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10 High-Paying AdSense Alternatives for Small-Traffic Blogs

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If you run a small blog, one of the biggest frustrations is discovering how slow AdSense earnings can be. Even when your content is high-quality, the CPC can feel ridiculously low, and the payout threshold is high enough that it takes months to get your first payment. The good news is that AdSense is no longer the only option. There are ad networks and monetization platforms built specifically for small publishers—some offer weekly payouts, entry-level requirements, faster approvals, and in many cases, better earnings.

In this article, we will explore 10 high-paying AdSense alternatives that work well even for blogs with small to moderate traffic. Each platform has its own strengths, ad formats, payout terms, and unique features. The goal here is to help you find something that fits your niche, traffic size, and preferred payout structure.

Let’s get into it.

1. Monetag (ex-MonetizeMore / Propeller-like Platform)

Monetag has become a popular choice for small publishers because it is extremely easy to join and does not require a massive amount of traffic. Many bloggers prefer Monetag over AdSense because the approval process is faster and less demanding.

Why Monetag is great for small blogs:

  • No minimum traffic requirements.

  • Supports multiple ad formats: push ads, in-page push, pop-under, direct link ads.

  • Simple setup with automatic optimization.

  • Relatively high CPM, especially from Tier 1 audiences.

Monetag performs especially well for blogs in entertainment, tech tutorials, tools/apps, and lifestyle niches. You can also use a smartlink to monetize traffic even if the user doesn’t click ads placed in the article.

Payout: Minimum payout starts from $5 via various methods depending on the region.

2. Ezoic (Access Now Program)

Ezoic used to require 10,000 sessions per month, but that rule is gone. Today, even brand-new blogs can apply through the Ezoic Access Now program. It’s a premium ad optimization platform that uses AI to test multiple layouts and ad combinations to find the best-earning structure for your site.

What makes Ezoic special:

  • Higher RPM than AdSense due to AI-powered testing.

  • Integrates directly with Cloudflare for simple DNS integration.

  • Access to analytics, load-speed tools, and monetization experiments.

  • Works for small traffic as long as your content meets quality guidelines.

Ezoic typically performs very well for blogs with more informational and long-form content.

Payout: $20 minimum via PayPal or Payoneer.

3. Media.net

Media.net is known as the second largest contextual ad network after AdSense, powered by Yahoo and Bing. It uses contextual technology to match ads to your content. Traffic requirement is not very high, but they still prefer websites with clean design and original content.

Strengths:

  • High-paying contextual ads for English content.

  • Works especially well for blogs receiving traffic from the US, UK, and Canada.

  • Responsive ad units that blend well with most layouts.

  • High RPM for certain niches like finance, tech, and business.

Media.net earnings can surpass AdSense if your audience is mostly English-speaking.

Payout: Minimum $100.

4. PropellerAds

PropellerAds is one of the most flexible ad networks for small publishers. Approval is fast, and you can use it alongside other networks without violating their policies. They are famous for their push notifications, pop-unders, and multi-tag monetization options.

Why PropellerAds works:

  • No traffic requirement whatsoever.

  • Beginner-friendly and easy to integrate.

  • Good CPM for Tier 2 and Tier 3 traffic.

  • Weekly payouts available.

  • They accept nearly every niche except illegal or adult content.

Blogs with low traffic often choose PropellerAds because even small volumes can earn something daily, especially through CPM-based ads.

Payout: Starts at $5 depending on the method.

5. Adsterra

Adsterra is another network that performs extremely well for blogs that struggle to make money with AdSense. Their CPM rates are competitive, and they support multiple ad types such as display banners, native ads, pop-unders, and push notifications.

Why small bloggers like Adsterra:

  • Fast approvals.

  • They welcome new blogs, even with low traffic.

  • Very high CPM for gaming, tech, how-to, and entertainment niches.

  • 24/7 support and stable performance.

Many bloggers who receive high mobile traffic report better results with Adsterra compared to AdSense.

Payout: Minimum $5 (for some methods), $100 for wire transfer.

6. Infolinks

If you hate cluttering your blog with too many banners, Infolinks offers something different. Their ads appear within the text, as highlighted words, or as small overlays that appear without interrupting the reading experience.

Advantages:

  • Works well for blogs with long-form content.

  • Easy to integrate without touching site layout.

  • Better monetization for English traffic.

  • Ads do not slow down your website.

Infolinks earnings depend heavily on niche and click-through rate, but they’re a solid AdSense alternative for minimalistic blogs.

Payout: Minimum $50.

7. Revcontent

Revcontent is considered a premium native advertising network. They used to require very large traffic levels, but in recent years they’ve become more welcoming to smaller publishers—especially those with strong engagement.

What’s good about Revcontent:

  • High CPC for quality traffic.

  • Highly customizable widget layouts.

  • Looks cleaner and more premium than typical banner ads.

  • Excellent fit for lifestyle, news, travel, and tech blogs.

The only catch is that Revcontent prefers blogs with consistent posting frequency.

Payout: Minimum $50.

8. SheMedia (for Female-Audience Blogs)

SheMedia is a network built specifically for blogs aimed at women, including topics such as lifestyle, beauty, fashion, parenting, wellness, and cooking. If your blog’s demographic is majority female, SheMedia can outperform AdSense by a wide margin.

Why SheMedia stands out:

  • High-quality advertisers targeting female audiences.

  • Better fill rates and CPC for niche female-driven content.

  • Offers sponsored posts and brand deals beyond ads.

  • Friendly onboarding process and strong publisher support.

Although it works best when the majority of traffic comes from the US, SheMedia is still one of the strongest alternatives for certain niches.

Payout: $25.

9. BuySellAds

BuySellAds is different from most networks. Instead of automatically placing ads, it connects you directly with advertisers who pay to place banners or sponsored content on your website. This gives you more control and allows you to charge a fixed rate, which can be lucrative even for small blogs with strong niche authority.

Key advantages:

  • No revenue share—you set your pricing.

  • Works best for tech, software, and design niches.

  • Advertisers may pay premium rates for highly focused audiences.

  • Clean, non-intrusive ad placements.

If your blog attracts a niche audience (e.g., web developers, digital marketers, gamers), BuySellAds can bring significantly higher payouts.

Payout: $20.

10. A-Ads (Anonymous Ads)

A-Ads is a privacy-friendly ad network commonly used by crypto-focused or niche technical blogs. Even if your traffic is small or irregular, A-Ads can still generate income because it relies on impressions, not clicks.

Why choose A-Ads:

  • Very low minimum payout.

  • 100% privacy—no personal information required.

  • Simple installation.

  • Good for blogs with non-mainstream niches.

Earnings depend on advertiser budgets, but A-Ads keeps things extremely simple, which many bloggers appreciate.

Payout: As low as 0.0001 BTC (varies depending on the coin).

Which AdSense Alternative Pays the Highest for Small Blogs?

If your traffic is small and you want consistent earnings, these networks generally perform the best:

  1. Ezoic – Highest potential RPM thanks to AI optimization.

  2. Media.net – Great for English traffic, especially for business or finance topics.

  3. Adsterra & Monetag – Best for low traffic and mixed Tier 2/Tier 3 audiences.

  4. PropellerAds – Reliable weekly earnings with CPM-based formats.

Keep in mind: earnings depend heavily on niche, audience country, and device type. A small blog in a high-value niche (like finance) can outperform a large blog in a low-value niche (like jokes or random quotes).

Tips to Increase Earnings with Any Ad Network

Switching from AdSense to another network is not enough. To maximize earnings, small publishers should also:

1. Focus on high-value keywords

Blogs with topics like finance, insurance, software, cybersecurity, SaaS, B2B tools, and tech reviews earn significantly higher CPC.

2. Write longer, more useful content

Articles around 1,500–2,000 words tend to attract better ad placements and rank higher on search engines.

3. Improve website speed

Faster pages = better viewability = better ad revenue.

4. Use mixed ad formats

Combine:

  • Native ads

  • Display ads

  • Push ads

  • Smartlinks (if appropriate)

Diversification stabilizes earnings.

5. Leverage social traffic

Small blogs can grow quickly through:

  • Pinterest

  • X (Twitter)

  • Facebook Groups

  • Reddit

More traffic means more impressions and revenue.

Conclusion

Monetizing a small blog does not have to be difficult, and you certainly do not need to rely solely on AdSense. With so many high-paying alternatives available today—Ezoic, Monetag, Adsterra, PropellerAds, Media.net, and more—you can choose a platform that fits your blog’s niche, content style, and traffic volume. Each platform offers different advantages: some pay weekly, some do not require much traffic, and others offer significantly higher RPM than AdSense for the right audience.

The key is simple: experiment, monitor your performance, and adjust your ad strategy until you find the ad network (or combination of networks) that delivers the best results for your blog.

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