By Kavita Mistry 
Here’s my curated list of best ad networks for small publishers that can replace AdSense, based on my research and experience as a small publisher. I’ve focused on platforms that are beginner-friendly, offer higher CPMs, and suit blogs with moderate traffic (1,000–50,000 monthly views. Let’s us learn more about these Google AdSense alternatives in detail one by one
- Best For: Contextual ads, high RPMs
- Traffic Requirement: 5,000+ monthly views
- Earnings Potential: $5–$10 RPM
- Why I Like It: Media.net is powered by Yahoo and Bing, offering contextual ads that blend seamlessly with your content. I’ve tried it on a tech blog and saw RPMs around $6—way better than AdSense’s $2 for the same traffic.
- Downside: Approval can take a few weeks, and it works best for US/UK traffic.
2. Ezoic (But Beware!)
- Best For: Ad optimization, AI-driven revenue
- Traffic Requirement: 10,000+ monthly views
- Earnings Potential: $5–$15 RPM
- Why I Considered It: Ezoic uses AI to test ad placements, which can boost earnings. I used it for a year and saw RPMs hit $10 at times. But hidden fees—like the $30 Ezoic Premium termination fee—caught me off guard.
- Downside: Slow site speed and tricky cancellation process. Read my Ezoic Review for why I left. Don’t forget to check out our guide on Ezoic Alternatives as well.
3. AdThrive (Now Raptive)
- Best For: Premium ads, high-traffic blogs
- Traffic Requirement: 100,000+ monthly pageviews
- Earnings Potential: $15–$25 RPM
- Why I Like It: AdThrive (rebranded as Raptive) partners with premium advertisers, offering high CPMs. I haven’t used it due to traffic requirements, but friends report $20 RPMs.
- Downside: High traffic threshold—small bloggers need to grow first.
- Best For: Lifestyle bloggers, premium ads
- Traffic Requirement: 50,000+ monthly sessions
- Earnings Potential: $10–$20 RPM
- Why I Like It: Mediavine offers great support and focuses on user experience with fast-loading ads. RPMs are solid for niches like food and travel.
- Downside: You’ll need significant traffic to qualify.
5. PropellerAds
- Best For: Pop-under ads, low-traffic blogs
- Traffic Requirement: None
- Earnings Potential: $2–$8 RPM
- Why I Like It: PropellerAds is perfect for beginners—no minimum traffic needed. I tested their pop-unders on a small blog and earned $3 RPM, better than AdSense’s $1 for the same site.
- Downside: Pop-unders can annoy users if overused.
6. Monumetric
- Best For: Small to medium blogs, high CPMs
- Traffic Requirement: 10,000+ monthly pageviews
- Earnings Potential: $8–$15 RPM
- Why I Like It: Monumetric offers personalized ad setups and decent RPMs. They charge a $99 setup fee if your traffic is under 80,000 pageviews, but it’s worth it for the earnings boost.
- Downside: Setup fee can be a barrier for new bloggers.
7. Infolinks
- Best For: In-text ads, low-traffic sites
- Traffic Requirement: None
- Earnings Potential: $1–$5 RPM
- Why I Like It: Infolinks offers in-text and in-article ads that don’t clutter your site. I used it on a side project and earned $2 RPM with minimal effort.
- Downside: Lower earnings compared to display ad networks.
- Best For: Affiliate bloggers, e-commerce niches
- Traffic Requirement: None
- Earnings Potential: 1–10% commission per sale
- Why I Like It: If your blog is in a shopping niche (e.g., tech gadgets), Amazon’s ads can earn you commissions. I made $50 in a month from a single product recommendation.
- Downside: Earnings depend on conversions, not impressions.
9. Sovrn (Formerly VigLink)
- Best For: Affiliate links, contextual ads
- Traffic Requirement: None
- Earnings Potential: $2–$10 RPM
- Why I Like It: Sovrn monetizes links and offers display ads. It’s a good AdSense alternative for affiliate-focused bloggers with low traffic.
- Downside: Earnings can be inconsistent for small sites.
10. BuySellAds
- Best For: Niche blogs, direct ad sales
- Traffic Requirement: 50,000+ monthly pageviews
- Earnings Potential: $5–$20 RPM
- Why I Like It: BuySellAds lets you sell ad space directly to advertisers. It’s great for niche blogs with engaged audiences.
- Downside: You’ll need to pitch advertisers yourself.
11. PopAds
- Best For: Pop-up ads, low-traffic blogs
- Traffic Requirement: None
- Earnings Potential: $1–$6 RPM
- Why I Like It: PopAds is easy to set up and pays via PayPal. I earned $4 RPM on a small entertainment blog. Check my PopAds guide for setup tips.
- Downside: Pop-ups can hurt user experience if overdone.
- Try it today.
How to Choose the Right AdSense Alternatives
Picking the best alternative depends on your blog’s needs. Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Traffic Volume: Low-traffic blogs (under 10,000 views) should try PropellerAds, Infolinks, or PopAds. Higher-traffic sites can aim for Mediavine or AdThrive.
- Niche: Lifestyle blogs do well with Mediavine, while tech or e-commerce blogs might prefer Media.net or Amazon Native Ads.
- Ad Type: Prefer non-intrusive ads? Go for Infolinks or Sovrn. Okay with pop-ups? PropellerAds or PopAds can work.
- Earnings Goal: For high CPMs, aim for Monumetric or Media.net. If you’re affiliate-focused, Amazon Native Ads are a solid pick.
Still torn between AdSense and other networks like Ezoic? My Ezoic vs. AdSense comparison breaks it down for 2025.
My Experience: Why I Moved On from AdSense
I stuck with AdSense for years, but the low earnings frustrated me. On a blog with 5,000 monthly views, I was barely making $10 a month—$2 RPM at best. After switching to Media.net, my RPM jumped to $6, tripling my revenue. Later, I tried Ezoic, but the slow site speed and hidden fees (like the Ezoic Premium termination fee) pushed me away. Now, I mix Media.net with affiliate ads like Amazon Native Ads, earning $50–$100 monthly on the same traffic. It’s not perfect, but it’s a big improvement!
Conclusion
Finding the right AdSense alternatives can transform your blog’s revenue—I’ve been there, and these options made a difference for me. Whether you’re a small publisher or scaling up, networks like Media.net, PropellerAds, or Monumetric can offer better earnings than AdSense. Just make sure to test what works for your audience and niche.
If you’re exploring more monetization tips, check out my related posts, like: Ezoic Review, How to Remove a Website from Ezoic, How To Turn Off Ezoic Ads, Ezoic Premium Termination Fee, Ezoic vs. AdSense: Which Is Better for Website Monetization in 2025?, and my full guide Best Ad Networks for Small Publishers for monetizing without hassles.
Disclaimer: This guide is provided for educational purposes only. Test ad networks carefully to see what fits your blog.