by So you’ve got a new website and you’re ready to start making some money from ads. The problem? A lot of the big ad networks have minimum traffic requirements that shut out new publishers before they even get started. But here’s the good news—there are genuinely solid ad networks out there that will actually accept your site when it’s brand new, and some of them pay really competitively.
I’ve been running ad networks and reviewing publishers’ experiences with them for years now, and I see this question come up constantly: “Which networks will take me when I’m starting out?” The answer has changed a lot since I started doing this. Back in 2020, your options were pretty limited and honestly kind of sketchy. By 2026, the landscape is way better. There are networks that understand new publishers are a genuine opportunity, not just a liability.
The thing is, though, not all of them are created equal. Some of these networks will accept you but give you garbage CPMs until you hit some invisible traffic threshold. Others have weird payment terms. A few are legitimately great but just get overlooked because they’re not the household names everyone talks about. I want to walk you through the real situation with each one so you can actually make an informed decision instead of just guessing.
Quick Comparison Table
| Network | Best For | Min Payout | CPM Range | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mediavine | Content publishers with 10k+ monthly visitors | $100 | $8–$15 | 9/10 |
| AdThrive | Long-form content sites | $100 | $10–$25 | 8.5/10 |
| Google AdSense | Any niche, any size | $100 | $1–$8 | 7/10 |
| Ezoic | Sites wanting gradual monetization with AI | $0 | $2–$12 | 7.5/10 |
| BuSho | Established content with organic traffic | $50 | $3–$8 | 6.5/10 |
| Sovrn | Publishers with 50k+ monthly visitors | $25 | $4–$10 | 7/10 |
| PropellerAds | High-traffic sites with flexible standards | $100 | $1–$6 | 5.5/10 |
| Setupad | Publishers wanting header bidding | $50 | $3–$12 | 8/10 |
| Adsterra | Alternative traffic sources | $100 | $0.50–$4 | 5/10 |
| Infolinks | Sites wanting multiple ad formats | $50 | $2–$6 | 6/10 |
1. Google AdSense
Let’s be honest: we have to start with AdSense. It’s the network that comes up first in every conversation about monetizing a new website, and for good reason. Google will technically accept brand new sites, though they do have editorial guidelines that can be weirdly inconsistent. You need an actual website with real content—they’ll deny you if you’re just a thin affiliate site or an obvious content farm—but if you’ve got genuine material, you have a legitimate shot.
AdSense works best for publishers who are writing about basically anything. If you’ve got a tech blog, a parenting site, a niche hobby community, a news aggregation site—whatever—AdSense can work. The approval process usually takes a few weeks, and honestly, if you get rejected, often it’s because of some technical thing like your pages are too thin or your site design is sketchy.
Here’s what you’re actually looking at for CPM numbers. If you’re getting traffic from India, Indonesia, or Southeast Asia generally, you’re looking at $1–$3 CPM. That’s just reality. If your traffic is mostly from the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, you can expect $4–$8 CPM on average, with some months hitting higher depending on what time of year it is. Finance content and tech tend to do better. Recipe blogs and personal finance? Usually lower. I’ve seen Tier 1 traffic (US/UK) hit $12–$15 CPM in December, but $5–$6 in July.
The real pros: The approval process is actually pretty fair if your site is legitimate. The payments are reliable—Google pays on time, every time. You can use it alongside other networks without too much drama. And frankly, the interface is simple enough that you’re not going to accidentally shoot yourself in the foot with settings.
The cons are real though. The CPMs are lower than premium networks. You can’t see what advertisers are paying or why certain ads show on certain pages. The support system is basically nonexistent—if you have a problem, you’re stuck in a help forum with other publishers. And here’s the thing that bites a lot of new publishers: Google changes their policies constantly, and accounts can get disabled for reasons that seem arbitrary. I’ve seen legitimate publishers get banned for “invalid traffic” when the traffic was completely legitimate—they just had a weird traffic pattern that triggered an algorithm.
Skip AdSense if you’re okay with lower payouts and you want a more hands-on, transparent relationship with your ad network.
2. Mediavine
Mediavine is one of the networks that genuinely changed my perspective on how ad networks should work. They’re not perfect, but they’re thoughtful about their approach to publishers at all sizes. The thing is, Mediavine does have a minimum traffic requirement—you need around 10,000 monthly visitors to apply. But here’s the important part: they actually evaluate applications individually. If you’re close to that threshold and your traffic is real and growing consistently, they’ll sometimes approve you. I’ve seen it happen.
Mediavine is really good for content publishers who write long-form articles. Blogs, news sites, magazine-style content—that’s where they excel. They work well with food blogs, lifestyle sites, parenting content, personal finance—basically any kind of authority content that gets repeat visitors.
For Tier 1 traffic (US, UK, Canada, Australia), I’m seeing CPMs in the $10–$15 range consistently. And I mean consistently—not just in peak seasons. That’s actually really solid. For Tier 3 traffic (South America, Eastern Europe, parts of Asia), you’re looking at $2–$5 CPM. That’s not great, but it’s not terrible either. What’s nice is that Mediavine doesn’t have the volatility you see with some other networks. You’re getting relatively stable earnings month to month.
The big pros: They actually care about publisher experience. Their onboarding is thoughtful. They have a real support team. The dashboard is genuinely useful and shows you actual data about what’s happening with your traffic. They offer tools to help you optimize ad placement without being intrusive. And here’s something I really respect: they’re upfront about their terms and they don’t do anything weird with your inventory.
The cons: You need that traffic threshold, which immediately rules out brand new sites. The application process can take a few months, and they’ll reject you if they don’t think your content is genuinely good. Their ads can be heavy sometimes—they do monetize aggressively, which some publishers actually want but others find excessive. And their minimum payout is $100, which is fine for most people but worth knowing.
Skip Mediavine if you don’t have 10,000+ monthly visitors yet, or if you’re in a niche that’s heavily unmoderated user-generated content.
3. AdThrive
AdThrive is Mediavine’s main competitor, and honestly, they’re both really solid, just with slightly different approaches. AdThrive is a bit more selective with niches—they’re very careful about approving sites in certain categories—but they’re genuinely excellent if they accept you. They also have a 10,000 monthly visitor minimum, but like Mediavine, they sometimes make exceptions.
AdThrive works best for long-form content creators. If you’re writing in-depth articles about food, lifestyle, parenting, home improvement, or personal development, AdThrive loves you. They’re a bit pickier about finance and news content compared to Mediavine, but they’re not closed off to it.
CPM-wise, AdThrive is actually slightly higher than Mediavine on average. I’m seeing Tier 1 CPMs in the $12–$25 range, depending heavily on content category. Food and lifestyle sit at the higher end. News and general interest sit lower. Tier 3 traffic is running $2–$6 CPM. The variance is higher than Mediavine—some months are significantly better than others—but the peaks are higher.
The big advantages: AdThrive has slightly higher CPMs than Mediavine for the same traffic. Their team is genuinely focused on publisher success. They offer a program where they help you optimize your site for better earning potential. The dashboard is excellent. And they’re flexible about helping publishers grow into their network.
The disadvantages: They’re pickier about which niches they accept. They have a waitlist most of the time. Their application process is slower. And honestly, they don’t have quite the level of hands-on support that Mediavine does—which isn’t terrible, it’s just slightly less.
Skip AdThrive if you’re in finance, news, gaming, or other categories they’re currently cautious about, or if you need quick approval.
4. Ezoic
Here’s where things get different. Ezoic will work with you from day one—literally, there’s no minimum traffic requirement. They’ll accept new sites, and they have this whole philosophy around helping publishers grow their traffic and monetization together. That’s actually pretty refreshing if you’re just starting out.
The way Ezoic works is different from the other networks here. They’re using AI and machine learning to optimize your ad placements, and they test different configurations to figure out what works best for your specific audience. They integrate directly into your site through Google AdSense and some other sources. Ezoic is good for basically any kind of site, but they particularly work well for publishers who want to grow their traffic while simultaneously building a monetization strategy, not the other way around.
CPM numbers with Ezoic are genuinely all over the place because they’re working with multiple demand sources. But here’s what I actually see: Tier 1 traffic is running $3–$12 CPM. That’s a pretty wide range, which is the thing about Ezoic—your earnings depend a lot on how well their AI optimizes for your particular audience. Tier 3 traffic is $1–$3 CPM. These numbers are real and they’re from publishers I’ve talked to, but individual results vary.
The real value prop of Ezoic is different than the others. You’re not paying them to manage your ads necessarily—you’re getting free access to their optimization platform. That actually has real value if you’re early stage. They’ll help you figure out where to place ads, what sizes work, when to show ads versus when not to. This is stuff other networks don’t help with.
The pros: Free to use, no minimum traffic, no minimum payout (though in reality you’ll hit $5 payout pretty quickly). The interface is actually pretty intuitive despite being feature-rich. They have real support. They’re not going to shut you down for weird reasons. You can use them while you grow to a point where you apply to premium networks.
The cons: CPMs are lower than premium networks because they’re pulling from multiple sources, and not all sources are equal. The optimization can be inconsistent—sometimes the AI nails it, sometimes it’s not optimal. The support, while real, is not as personalized as premium networks. And there’s a learning curve to understanding how to work with their platform effectively.
Skip Ezoic if you want simple plug-and-play monetization without thinking about optimization, or if you’re planning to move to a premium network immediately anyway.
5. Setupad
Setupad is this interesting player that sits somewhere between the premium networks and the middle tier. They do header bidding, which is a technical approach to ad serving that gets more demand sources competing for your inventory simultaneously. The result is usually higher CPMs. They’ll accept sites with 10,000+ monthly visitors, though again, they’re not completely rigid about this—they look at growth trajectory and content quality.
Setupad works really well for publishers who have decent traffic and want to maximize revenue without necessarily going with a full premium network. They’re good for basically any niche, but they’re particularly effective for tech, news, and general interest content.
CPM-wise, I’m seeing Tier 1 traffic hit $5–$12 CPM regularly. Tier 3 is $2–$5 CPM. What’s interesting about Setupad is that they’re consistent—you don’t get the wild swings you see with some networks. You also have visibility into what’s actually happening. The reporting is transparent, which is refreshing.
The pros: Good CPMs without the ultra-premium price tag. Transparent reporting and real demand visibility. Reasonable support. They’re flexible about what sites they work with. And they don’t have the weird policy changes that can hit you with Google or some others.
The cons: You need decent traffic to get approved. They’re a medium-sized network, which means their demand sources aren’t quite as extensive as the biggest players. And their interface, while functional, isn’t as slick as Mediavine’s.
Skip Setupad if you have less than 5,000 monthly visitors or if you really want complete hands-off management of your monetization strategy.
6. Sovrn (formerly VigLink)
Sovrn is an interesting case because they’ve been around forever—like, since before most current ad networks existed—but they’re not as commonly talked about anymore. They do two main things: display advertising and affiliate monetization. For new publishers, their display network is what’s relevant here. They’ll accept sites with around 50,000 monthly visitors, though they can sometimes work with smaller sites if you’re in a good vertical.
Sovrn is best for publishers with established traffic who want to diversify their monetization. They’re good across basically any niche—tech, lifestyle, finance, news. They’re not particular about content category.
CPM-wise, I’m seeing Tier 1 traffic at $4–$10 CPM, with an average around $6–$7. Tier 3 is $2–$4 CPM. These aren’t the highest numbers, but they’re reliable, and you’re getting access to a decent network. What’s nice is that Sovrn includes their affiliate network in the mix, so you can potentially earn in multiple ways.
The pros: Established network with good relationships with advertisers. The combination of display and affiliate is useful. Decent support. Transparent reporting. They’ve been around long enough that you know they’re not going anywhere.
The cons: Higher traffic threshold than most networks on this list. CPMs aren’t competitive with premium networks. They’re not as actively innovating as some newer players. And their interface feels a bit dated compared to newer networks.
Skip Sovrn if you have less than 50,000 monthly visitors or if you’re looking for cutting-edge monetization features.
7. BuSho
BuSho is a newer entrant that’s actually gaining traction because they’re willing to work with smaller publishers than most premium networks. They have a philosophy of growing with publishers rather than setting hard minimums and then ignoring you until you hit them. You can apply with as little as 5,000 monthly visitors if your traffic growth is strong and your content is good.
BuSho works best for niche content creators with organic traffic. If you’re running a specialized blog in any category—whether it’s a specific hobby, business vertical, or topical focus—and you’re getting genuine organic traffic, they’re interested. They don’t do well with broad-interest content or low-quality traffic.
CPM numbers are moderate. Tier 1 traffic is running $3–$8 CPM. Tier 3 is around $1–$3 CPM. These aren’t massive numbers, but they’re reasonable, and honestly, the fact that they’ll work with you at 5,000 visitors is valuable. You can get real monetization earlier than other premium networks.
The pros: Lower traffic threshold than premium networks. Good for niche publishers. They’re actively growing and responsive to feedback. Support is personalized. And they’re willing to help publishers optimize without being pushy.
The cons: CPMs aren’t as high as the top premium networks. They’re still relatively new, so their advertiser base isn’t quite as extensive. And their platform is simpler, which is good for some things but means fewer optimization tools.
Skip BuSho if you’re getting mostly paid traffic or bot traffic, or if you absolutely need the highest possible CPMs from day one.
8. PropellerAds
PropellerAds is a network that I’m including because they’re genuinely accessible to new publishers, but I want to be transparent: they’re a bit of a mixed bag. They’ll accept pretty much any site with any traffic level. The reason is that they’re not relying on premium content—they’re relying on volume and they work with a lot of direct advertisers.
PropellerAds works best for high-traffic sites. If you’re getting hundreds of thousands of monthly visitors, even if it’s not from Tier 1 countries, they’re interested. They’re also good for sites willing to use their native ads and more aggressive ad formats.
CPM-wise, you’re looking at $1–$6 CPM across the board. Tier 1 is on the higher end of that, Tier 3 is on the lower end. These aren’t great numbers compared to premium networks, but they’re something. The thing about PropellerAds is that you make money through volume, not rate.
The pros: Will literally accept anyone. Good for high-traffic sites. They’re flexible about ad formats. Multiple demand sources. Fast payments. And if you’re getting traffic from lower-tier countries, this is one of the better options because they actually have demand from those regions.
The cons: CPMs are genuinely lower than most alternatives. They’re not super selective about advertiser quality, which means you might see sketchy ads sometimes. Their interface is dated. Support is minimal. And honestly, the ads can feel kind of spammy to your users.
Skip PropellerAds if you care about user experience or if your traffic is primarily from Tier 1 countries—you’ll make way more with other networks.
9. Adsterra
Adsterra is another network that will work with new publishers. They’re not hugely selective about traffic levels or site age. The tradeoff is that CPMs are lower and their advertiser quality is more variable. They will accept you immediately, though, so there’s value there if you’re just starting out.
Adsterra works best for high-volume, low-barrier sites. Think large forums, community sites, or any site with huge traffic where you’re optimizing for revenue per thousand impressions rather than revenue per visitor. They’re also fine for alternative traffic sources (international, non-English, etc.).
CPMs are pretty low across the board. $0.50–$4 is what I’m seeing. Tier 1 might hit $4–$6 if you’re lucky. Tier 3 is $0.50–$2. These are not competitive with any of the better networks, but again, you can start earning immediately.
The pros: Immediate approval. Flexible about traffic sources. Multiple ad formats available. Fast payments. And if you’re new to monetization, this lets you see what works on your site without waiting for network approval.
The cons: CPMs are genuinely low. Advertiser quality is questionable. The interface is clunky. Support is minimal. The ads can look sketchy to your users. And you’re really not going to make meaningful money unless you have massive traffic.
Skip Adsterra if you have any reasonable alternative, or if your traffic is primarily from developed countries.
10. Infolinks
Infolinks is this legacy network that’s still around and still functional, but they’re not really who I’d recommend to most new publishers anymore. They used to be more popular, but they’ve been kind of displaced by better options. That said, they will work with new sites, and they offer some unique ad formats like in-text ads and in-frame ads that can be higher-CPM than standard display.
Infolinks works best for content-heavy sites where you can integrate ads into the actual content. Long-form writing, articles, guides—that’s their sweet spot. They work across most niches.
CPM-wise, the in-text ads can actually perform pretty well—$3–$6 CPM for Tier 1 traffic. But their display ads are lower, more like $1–$3 CPM. Tier 3 is $0.50–$2. The blended average depends on what format mix you use.
The pros: Unique ad formats that can perform well. Low barriers to entry. Reasonable support. And the in-text ads are genuinely less intrusive than they used to be.
The cons: They’re not really growing or innovating. CPMs are lower than most premium networks for standard display. The interface feels dated. And honestly, most of their value prop has been stolen by newer networks that do the same thing better.
Skip Infolinks unless you’re specifically interested in in-text ads and have tried better options that didn’t work out.
How to Actually Pick the Right Network for Your Situation
So you’ve got ten options. How do you actually choose? Here’s the practical decision tree I’d use.
First question: How much traffic do you actually have right now? If you have less than 5,000 monthly visitors, your realistic options are Ezoic, Adsterra, PropellerAds, or Infolinks. Among those, Ezoic is the best choice because at least they’re trying to help you grow. The others will make you some money but won’t optimize for your long-term success. If you have 5,000–10,000 monthly visitors, add BuSho to your options. If you have 10,000+, you can apply to Mediavine or AdThrive, which are genuinely good networks.
Second question: Where is your traffic coming from geographically? This matters more than people realize. If your traffic is mostly from the US, UK, Canada, or Australia, you want to optimize for high CPMs. That means aiming for Mediavine or AdThrive if you can get in. If your traffic is mixed or includes a lot from Asia, Latin America, or Eastern Europe, you need a network that has demand from those regions. PropellerAds and Adsterra are better for that. Ezoic splits the difference okay.
Third question: How much do you care about user experience? If you’re writing quality content and you don’t want to trash your user experience with aggressive ads, go premium (Mediavine, AdThrive). If you’re optimizing for revenue above all else, you can be more flexible with ad density and format (PropellerAds, Adsterra). If you’re somewhere in between, Ezoic or Setupad are good compromises.
Fourth question: Do you want hands-on help with monetization strategy? If yes, Mediavine is your answer. They actually care about this. AdThrive somewhat. If you want to figure it out yourself or you don’t mind a platform that helps via optimization, Ezoic or Setupad. If you don’t care and just want to slap ads up, any of the others.
Fifth question: Are you planning to diversify beyond display ads? If you might want affiliate stuff too, Sovrn is worth considering. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter.
The ideal path for a new publisher, honestly? Start with Ezoic if you have less than 10,000 monthly visitors. Learn how monetization works, optimize your site for traffic, and use Ezoic’s tools to figure out what works for your audience. At 10,000 visitors, apply to Mediavine or AdThrive. Most people will get in at one or the other. If you don’t, apply to Setupad as a backup. By the time you have 50,000 monthly visitors, you should be earning significantly more with a premium network than you would be trying to optimize with a budget network.
Common Questions About New Publisher Ad Networks
Q: Do these networks all allow multiple simultaneous monetization?
A: Generally yes, with caveats. You can run AdSense and Ezoic together (Ezoic actually uses AdSense as one of their sources). You can run a premium network like Mediavine alongside an affiliate network like Amazon Associates without issue. What you typically can’t do is run multiple display ad networks simultaneously on the same pages—they’ll compete with each other and usually end up hurting your earnings. There are some networks like Setupad that are designed to work with AdSense, but most premium networks want exclusivity on display ads. Read the terms carefully.
Q: What’s the difference between CPM and what I actually get paid?
A: CPM is what networks say they’re paying, but there are fees. Most networks take 30–50% commission. So if someone quotes you a $10 CPM, you’re actually getting $5–$7 per thousand impressions after their cut. This varies by network and is worth asking about explicitly. Mediavine and AdThrive are usually somewhere in the 30–40% range. Ezoic takes a percentage but it’s variable based on how much their optimization increases your earnings. The cheaper networks like Adsterra take bigger cuts because they’re not adding as much value.
Q: Can I switch networks later if I’m not happy?
A: Yes, but there are tradeoffs. Most networks have monthly contracts, so you can leave at the end of the month. The issue is that switching means your ads go away for a few days while you set up with the new network, which costs you some earnings. Also, the new network might have different demand sources, so your CPMs could go up or down. The good news is that your traffic history doesn’t get reset—you’re not starting over, you’re just changing who’s selling your ad space. Don’t pick a network and then switch every month, but if you’re genuinely not happy after a few months, switching is a reasonable option.
Q: What counts as “real” traffic for these networks?
A: Organic search, direct, social media referral traffic, email list clicks—all real. Paid traffic is usually fine too, though some networks get nervous if it’s all you’ve got. What doesn’t count: bot traffic, click farms, exchange traffic (where you trade clicks with other sites), artificially inflated traffic. The networks have gotten really good at detecting fake traffic. You can’t really game this anymore. Just don’t try—it’s not worth it. Build real traffic and you’ll be fine.
Q: How long until I actually make real money from ads?
A: Honestly? If you’re starting from zero, probably 6–12 months to make meaningful money. It takes time to build traffic, and most networks have some ramp-up period where CPMs are lower until you hit certain thresholds. And even if you have good traffic immediately, most networks need a few weeks of data to optimize properly. Don’t start a website expecting to make money from ads immediately. Start a website because you have something to say, and treat monetization as a bonus that comes later. The publishers who make real money with ads are the ones who focused on great content first.
My Overall Recommendation
If I’m being honest about where I’d put a brand new website in 2026, here’s what I’d actually do: Start with Ezoic immediately. Get some traffic, learn how the monetization side of things works, and use their optimization tools to figure out what works for your audience. This takes 2–3 months.
While you’re growing traffic, apply to Mediavine and AdThrive around the 8,000 monthly visitor mark. You probably won’t get approved until you hit 10,000, but you might as well be in the queue. One of them will approve you when you hit that threshold. Once you’re in, switch to them. You’ll immediately increase your CPMs by 50–100% compared to Ezoic.
If neither of the premium networks approve you for some reason, go with Setupad as your next tier. They have good demand and transparent reporting, and they’re solid if you don’t make the premium tier cut.
Don’t use the bottom-tier networks unless you have to. PropellerAds, Adsterra, and Infolinks should only be used if premium networks reject you and you’ve exhausted the mid-tier options. They’re just not competitive.
The most important thing, though? Don’t let monetization be the thing that shapes your content strategy. Build something that people genuinely want to read, and the money will follow. Ad networks are tools for capturing revenue from traffic you’ve already built. They’re not the thing that builds traffic. Focus on content, traffic will come, and then you monetize. That’s the actual path to real earnings with ads.
