Monetize
Ad Platform Comparison
Ten networks on the terms that matter: who accepts you at your traffic level, what they really pay, and when the money arrives. RPM bands are editorial estimates for mixed-geo display traffic — verify current terms before applying.
7 of 10 platforms would take you today. Greyed rows show what you're growing toward.
| Platform | Min. traffic | Rev share | Typical RPM | Payout | Terms | Best for | Watch out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google AdSense eligible | None No traffic minimum — quality review only | 68% (display) | $2–15 | $100 | NET 21 (monthly) | Every site's first ad network; zero requirements, instant setup. | Lowest RPMs of the majors. Treat it as the on-ramp, not the destination. |
| Ezoic eligible | None No hard minimum (Access Now tier) | Up to ~90% depending on tier | $8–20 | $20 | NET 30 | The step after AdSense: AI-tested placements usually lift RPM 2–4×. | Site-speed impact if you enable everything; use their CDN/Leap carefully. |
| Monumetric eligible | 10,000/mo 10k pageviews/mo minimum ($99 setup fee under 80k) | Not disclosed (managed) | $10–20 | $10 | NET 60 | Mid-size sites wanting managed placements without Mediavine-level traffic. | Setup fee under 80k pageviews; NET 60 is slow. |
| Mediavine not yet | 50,000/mo 50k sessions/mo (≈60k+ pageviews) | 75–85% (loyalty bonuses) | $20–45 | $25 | NET 65 | Content/lifestyle sites at scale — the RPM benchmark everyone quotes. | Strict content quality bar; mostly US/UK/CA/AU traffic valued. |
| Raptive (ex-AdThrive) not yet | 100,000/mo 100k pageviews/mo minimum | 75%+ | $20–50 | $25 | NET 45 | Large content sites; comparable to Mediavine, sometimes higher for US-heavy traffic. | Majority-US traffic effectively required for approval. |
| Media.net eligible | None No published minimum; quality review | Not disclosed | $5–15 | $100 | NET 30 | Contextual (Yahoo/Bing) ads — good AdSense alternative/companion for US/UK traffic. | RPM collapses on non-US/UK geos; needs contextual-friendly content. |
| Carbon Ads eligible | None Invite/apply — audience quality over volume | Not disclosed (CPM deals) | $3–10 | $50 | NET 30 | Developer/designer audiences: one tasteful ad, no UX damage. Perfect for dev-tool SaaS blogs. | Single placement = ceiling on revenue; niche must be design/dev. |
| EthicalAds eligible | None Developer-focused sites; ~50k pageviews/mo recommended | 70% | $2–8 | $50 | Monthly | Privacy-first (no cookies, no consent banner needed) — docs and OSS project sites. | Lower RPM is the price of privacy; dev niche only. |
| BuySellAds not yet | 50,000/mo Varies by marketplace; established sites | 75% | Direct CPM deals ($5–20) | $20 | On demand | Selling placements directly (sponsorships, newsletters) once you have a defined audience. | Inventory sells only if your niche is legible to sponsors. |
| Adsterra eligible | None No minimum | Not disclosed | $1–5 (display) | $5 | NET 15 (bi-weekly) | Global/non-tier-1 traffic that AdSense monetizes poorly; fast payouts. | Ad quality varies a lot — vet formats or it cheapens your site fast. |
Ad network FAQ
Which ad network pays the most?
For content sites with mostly US/UK/CA/AU traffic, premium managed networks (Mediavine, Raptive) pay the highest RPMs — often 3–8× AdSense. The catch is their traffic minimums (50k sessions / 100k pageviews per month). Below those, Ezoic or Monumetric typically beat AdSense.
What's the typical progression?
AdSense at launch (no minimum) → Ezoic or Monumetric around 10–50k pageviews → apply to Mediavine/Raptive once you clear their thresholds. Each step normally raises RPM; keep 30 days of analytics ready for applications.
What is RPM exactly?
Revenue per 1,000 pageviews (sometimes per 1,000 sessions — check which the network reports). It bundles ad fill rate, CPM, viewability and placements into one comparable number. Niche and visitor geography drive it more than the network does.
Are ads even worth it for a SaaS site?
Usually not on the product site itself — an ad's payout is pennies while your own signup is worth dollars, and third-party ads undermine trust. Ads make sense on separate content properties. On a SaaS blog, your best 'ad' is your own product.
Estimate what these RPMs mean in dollars with the ad revenue calculator, or check your site's AdSense readiness first.