside Mediavine ads. Mediavine must be the only ad network showing ads on your blog.
Pros
Higher revenue potential than other ad networks
Helps with technical SEO by focusing on user experience and site speed
Provides advanced data analysis with comprehensive reporting tools
Cons
High barrier to entry because of 50K traffic requirement
Exclusivity clause prevents using Mediavine alongside other ad networks
Limited control over ad placements in content
3. Raptive
Raptive, formerly called AdThrive, is a top-tier ad network. Many bloggers report it as generating some of the highest advertising revenue. Raptive is a CPM-based ad network. It performs exceptionally well for the food, family, lifestyle, and home niches.
This ad network has paid out over $2 billion to creators. Raptive has exclusive partnerships with demand platforms to help maximize ad revenue. Bloggers earn a fixed 75% revenue share, with payments made on a net 45-day basis.
Raptive requires that a blog has at least 100K page views in the last 30 days to qualify. The majority of these page views should come from Tier-1 countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Raptive also requires that a blog has good standing with the Google Adsense program.
Pros
Higher RPMs compared to other networks
Allows for better integration with content through advanced control over ad placement
Fast and reliable payments
Cons
High barrier to entry because of 100K page view requirement
No ability to increase revenue share over time like other networks
Traffic location requirements restrict non-English bloggers from participating
4. Media.net
Media.net is a contextual advertising network powered by the Yahoo-Bing platform. Media.net serves over 500K websites. It serves highly relevant ads based on content of the web page, optimizing click-through rates and conversions. Media.net ad formats include display, native, video, and mobile. The platform allows customizable units so that ads blend into the website design.
Media.net has a minimum payment threshold of $100. The ad network operates on a net 30-day payment cycle. Bloggers can choose to get paid via wire transfer or Paypal.
Pros
High quality ads from premium advertisers
Customizable ad units for seamless integration with website design
Contextual advertising for optimal ad performance
Cons
Requires high-quality content so newer sites might have issues getting approved
Non-compete clause prevents bloggers from using Media.net with other ad networks
Lack of transparency on blogger requirements, which leads to unnecessary rejections
5. Ezoic
Ezoic is an ad network that leverages AI to help bloggers target hidden audiences with high value. Ezoic uses machine learning to automatically place ads where they have the highest impact on a blogger’s revenue. Ezoic can also integrate with other ad networks to allow a blogger to maximize earnings. It ensures the most competitive bid wins across connected ad networks.
Ezoic allows bloggers to manage direct deals with advertisers, allowing the blogger to keep 100% of the revenue from those deals. Ezoic’s suite of tools, like Ad Tester and Leap, serve to improve ad placement and website performance.
Pros
Advanced machine learning algorithms place ads where they earn the most
Bloggers can access multiple elite ad networks through one platform
Seamless data collection for data-driven decision making
Cons
Blogs must comply with Google's policies because the platform is a Google Certified Publishing Partner
Bloggers must wait 30 days before withdrawing funds
Bloggers need to pay or get invited to use Ezoic's advanced features
6. Monumetric
Monumetric is a premium ad network that excels in fast loading ads. Originally called The Blogger Network, it’s known for delivering high RPMs. This ad network operates on both PPC and PPV models, allowing bloggers to earn from both impressions and clicks. Some of the supported ad types include leaderboard, half page, skyscraper, and collapsible display ads.
Monumetric requires that a blog have a minimum of 10K monthly page views to join. Blogs can participate in four programs based on page views. These include Propel (10k-80k), Ascend (80k-500k), Stratos (500k-10M), and Apollo (over 10M). Those joining under the Propel program need to pay a onetime signup fee of $99 to join. This fee is waived for the other programs.
Pros
Higher RPMs than beginner ad networks like AdSense
Large catalog of ad unit types
Solid customer service should any issues arise
Cons
Operates on an extended payment schedule of 60 days
Setup fee for blogs with lower traffic counts
Analytics dashboard experiences reporting delays of a few days
7. Amazon Publisher Services (APS)
Amazon Publisher Services offers bloggers two unique ad network experiences. These are Transparent Ad Marketplace (TAM) and Unified Ad Marketplace (UAM).
TAM is geared towards larger blogs. It operates similarly to AdSense in that it uses open bidding. It requires pre-existing deals with demand partners. TAM blogs get access to the Shopping Insights tool. This tool provides details on how audiences engage with Amazon across product categories.
UAM is geared towards smaller publishers. It integrates with Google Ad Manager and allows the use of Amazon Ads alongside other supply-side platforms.
Amazon Publisher Services utilizes header bidding technology to increase competition and ad spend among advertisers. This serves to maximize revenue for bloggers. Amazon Publisher Services boasts advanced analytics and insights that bloggers can use to optimize content strategies for maximum income.
Pros
Optimized revenue by forcing competition among advertisers
Amazon's cloud-based infrastructure ensures fast and efficient ad delivery without impacting site performance
Comprehensive analytics
Cons
Complicated setup for larger publishers using TAM
Smaller publishers using UAM incur a 10% fee on supply-side platforms
Shopping Insights tool is only available to larger publishers through TAM
8. Adsterra
Adsterra is a high paying ad network that has been connecting brands with bloggers since 2013. The platform connects 15K+ high quality advertisers with over 35K publishers. It serves over 35 billion ad impressions monthly. Bloggers can enjoy low minimum payouts starting at just $5 and free to signup.
Adsterra offers access to exclusive ad formats through its proprietary Social Bar format. It also serves standard ad types like popunder, native banners, direct link, and banners. Adsterra prevents malware and fraud ads through its in-house 3-level security system.
Adsterra offers a Partner Care program with 24/7 chat support. Expert managers assist bloggers in improving ad strategies for maximum earnings.
Pros
Diversified and unique ad formats to choose from
Robust security to avoid fraudulent ads
Advanced support through Partner Care program
Cons
Customers report that low-quality ads still make it through Adsterra's security system
CPMs only good for USA traffic
Focuses more on non-mainstream verticals so limited appeal to many common niches
7 Factors to consider when choosing an ad network for your blog
- 1Niche compatibility - Different ad networks excel in attracting advertisers from different niches. For example, Mediavine is known to perform well for the food and travel niches.
- 2Revenue model - Ad networks pay bloggers through a range of revenue models. Two of the most popular are Cost Per Mille (CPM) and Cost Per Click (CPC). CPM pays for impressions, so it's best for blogs with high traffic volumes. CPC pays when a user clicks an ad, so it's better for blogs with high click-through rates and user interaction.
- 3Payout threshold and methods - Ad networks release payment at varying levels of performance. They also pay out through different methods. For example, Adsterra's payment threshold is just $5 when using Paxum to receive payment.
- 4Ad quality - Ad networks partner with various advertisers to pay for ad space. Some ad networks partner with higher quality ad networks than others. Google AdSense is well known for high ad quality because they have strict rules for their advertisers.
- 5Ease of support - It's important to be able to reach ad networks quickly in case there are issues, such as fraud ads showing on your blog.
- 6Traffic requirements - Many ad networks only allow blogs that have a minimum audience amount. This helps them to attract premium advertisers to pay for ads by omitting low traffic blogs. That's why a premium network like Raptive requires 100K page views.
- 7Regulatory compliance - The advertising industry is governed differently based on region and country. It's essential to verify your ad network abides by local laws where you generate traffic. For example, Media.net is known for adhering to GDPR. GDPR is a European Union law that governs how data is processed.
Do people still read blogs in 2025?
People still do read blogs in 2025. According to a 2023 Hubspot survey, 29% of respondents still read blogs at least 1 - 4 times a month. 18% ready blogs daily. Although blogs are losing traffic to social media and videos these days, there is still a major audience for this type of content online.
Is blogging dead?
No, blogging is not dead. People are still reading blogs and there are still blogs ranking on the first page of Google to generate online traffic for the website owner.
However, blogging has become increasingly difficult. That's because Google's recent algorithm updates have diminished search visibility for smaller websites like blogs in an attempt to combat low-quality AI content. Google is giving preference to high authority websites like Forbes and first-person forums like Reddit. These types of sites are ranking on Google where blogs were able to dominate previously.
Conclusion: Are ad networks the most profitable way to monetize website traffic?
Ad networks are one of the most profitable ways to monetize website traffic. According to Playwire, blogs working with premium ad networks can expect to earn $5K - $10K/month with at least 500,000 sessions per month. Blogs with upwards of 10 million sessions can earn $100K - $400K/month, depending on the niche.
However, the majority of websites don’t get enough traffic to earn this kind of money from ad networks. Data from Wix shows that 65.3% of US websites get less than 50,000 sessions per month. That’s why I recommend most website owners to monetize by generating and selling leads rather than selling space to an ad network.
Specifically, by doing the local lead generation business model. Local lead generation entails setting up websites that rank for service keywords in specific locations. You can get one of these sites to rank on the first page of Google using local SEO within 6 weeks to 6 months. Once it generates leads, you can partner with a real local service business owner in the area and rent them the marketing channel for $500 - $3,000 per month. Each lead can be tremendously valuable, so you don’t need that much website traffic to make money.
Consider the roofing niche. The average cost of a roofing job in the US is $10K. If you have a roofing website that generates just 1K/month traffic and only 1% of that traffic converts into a sale, that’s still 10 new business opportunities per month. That equates to approximately $100K/month in business opportunities for a roofing business owner. That’s why local lead generation is so powerful as a website monetization method.
