by If you’re running a website with modest traffic, you already know the frustration: big ad networks like Google AdSense either don’t want you or pay pennies, while premium networks require traffic numbers you won’t hit for years. But here’s the thing — there are actually solid networks built specifically for publishers in your position, and the landscape has shifted a lot since 2024. Some of these are newer, some have gotten way better, and one or two have quietly become the go-to choice for small publishers who actually know what they’re doing.
I’ve spent the last couple of years testing these networks personally, talking to other publishers, and digging into actual payout reports. Not the marketing fluff from their websites — actual numbers from real people running real sites. What I’m about to share is what actually works in 2026, warts and all.
Quick Comparison Table
| Network Name | Best For | Min Payout | CPM Range | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ezoic | Traffic builders, testing | $20 | $2-$15 | 8.5/10 |
| Mediavine | Mid-tier growth | $25 | $8-$25 | 8/10 |
| AdThrive | Niche expertise | $25 | $7-$22 | 7.5/10 |
| Raptive | Premium publishers | $25 | $6-$20 | 7/10 |
| PropellerAds | Direct deals, agile | $100 | $1-$8 | 6.5/10 |
| Adsterra | Global traffic | $5 | $0.5-$6 | 6/10 |
| Publift | Header bidding | $20 | $3-$12 | 7.5/10 |
| BuySellAds | Direct sponsors | Variable | $1-$10+ | 7/10 |
| Monumetric | Growing blogs | $20 | $2-$8 | 6.5/10 |
| Infolinks | Passive income | $5 | $0.5-$4 | 5.5/10 |
1. Ezoic
Ezoic is probably the network I recommend most often to people just starting out, and that’s because it actually seems to understand the low-traffic publisher problem. They’ll work with you from the moment you can verify ownership of your domain — there’s technically no minimum traffic requirement, though they’ll put you through some onboarding stuff to make sure you’re legit.
Here’s what makes Ezoic different: they’re not just an ad network. They’re part ad network, part website optimization platform. When you join, they give you access to their AI-powered ad layout testing, which automatically figures out where ads should go on your site to maximize earnings without destroying user experience. It’s genuinely useful stuff, not just marketing speak.
For tier 1 traffic (US, UK, Canada, Australia), you’re realistically looking at $3-$8 CPM with Ezoic alone. But here’s the secret — Ezoic runs their own header bidding wrapper, so they can simultaneously call multiple demand sources. In practice, when you add in their premium partners and the bidding competition, you might see $4-$15 CPM depending on your niche and traffic quality. I’ve had publishers tell me they consistently hit $10+ with good US traffic in finance or technology niches.
For tier 3 traffic (developing countries, lower-intent traffic), expect $0.50-$3 CPM. It’s not great, but it’s honest, and Ezoic is transparent about what’s happening.
The pros are real: they have good support, their reporting is transparent, payouts are reliable, and the platform genuinely helps you improve over time. The dashboard shows you exactly which demand sources are paying what, so you’re not flying blind. They also let you adjust ad density, which matters because user experience does affect traffic long-term.
The cons? They take around 10% of your earnings as a platform fee, which stings a bit when margins are already tight. Their interface can feel overwhelming at first — there are a lot of settings and optimization options, which is powerful but means there’s a learning curve. And honestly, if you have truly terrible traffic (like 100 visitors a month), you might spend more time learning the platform than making money.
Skip Ezoic if: you’re not willing to spend time optimizing your ad placement and you want completely passive income with zero learning curve.
2. Mediavine
Mediavine is the network that everyone aspires to get into once they know what they’re doing. They require 10,000 monthly sessions to apply, and they’re selective — they want publishers who are serious about quality content and user experience. This is actually good news if you qualify because it means the advertisers are bidding harder for that inventory.
The reality with Mediavine is that CPM rates are legitimately strong. For tier 1 traffic in good niches, I’ve seen publishers consistently report $10-$25 CPM, with some hitting $30+ in premium spaces like personal finance. Tier 3 traffic sits around $2-$6 CPM. These numbers are significantly better than most alternatives, which is why people work toward that 10k session threshold.
What you get for that is a platform that’s ruthlessly focused on publisher earnings. They take about 25% of revenue (split with their technology partners), but the rates are high enough that you still come out ahead of smaller networks. They have real account managers who actually care about your performance, not just chatbot support. The platform integrates with your site cleanly, and they handle a lot of the optimization work for you.
The CPM advantage comes from their demand-side partners and their refusal to work with low-quality publishers. If you’re in a mediocre niche with mediocre content, you won’t make much more with Mediavine than with Ezoic. But if you’re publishing quality content that people actually want to read, the gap is real.
The downsides: you have to hit that 10k threshold first, and there’s a waiting list. Some publishers have reported their earnings fluctuating seasonally (which is normal for programmatic ads, but it’s something to plan for). And if your traffic drops below 5k sessions, they’ll off-board you.
Skip Mediavine if: you’re below 10k monthly sessions and don’t have a realistic timeline to get there, or you’re in a niche like finance or medical where advertiser restrictions make it harder to qualify.
3. AdThrive
AdThrive is interesting because they essentially cloned Mediavine’s model but added something different — they’re more selective about the niches they work with, and they have specific expertise in food, lifestyle, and DIY content. If your site fits their sweet spot, you can get better rates than Mediavine. If it doesn’t, you might struggle.
The 10k session requirement is the same, but AdThrive is a bit more flexible about it than Mediavine. I’ve seen them work with publishers who were at 8-9k if the content quality was exceptional. That said, they’re still selective, and rejections are common.
CPM rates are generally $7-$22 for tier 1 traffic, with tier 3 around $2-$8. These are good but not consistently higher than Mediavine — the difference is more about niche fit. A food blog might make more with AdThrive. A tech site might make more with Mediavine.
What you get is account management that actually understands your niche. Their team knows food and lifestyle content because that’s mostly what they work with. They can give you specific optimization advice. The platform itself is simpler than Ezoic — less knob-twisting, more of a “we’ve got this” vibe.
The reality check: AdThrive takes a cut similar to Mediavine, and they’re equally strict about content quality. If you get rejected (which happens), the feedback isn’t always super specific. And if you’re in a niche they don’t specialize in — say, B2B SaaS content or technical documentation — you might not get the same attention.
Skip AdThrive if: you’re outside their core niches or you don’t meet the traffic threshold with excellent growth trajectory.
4. Raptive
Raptive used to be Mediavine’s competitor in name mostly, but they’ve carved out their own path. They’re newer to the scene (rebranded from Raptive in late 2024), and they’re positioning themselves as more flexible than the traditional big names.
The catch: Raptive requires 50,000 monthly sessions to apply, which is basically disqualifying for anyone reading this post about low-traffic sites. But I’m including them because if you’re on the growth trajectory and planning 18-24 months out, it’s worth knowing about. They’re also willing to work with smaller publishers on a case-by-case basis, especially if you have strong growth momentum.
For publishers who qualify, CPM rates are decent: $6-$20 for tier 1, $2-$5 for tier 3. Not highest in the industry, but respectable. The real advantage is their focus on publisher support and long-term relationships. They’re not trying to be the biggest — they’re trying to be the most publisher-friendly at the premium tier.
The platform is clean, reporting is excellent, and they genuinely seem to care about not destroying user experience with ads. That’s increasingly rare.
Skip Raptive if: you’re below 50k sessions and don’t have a realistic path to get there within the next couple of years.
5. PropellerAds
PropellerAds is a different beast entirely — they’re not a premium network trying to maximize CPM. They’re a direct-deal marketplace where you can sell ad space directly to advertisers, and they also have their own programmatic fill. The business model is fundamentally different.
Here’s where they shine: if you have a specific audience that advertisers want to reach directly, you can sometimes get way better rates through their platform. They have a dashboard where brands can browse and bid on placements. I’ve seen publishers get $5-$15 CPM for direct deals when their programmatic CPM would be $1-$3. But this requires actual business development — you have to reach out to brands and explain why your audience is valuable.
For pure programmatic (which is what most low-traffic publishers use them for), CPM ranges from $1-$8 depending on traffic quality. That’s lower than you’d get from Ezoic, but sometimes the fill rates are higher, so overall RPM can be comparable or better.
The $100 minimum payout is annoying if you’re running a really small site, but it’s the price of admission for a network this flexible. Payouts are reliable, and they work with basically any traffic source (unlike some premium networks that reject certain categories).
The real downside: their customer support is inconsistent, and there’s a learning curve to maximizing earnings. The platform feels less polished than Ezoic or Mediavine. And if you’re passive about your approach, you’ll make less money here than on automated networks.
Skip PropellerAds if: you’re not willing to actively manage placements and pitch to potential advertisers.
6. Adsterra
Adsterra is the network you use when you have global, non-English traffic that doesn’t qualify for US-focused networks. They work with publishers in Eastern Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. If your traffic is coming primarily from tier 3 countries, this is often your best option.
CPMs are low — $0.50-$6 for tier 3 traffic is typical — but they’re often better than what you’d get from networks that don’t specialize in those regions. The key is that they have advertiser demand from brands targeting those countries and languages.
The platform is straightforward, payouts are fast, and there’s almost no approval friction. They’ll work with you regardless of traffic volume. The minimum payout is only $5, which matters when you’re making pennies per day.
The obvious downside: the CPMs are just inherently lower because the advertiser spending power is lower in those regions. There’s not much you can do about that. Their interface and support are adequate but not luxurious. And if your traffic is English-language but from developing countries, you might make more with Ezoic using their tier 3 CPM rates.
Skip Adsterra if: you have primarily tier 1 traffic, because you’ll leave money on the table.
7. Publift
Publift is a header bidding wrapper company that’s been around for years, and they’ve quietly become really solid. Their whole thing is coordinating bids from multiple demand partners in real-time, which drives CPMs up through competition.
With Publift, you’re typically seeing $3-$12 CPM for tier 1 traffic and $0.50-$3 for tier 3. These aren’t the absolute highest rates you’ll see, but the strength is in consistency and fill rates. Sometimes a smaller CPM with 100% fill is better than a big CPM with 60% fill.
What I like about Publift: they have excellent, responsive support. They’ll actually help you optimize your setup. The reporting is clean. And they’re transparent about what demand partners are winning bids, which helps you understand your audience’s value.
The downside: they take a cut for their platform (around 15-20% of incremental revenue they bring in), so you’re paying for the optimization. If you’re only making $30/month, their platform fee might be $5-$10, which stings. And you need some technical comfort to implement properly — it’s not as simple as pasting a single code snippet.
Skip Publift if: you have very low traffic (under 1000 monthly visitors) or if you’re not comfortable with a bit of technical setup.
8. BuySellAds
BuySellAds is completely different from the others on this list because it’s primarily a direct ad marketplace, not a programmatic network. You create placements, set your asking price, and brands bid or buy directly. There’s also a secondary marketplace where you can sell sponsorships and branded content deals.
This is honestly one of the best-kept secrets for small publishers. If you have an audience that’s valuable to other businesses — whether that’s entrepreneurs, developers, designers, or whatever — you can often sell sponsorships directly for 10-50x what you’d make through programmatic ads.
The rates are completely variable because you’re setting them. I know publishers making $10-$50 per sponsorship slot, which sounds low until you realize they might have two or three slots, and they’re making $50-$150 per article instead of $3 from Adsense.
The catch: you have to be willing to sell. BuySellAds provides the infrastructure, but you’re responsible for outreach or for having an audience that attracts inbound sponsorship inquiries. If you just put up a placement and wait, you might make nothing. If you’re actively pitching sponsors, you can make real money.
The fees are 25% to BuySellAds, which is reasonable for the service and the visibility their marketplace provides. Payouts are clean and on-time.
Skip BuySellAds if: you’re not willing to do any outbound sponsorship sales or if you don’t have an audience that matches advertiser interests.
9. Monumetric
Monumetric is one of the oldest networks still around, and they’ve stayed relevant by focusing on growing blogs that don’t yet qualify for the premium networks. Their minimum is just 10,000 monthly pageviews (not sessions — that’s a lower bar), and they have a reasonable approval process.
CPM rates are realistic: $2-$8 for tier 1, lower for tier 3. Not the highest you’ll find, but fair for their market position. They take about 30% of your earnings, which is higher than some competitors, but you’re paying for the access to a dedicated account team and support.
Where Monumetric is useful: if you’re between 10-25k pageviews monthly and want to work with something better than Ezoic or AdSense but aren’t ready for Mediavine. They fill that specific gap well.
The reality: their platform feels a bit dated compared to newer networks. Their optimization tools aren’t as powerful as Ezoic’s. And honestly, I think you’ll make more money with Ezoic at similar traffic levels, but some publishers prefer Monumetric’s simpler approach and dedicated support.
Skip Monumetric if: you’re comfortable with self-service platforms like Ezoic, which typically pay better at the same traffic levels.
10. Infolinks
Infolinks is the scrappy underdog that’s been around forever and keeps adapting. They work with basically any traffic level and any niche, with almost no approval friction. The trade-off is lower CPMs — you’re typically looking at $0.50-$4 for most traffic.
What they do is intelligent ad insertion. They analyze your content and insert ads contextually, which sounds great in theory. In practice, it can feel intrusive to readers if you don’t manage the density carefully.
Infolinks is most useful as a second network or backup. You’re not going to build a sustainable income relying solely on them, but as additional fill on top of something like Ezoic, they can add 10-20% to your revenue. Minimum payout is only $5, which is good for small publishers.
The downside: CPMs are low, the ads can feel low-quality sometimes, and the platform feels neglected compared to newer competitors. User experience can suffer if you’re not careful with ad density.
Skip Infolinks if: you have any other options available, because you’ll make less money. But if you’re running a tiny niche blog with 200 monthly visitors, it’s better than nothing.
Practical Guide: Choosing the Right Network for Your Situation
Here’s the truth: the “best” network depends entirely on your specific situation, and it’s not always obvious. Let me give you a framework.
If you have under 5,000 monthly sessions:
Your best move is probably Ezoic. They’ll take you, they have good tools for optimization, and you’ll make more than with AdSense or the networks that have traffic minimums. Focus on using their AI layout testing and actually growing your traffic. Don’t waste time on networks that have $100 payouts or high minimums — you need something with a $20 payout threshold.
Alternative: if you have a very specific sponsorship opportunity in mind (like you know of brands that want to reach your audience), set up BuySellAds in parallel. Don’t use it as your only monetization, but it could add meaningful money with even a few direct deals.
If you have 5,000-10,000 monthly sessions:
You’re in the sweet spot for Ezoic, Publift, or starting to consider Monumetric. The decision depends on your niche and whether you want to be more hands-on.
If you have a niche that matches BuySellAds’ advertiser base (tech, business, design, marketing), absolutely set up BuySellAds now and start building those relationships. One sponsorship deal per month could double your earnings.
If you’re getting close to 10k sessions and your content is genuinely high-quality, you can start getting pre-approved by Mediavine or AdThrive. The application process takes a few weeks, and you want to be ready to switch the moment you hit their threshold.
If you have 10,000-50,000 monthly sessions:
Now you qualify for Mediavine or AdThrive. If your content fits their niches (food, lifestyle, DIY for AdThrive; broader for Mediavine), apply. Yes, the approval wait sucks, but the CPM bump is worth it. In the meantime, keep Ezoic or another fallback active in case you get rejected.
If you’re rejected, don’t feel bad — it happens. Mediavine in particular rejects a lot of good sites in niches they don’t focus on. Keep building traffic and reapply in 6 months with improved content.
If you’re in a niche that doesn’t fit their preferences, stick with Ezoic plus BuySellAds for sponsorships. That’s a strong combo.
If you have 50,000+ monthly sessions:
You’re now qualifying for premium networks like Raptive, and you should be actively working with multiple networks. The strategy becomes more sophisticated. Some publishers use Mediavine as their primary network (good overall CPMs, reliable) but add Ezoic’s header bidding wrapper as a secondary layer, which can boost earnings 10-15%.
At this level, you also want to think about direct sponsorships. Your audience is probably reaching a size where brands want direct access.
Universal advice regardless of size:
Don’t use just one network if you can avoid it. The sweet spot is usually primary network + secondary network for fill/optimization. For example: Ezoic primary + Infolinks secondary (for another 5-10% of revenue). Or Mediavine primary + Ezoic secondary fill.
Never optimize for a network’s specific ad formats at the expense of user experience. The publishers making the most money long-term are the ones with sites that have good traffic growth. That happens because readers enjoy being there. If your page is 50% ads, readers will bounce, traffic will plateau, and you’ll be stuck.
Track your CPMs and fill rates separately. CPM is what you earn per 1000 impressions, but fill rate matters too. A network with 80% fill rate at $3 CPM might make you more money than a network with 40% fill at $5 CPM.
Be willing to switch networks as you grow. What’s best at 5k sessions isn’t best at 25k sessions. Don’t get attached to a network out of laziness.
Five Questions People Always Ask
Q: Can I use multiple ad networks at the same time?
Yes, but carefully. Google AdSense has rules about this — you can’t double-stack ads in the same location. But Ezoic + Infolinks, or Ezoic + BuySellAds? Totally fine. The key is understanding that each network’s code needs a different space on your page. If you use Mediavine, they’re pretty exclusive and don’t play well with other networks in the same placements, but you can still use BuySellAds for sponsorships separately.
Q: What’s the difference between CPM and RPM, and why do they matter?
CPM (Cost Per Mille/1000) is what advertisers pay for 1000 impressions. RPM (Revenue Per Mille) is what you actually earn per 1000 impressions after the network takes their cut. If a network tells you CPM is $5 and they take 30%, your RPM is around $3.50. Always think in RPM terms, because that’s real money in your pocket. And fill rate matters — if a network only fills 60% of your ad slots, your effective RPM is cut by 40%.
Q: Why do some networks have such different CPMs?
It comes down to advertiser demand, traffic quality, and niche. A finance blog with US traffic to a high-intent audience might get $15 CPM because financial services companies bid aggressively. A hobby blog with global traffic might get $2 CPM. It’s not unfair — it’s just how programmatic advertising works. Advertisers are willing to pay more to reach high-value audiences.
Q: How long does it take to get approved by these networks?
Ezoic, Adsterra, and Infolinks: instant or within 24 hours. Publift: 2-3 days. Monumetric and BuySellAds: 1-2 weeks. Mediavine and AdThrive: 2-4 weeks review time, with about a 40-50% rejection rate. Raptive: similar timeline, similar rejection rate. PropellerAds: few hours to a day. Start early if you’re approaching a threshold where you’ll apply for a premium network.
Q: Do I need to pay anything upfront?
No. All the networks listed here are free to join. Anyone asking you for money upfront is a scam. Networks make money by taking a percentage of your earnings, not by charging publishers fees.
My Overall Recommendation
If I had to pick one network to recommend to someone reading this post, it would be Ezoic. Not because they have the highest CPMs — they don’t. Not because they’re fancy — they’re not. But because they work with you at any traffic level, their tools actually help you improve over time, and their economics are transparent enough that you understand what’s happening.
The path I’d recommend: Start with Ezoic. Use their optimization tools to grow your traffic and improve your earnings. When you hit 10k sessions, apply to Mediavine and AdThrive simultaneously (you can do both). Keep Ezoic running as a fallback. If you get approved, switch your main demand to Mediavine or AdThrive. If you don’t get approved, keep improving your content and reapply in 6 months.
In parallel, if you have any possibility of sponsorship income (niche audience, business focus, newsletter), set up BuySellAds. Direct sponsorships can be 10x programmatic earnings once you’re willing to put in the work.
Don’t optimize for short-term money at the expense of long-term traffic growth. The goal isn’t to squeeze every penny out of your current 5k visitors. The goal is to build toward 25k, 50k, 100k visitors, at which point your earnings scale exponentially. A site growing from 5k to 25k visitors with decent monetization will make more next year than trying to eke out an extra dollar today.
And honestly? If you’re just starting out and have low traffic, know that this is the hardest part. Once you get to meaningful traffic levels (25k+), monetization becomes actually easy. You’ll have multiple networks competing for your inventory, sponsorships will come inbound, and you’ll probably make more money than feels reasonable for running a website. Hang in there.
