Best Ad Networks for Small Publishers [9 Top Picks for 2025]
Do you think your website’s too small to earn ad revenue? You’re not alone. 1 in 3 publisher sites makes zero income, mostly because big ad networks overlook small sites. Fortunately, we found 9 ad networks that welcome publishers with under 80K monthly visits.
Are you struggling to monetize your website? You're not alone. 1 in 3 publisher websites makes no money at all from their efforts.
Ad networks bridge the gap between publishers like you (looking to monetize quickly) and advertisers seeking space.
These platforms handle the negotiations and technical aspects so you can focus on creating content.
For publishers, it’s great because you get a wide array of advertisers looking for ad space. Even better, you don’t have to negotiate with each individual advertiser because ad networks take care of that.
Unfortunately, most ad networks prefer to work with publishers that have a lot of traffic. But don’t give up yet. We scoured the internet and studied the requirements to a T to find you ad networks that accept publishers with under 80K monthly visits.
Today’s guide gives you the full scoop on the best ad networks for small publishers. We’ll examine requirements, payment structures, and unique features to help you make an informed choice.
Key takeaways
- For very small publishers, Ezoic and Google AdSense offer the lowest barriers to entry with no minimum traffic requirements.
- Publishers with 10,000-50,000 monthly visits are better suited for Monetag, Monumetric, and Journey by Mediavine, which offer more premium ads.
- Quality content, originality, and traffic from English-speaking countries are the most common requirements across all ad networks for successful approval.
- Static banner ads are declining in value. To future-proof monetization, publishers should consider video or dynamic ad formats.
Understanding ad network types
Before we jump into the best ad networks, here’s something you should know. Nonvideo display ads are still pulling in money, but they're losing ground.
In 2020, they made up 54% of programmatic ad spend. By 2026, that’s expected to drop to just 36.2%. If you’re sticking only to banners and static displays, you could miss out on a huge revenue chunk.
It might be time to think about video or at least partner with a network that makes it easy.
There are 5 main types of ad networks you should know about:
Affiliate ad networks: Connect advertisers with publishers who earn a commission for driving actions (e.g., sales or leads). Great for performance-based campaigns and partnerships. Example: Sovrn Commerce, CJ Affiliate, ShareASale
Programmatic ad networks: They use real-time bidding (RTB) and AI to automate ad placements. Example: Google AdSense, Ezoic
Remnant ad networks: Sell unsold or leftover ad inventory at discounted rates. Ideal for advertisers with tight budgets but less concerned with premium placement. Example: OpenX, PubMatic
Mobile ad networks: Deliver ads specifically optimized for mobile apps and devices. Include in-app banners, rewarded videos, interstitials, and more. Example: AdMob, Unity Ads
Performance-based ad networks: Charge advertisers based on specific results, like clicks (CPC), impressions (CPM), or conversions (CPA). Example: PropellerAds, AdCash
But enough about that, let’s get into the real reason you came here: the best ad networks you should consider for monetizing your content.
The top 9 best ad networks for small publishers
For today’s article, we classify anyone with under 80k monthly visits as a small publisher.
1. Ezoic
Ezoic is one of the most known CPM ad networks for small publishers. They connect you with competitive advertisers while keeping your site's performance in mind.
Their brand campaign exclusives are a major advantage. These premium ad campaigns offer higher CPMs and better quality than standard placements. In turn, your visitors see more relevant ads, and you earn more revenue.
Behind the scenes, Ezoic uses AI to test different ad placements and formats. The system optimizes for both user experience and revenue while taking the guesswork out of ad positioning.
One particularly valuable feature is their user data integration. You can upload email subscribers or CRM contacts to allow advertisers to target your specific audience with premium ads. In a post-cookie world, this capability significantly increases your ad inventory value.
Requirements
- No traffic minimums (though they recommend at least 1,000 monthly visits)
- Quick setup (24-48 hours for most users)
- Must comply with Google and AdSense policies
- Google MCM approval required (usually takes 1-2 weeks)
Payment
- For the first 30 days, you keep 100% of your ad revenue. Ezoic takes no cut.
- 90% revenue share after trial (Ezoic takes 10%)
- $20 minimum payout
- Multiple payment methods (PayPal, Payoneer, bank transfer, check)
- Net 30 payment schedule
- Wide variety of ad formats
- Low minimum payout
- Extensive support options, including live chat, email, and a knowledge base
- No minimum traffic requirements
- Analytics platform included
- Does not accept corporate or e-commerce sites
- Learning curve for new publishers
- Site speed can be affected if not properly configured
What publishers say about Ezoic
“Being part of Ezoic as a publisher makes things so easy; I have never had such a great experience with any other company before. 24/7 full support even for the smallest things and the only company that really tries so hard for you to make money and make you earn more. The approval process for me was easy.”
2. Google AdSense
If you’ve ever thought of monetizing your site, I bet you thought of AdSense first. It’s widely known and has somewhat decent payouts.
AdSense gives you a lot of control over your ad experience. You can choose where ads appear, customize layouts, and block unwanted advertisers or categories.
Their system pre-screens all ads for quality and relevance, which helps keep your visitors engaged while protecting your brand image.
Their AI-powered auto ads feature automatically detects ideal ad locations based on your content and user behavior. What we like most about AdSense is how it integrates with other Google products like Analytics and Search Console.
Choosing AdSense gives you instant access to massive advertiser demand. This competition for your ad space means more relevant ads and better fill rates. The platform pays for both per thousand views (CPM) and per click (CPC).
Requirements
- No minimum traffic requirements
- Website must be at least 6 months old
- Content must comply with Google AdSense policies
Payments
- 68% revenue share from display ads
- 51% revenue share from search ads
- $100 minimum payout
- Net 30 payment schedule
For example, a food blog with 50,000 page views could earn $1,500 yearly.
- Easier approval than most other networks
- Simple implementation with just a code snippet
- Reliable payments from a trusted company
- Doesn't support header bidding
- Limited customer support
- Fewer tools for performance optimization
- Higher payment threshold than some competitors
What publishers say about Google AdSense
“I also love the fact that it provides enough stats and important information to let me know the ads that are performing well and the ones that are not. There is so much to love about Adsense.”
3. Media.net
Media.net is often called ‘the alternative to AdSense’ for good reason. They offer exclusive performance budgets you won't find with other platforms. In other words, higher-paying ads, especially as we move into a cookieless future.
Their ad selection is pretty solid. You get display ads, native ads, and video ads to choose from. Media.net also lets you use your audience data. You can then control how this data is used to target ads and boost your revenue.
Media.net’s header bidding system is fully managed and uses AI to optimize everything. The system is constantly tweaking your setup to maximize earnings from every visitor.
Even if you are a small publisher, make sure you have high-quality traffic because Media.net values that more.
Requirements
- Does not disclose traffic requirements publicly. But we know that they only work with publishers that bring quality traffic.
- Don’t use an existing ad network if you want to apply with them
- Make sure your traffic comes primarily from English-speaking countries
- Have quality, original content
Payments
- Does not disclose revenue share figures publicly
- However, some sources cite that media.net pays out CPMs between $1 to $1.25
- Payment via Wire transfer (USD) and Payoneer
- Net 30 payment schedule
- $100 minimum payout
- User-friendly interface
- Contextual targeting for highly relevant ads
- Exclusive demand from Yahoo-Bing network
- Real-time performance tracking
- Dedicated support team
- Responsive ad designs that won’t bog down your UX or SEO
- They don’t publicly disclose their traffic requirements, nor how much you can earn with them.
- Favors publishers with traffic from US, UK, Canada
- Payments only in US dollars
- More selective approval process
What publishers say about Media.net
“…they provide a large set of ads for your website. They have various advertisers signed up with the network. The Yahoo Bing network is fairly large and has a significant inventory of ads which keeps it fresh and is a win-win for publishers and advertisers alike. I think it might have the second largest inventory after Google.”
4. Monetag
Monetag focuses on giving you three key things: high-quality ads, automatic ad tools, and multiple ad formats. Their mix of payment models (CPM, CPC, CPL, CPI, and CPA) means you have options for how you earn.
You can choose from popunders, push notifications, in-page push, interstitials, and vignette banners, depending on what works best for your specific audience.
We also love that Monetag has a support team that’s available 24/7 through live chat, email, and phone. This level of accessibility is rare among ad networks.
If you're an affiliate marketer, you'll appreciate how well Monetag works in that space. You can even run it alongside AdSense for additional revenue.
Requirements
- At least 10,000 monthly visits
- Mainstream content only (news, entertainment, blogs, etc.)
- No adult content, torrent sites, or free hosting platforms
Payments
- CPMs up to $1-2 for US and UK traffic
- Just a $5 minimum payment threshold
- Multiple payment options (PayPal, Payoneer, WebMoney, Skrill, Wire)
- The first payout is 14 days after the campaign starts
- Then, from there, weekly payments on Thursdays or Net 35 schedule
- 100% fill rate, so no wasted ad space
- Ultra-low $5 minimum payout
- Adblock bypass technology
- WordPress plugin for simple setup
- Monetag's policies are quite similar to AdSense, making it easy for publishers already using AdSense to transition
- Basic reporting dashboard without detailed segmentation
- Some ad formats like pop-unders may affect user experience
- Not suitable for all website niches
What publishers say about Monetag
"We have a great experience working with Monetag. The platform is super user-friendly and convenient, and support is available almost 24/7. All of the payments are made on time with no issues. We highly recommend Monetag as a monetization partner."
5. Monumetric
If you’re struggling to find an ad network that cares about smaller publishers, Monumetric might be your answer.
They're known for treating smaller sites with the same dedication as their larger partners.
Monumetric promises premium demand and innovative ad technologies backed by machine learning. Their system delivers the highest bids with lightning-fast turnaround.
Monumetric also optimizes ads based on device, location, and time to get you the best possible results.
One feature we love about Monumetric is their VOLT video player.
Even if you don't create videos yourself, you can earn additional revenue from video ads. It comes with built-in content and is designed for easy implementation.
Unlike other networks where you're left to figure things out yourself, Monumetric installs and tests the tags for you.
You'll also get daily reports on CPM, RPM, fill rates, and traffic to help you understand your performance.
They've worked with over 2,000 publishers ranging from 10,000 to over 110 million monthly pageviews.
Even if you plan to scale from being a small publisher, Monumetric can support you as you grow.
Requirements (for websites with 10k— 80k monthly visits)
- The site must be approved by major ad providers
- The sidebar must be 300px wide
- Minimum #6 ad slots on both desktop and mobile
- Must be a WordPress or Blogger site
- $99 one-time implementation fee
- Minimum 50% traffic from US, UK, Canada & Australia
Payments
- 65-day payment schedule
- The minimum threshold is just $10
- Multiple payment options are available
- Outstanding support, even for smaller publishers
- Detailed performance analytics
- They handle technical implementation for you
- Low minimum payout threshold
- Scalable platform that grows with your site
- Monumetric’s Propel Program requires displaying a minimum of 6 ads (for sites with 10k-80k visits)
- $99 one-time implementation fee may be a barrier for most small publishers
- Limited to WordPress or Blogger sites only
- Six ad minimum might be too distractive for your UX
- Requires manual setups, lengthy optimization processes, and video conferences
What publishers say about Monumetric
“Monumetric is just the best! I am a small blog and they have taken time to work with me personally to get ads on my blog. These ads also look very classy, not distracting. I have appreciated a company that will invest time in small business clients like myself! It really has been quite a surprise to me to find such a group of folks!”
6. Journey by Mediavine
If you're a smaller publisher looking to access premium ad technology, this is your entry point to the Mediavine ecosystem.
Journey gives you access to all of Mediavine's powerful first-party data and identity solutions.
You’ll get to use the same technology that powers their main program even while you're still growing your traffic.
Journey by Mediavine is more of a stepping stone for publishers who aren't quite ready for the main Mediavine program. You'll benefit from their industry connections and premium advertiser relationships while still building your audience.
Journey operates on a 70% revenue share model with no hidden fees.
They don't charge extra for administration, hosting, setup, or sales commissions. In short, more money for you.
Journey is an excellent monetization option for publishers with traffic between 10,000 and 50,000 sessions per month since it comes with the backing of a respected name in the industry.
Requirements
- Between 10,000 and 50,000 sessions per month
- Must install Grow, Mediavine's first-party data solution
- Must run Grow for a minimum of 30 days
- Original content that is brand-safe
- An engaged audience
- Content that is frequently updated
- Enough premium traffic to offset any non-premium traffic
- Original photography or licensed stock photos
Payments
- 70% revenue share
- $100 minimum payout
- Payment options include PayPal, Domestic ACH, International ACH, U.S. wire transfer, International wire transfer
- Net 65 payment terms
- Access to premium ad technology
- Clean 70% revenue share model
- Well-known and stable brand
- No additional fees for administration, hosting, setup, or sales commissions
- Fewer controls in their ad dashboards
- Less detailed reporting than full Mediavine
- Less flexibility on certain ad placements
- Less support than the main Mediavine program
- Must run Grow for 30 days before seeing results
What publishers say about Journey by Mediavine
“I love how easy it was to get started with Journey, it was super simple to set up! I also love that Journey has allowed me to monetize my site months before it will be eligible for Mediavine. I’ve been very happy with the RPMs so far; they have continuously grown and are on par with my main Mediavine site.”
7. Sovrn
Every small publisher looking to maximize affiliate revenue alongside display ads must have Sovrn on their radar.
Their Commerce Affiliate program is specifically designed for content creators and smaller publishers who want to earn from every link.
Sovrn gives you access to over 50,000 merchants through one platform.
You won’t need to join dozens of separate affiliate programs. You can monetize product mentions across virtually any niche with a single integration.
Their shopping galleries let you create visual product showcases that blend naturally with your content.
It’s a perfect feature for review sites, fashion blogs, or any content where you recommend products to your audience.
Sovrn also lets you sell your highest-performing ad inventory at premium rates through unique Deal IDs.
This is typically a feature only available to larger publishers, but Sovrn makes it accessible even with modest traffic levels.
Requirements
- Segment your site or campaign traffic appropriately
- Content must be original
- The site may not contain file-sharing or copyrighted material
- Content must be ‘safe for work’
- Mainly English sites
- The site cannot display more than #3 ads in view at one time
Payments
- $50 minimum payout for wire transfers
- $25 minimum for all other payment methods
- NET 30 payment schedule
- High CPMs, even for lower-traffic websites
- High-quality ads that maintain site credibility
- Works with 50+ top merchants
- Real-time product updates
- Support can be somewhat slow, though users report it's helpful
- Some ads may slow down your site
- The fill rate is lower compared to other ad networks
What publishers say about Sovrn
“We’ve used Sovrn Commerce for over two years, and in that time, we have seen our EPC grow exponentially. We have had a great experience working with Sovrn and especially appreciate the individualized attention given to our account as our business has grown.”
8. PopAds
PopAds describes itself as the highest and fastest paying ad network on the market that specializes in popunders.
This network is ideal for small publishers open to popunder and popup ads who want to monetize quickly.
With PopAds, you can control ad settings, including frequency, sound, video, and bid rate. They run at least 1000 unique advertising campaigns daily, which ensures that you get good fill rates for your site.
PopAds is one of the few ad networks that accept adult content publishers as long as the content is legal.
Their liberal terms mean most sites are accepted as long as they don't break US and Costa Rican laws.
Requirements
- No strict traffic requirements
- Liberal terms with most sites accepted
- Don't break US and Costa Rican laws
Payments
- $4+ per 1,000 US visitors
- Payment via PayPal, AlertPay, and Wire
- Withdrawal requests are processed daily
- No chargebacks. What you see is what you earn
- You can use earnings to buy traffic from PopAds, too
- Fast payments (usually within a day)
- High CPMs, especially for US traffic
- Full ad control since you set bid floor, frequency, sound/video preferences
- Covers 50+ countries with strong global advertiser demand
- Transparent earnings with no deductions or surprise fees
- Realtime reports and charts
- Bypasses nearly all popup blockers
- Uses popunder and pop-up formats, which can annoy users
- It’s not ideal for sites focused on user experience or SEO
- Some advertisers may show aggressive or low-quality creatives if not filtered carefully
What publishers say about PopAds
“Popads is a very good network. I have taken payments several times in the past, and they make instant payments and you can earn a good income every day. I am very benefited from working with Popads. They have many payment options and multiple payments can be taken which is convenient for publishers.”
9. Revcontent
Revcontent is a good option if you don't want to compromise user experience while still monetizing your site.
The ad network uses AI-powered tools and direct advertiser demand to help you earn sustainable ad revenue while protecting user privacy.
Their lightweight and non-disruptive ad formats are designed to blend into your content without annoying visitors.
Revcontent offers contract flexibility to work with other revenue options simultaneously.
It’s a super valuable feature if you plan to diversify your income streams.
Requirements
- Requires publishers to have between 50,000 and 80,000 monthly visitors to qualify.
- Emphasis on high-quality, original content
- Smaller or low-quality sites are often not approved
Payments
- Minimum $100 earnings before payout
- Payment via ACH Transfer, Paypal, and Wire Transfer (available for international publishers)
- Net-30 payment schedule
- Lightweight and non-disruptive ad formats
- Dedicated account management and concierge customer service
- Access to premium advertisers
- Granular control over ad content, including the ability to block by brand, site, keyword, image, and category
- Real-Time Reporting
- Does not transfer earnings to Payoneer accounts
- Not suitable for extremely small publishers due to the strict approval process
- High traffic requirements may be a barrier for entry-level sites
What publishers say about Revcontent
“Revcontent can provide some decent traffic sources. They make it easy for you to publish new campaigns. They also have a pretty relaxed approval process. Thus, you can use more clever Ads.”
FAQs
Ezoic is the best CPM ad network for small publishers. It uses AI to optimize ad placements and offers premium brand campaigns with substantial payouts.
Google AdSense and Ezoic have no strict traffic minimums, although Ezoic recommends at least 1,000 monthly visits. PopAds also accepts sites regardless of traffic volume.
Ezoic and PopAds are ideal options for low traffic sites. For sites with 10,000+ monthly visits, Monetag is a good alternative with an ultra-low $5 payout threshold and a 100% fill rate.
Approval times typically take 24-48 hours. However, other ad networks like Journey by Mediavine require at least 30 days for approval.
Some networks, like Monetag, can run alongside AdSense, while others require exclusivity. Always check each network's terms before implementing multiple solutions to avoid policy violations.
Final thoughts
You definitely no longer have a shortage of ad networks for small publishers you can consider. We've given you an exhaustive list to help you find your match.
All in all, what we're seeing across the board is that these networks require quality content, originality, and traffic from predominantly English-speaking countries. If you tick these boxes, you'll find it easier to get approved.
As a publisher, you're used to displaying ads, but if you ever decide to run your own campaigns to promote your brand, offers, or products, you can trust Cropink to help you create high-performing, visually stunning product ads.
Sources
Damaris is a Digital Marketing Specialist who writes about digital marketing and performance marketing. At Cropink, she creates data-driven content to help businesses run better ad campaigns for better performance and ROI.
Leszek is the Digital Growth Manager at Feedink & Cropink, specializing in organic growth for eCommerce and SaaS companies. His background includes roles at Poland's largest accommodation portal and FT1000 companies, with his work featured in Forbes, Inc., Business Insider, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, BBC, and TechRepublic.
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