If you’re looking for AdSense alternatives that actually pay well, the five worth looking at in 2026 are Mediavine, Journey by Mediavine, Ezoic, Raptive, and Monumetric.
Each one fits a different stage.
If you have around 50K sessions a month, Mediavine is worth it.
If you’re still growing, Journey or Ezoic are easier to get into. And if you’re somewhere in the middle, Monumetric might be the right fit.
I’ve actually used some of these before.
So in this post, I’ll walk you through what each one offers, what they ask for, and which one might be the right move for where you are right now.
What's Inside
What I Actually Earned: AdSense vs. Mediavine
I ran Google AdSense for the first 8 to 10 months of this blog. On a decent month, I was pulling in around $150.
Not bad for a beginner.
But when I switched to Mediavine, my first month was around $700.
Same content. Same traffic. Different ad network.
That’s the whole reason I’m writing this. Not to say AdSense is bad, but just to say: most bloggers are leaving money on the table by staying with AdSense longer than they need to.
If you already have a good monthly readership, there’s no good reason to wait.
1. Mediavine: Is It Really Worth It Over AdSense?
Mediavine is one of the best ad management platforms out there, and if you’ve noticed, that’s the one we work with for this website you’re reading right now. It’s not easy to get in, but those who make it can earn pretty good money.
It’s more than just a place to put ads. It’s built to help content creators like bloggers and website owners, and they work with top advertisers to balance making money while keeping websites easy to navigate.
Requirements for Approval:
To apply to Mediavine, your site should make at least $5,000 a year from ads. If you are not there yet, Journey is their entry option for growing blogs.
I know this might seem like a lot for a beginner creator, but they ask for this to make sure they can get good results.
And another thing is that your content also needs to be super valuable, as they want websites that help readers learn something useful.
Earnings Potential:
As I found, publishers usually earn between $10 to $30 for 1,000 impressions (RPM, or Revenue per mille), which is often more than Google AdSense. But keep in mind that what you earn depends on what your content is about, where your readers are from, and how much they interact with your site.
2. Journey by Mediavine: What If You’re Not Big Enough Yet?
Journey by Mediavine is another ad management platform designed to help grow, or we can say, new sites monetize their content better.
The best part here is that if you’re not yet qualified for Mediavine but are still looking for a way to start earning, Journey might be the one for you.
However, to get started with Journey, you’ll need to create a Grow publisher account, install their plugin on your site, and then run it for a minimum of 30 days.
I tried the plugin, and I can say it isn’t just another piece of code. While you wait, it gives a set of features to help increase your traffic and grow your audience.
During this time, they check your website’s traffic to see if it’s ready for ads, and this doesn’t mean content quality isn’t important. Once you’ve been approved, you’ll have the chance to start monetizing your site with ads.
Requirements for Approval:
You can apply to join Journey at any time. That’s nice, right? But I think you should aim for at least 1-2K sessions because if you don’t have enough visitors, there’s no point in earning from ads.
Earning Potential:
According to some Reddit users, early users say Journey can help you earn more money than Google AdSense. But since it’s a new platform, we don’t have a lot of data about how well it works yet, but those who are using it now seem happy.
3. Ezoic: Good Pick If You Like Seeing the Data
Ezoic, another popular alternative to AdSense, is like having a smart AI-driven platform for getting the most out of your audience. If you’re into data and testing different approaches, you’ll love what Ezoic brings to the table.
What makes Ezoic unique is its use of artificial intelligence to optimize ad placements. Instead of guessing where ads should go, Ezoic tests different combinations to find what works best for your specific audience.
Requirements for Approval:
Unlike AdSense, Ezoic is way easier to join. They removed the old 10,000 pageview threshold for its monetization features (via programs like Access Now), but eligibility can depend on which Ezoic program you’re joining.
Earning Potential:
Publishers typically see EPMVs (Earnings per Mille Views) between $5 to $12. While this might be lower than Mediavine’s numbers, we can reasonably say that it’s still often higher than what many publishers earn with AdSense alone.
4. Raptive: Better RPMs, But They’re Picky About Who Gets In
Raptive (formerly AdThrive) is a great player in the creator economy that caters to many niches. If you’re in food, family, lifestyle, or home, this might be the place to get the most from ads while helping to grow your business.
I’ve seen many big publishers already being a part of this platform, and Raptive states that they see overall higher RPM for creators who switched from other ad providers to them as well.
Requirements for Approval:
They clearly disclose their exact traffic requirements as at least 25,000 pageviews per month (plus other eligibility criteria like traffic geography, content quality, and site setup), and based on my findings, they’re known to be selective about the sites they accept.
The focus is on content quality, and they look for sites that have engaged audiences in specific niches.
Earning Potential:
The earning potential with Raptive is impressive, as creators have reported RPMs often going over $33. What’s interesting is their focus on helping content creators optimize their ads on their sites, so you can expect good earnings.
5. Monumetric: The Middle Ground Most People Overlook
Monumetric is another one of the best Google AdSense alternatives for publishers seeking improved monetization strategies and personalized support.
It’s perfect for sites that have outgrown AdSense but aren’t quite ready for Mediavine or Raptive.
Moreover, Monumetric takes a quite different approach. Instead of focusing on the highest-performing ads or targeting only the best traffic, they aim to fill all available ad spaces with ads that pay well.
Requirements for Approval:
You need around 10,000 monthly pageviews to join, which is great for smaller websites. There’s a setup fee (usually around $99), and they offer four different programs based on your website traffic.
Earning Potential:
Publishers on Monumetric typically see RPMs between $10 and $20. So yes, while these numbers might not be as high as Mediavine or Raptive, they’re often better than what publishers earn with AdSense, especially when you’re just starting to scale up.
Which AdSense Alternative Should You Pick in 2026?
Choosing the right ad network, or what we can call an ad management platform, is not that easy.
It’s like picking a car, which means what works for one person might not work for another.
So here’s a quick way to think about it:
| Network | Min. Traffic | Best For | Typical RPM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mediavine | $5,000 ads revenue/yr | Established blogs | $10–$30 |
| Journey | Any (growing sites) | New and growing blogs | Varies |
| Ezoic | Low (Access Now) | Data-driven publishers | $5–$12 EPMV |
| Raptive | 25K pageviews/mo | Niche sites (food, lifestyle) | $25–$33+ |
| Monumetric | 10K pageviews/mo | Mid-size blogs scaling up | $10–$20 |
My advice?
First, check how many people visit your site and what kind of content you have.
Then, pick a network that fits what you want to achieve.
And also, treat the RPM or EPMV numbers in this post as rough estimates (not guarantees), because ad income can change every month and depends a lot on your niche, audience location, time of year, and how your site is set up.
It’s also good to talk to other website owners. They’re usually happy to tell you what worked for them.
If you’re just starting out, don’t worry too much about the traffic numbers.
Focus on creating good content and connecting with your readers. More visitors will come if you keep at it and stay patient.
Happy earnings!
