Google Adsense is so ubiquitous may seem like the natural choice for earning money through ads hosted on your blog, but it’s far from the only option. In fact, in many cases, it’s not even the best option. This article will explore 12 of the best Google Adsense alternatives to help you find the best advertising option for your site.
Table of Contents
- What to consider when choosing Google Adsense alternatives
- InfoLinks
- PropellerAds
- SkimLinks
- Amazon Display Ads
- Sovrn //Commerce
- Adversal
- Media.net
- Bidvertiser
- AdSterra
- RevContent
- SHE Media
What to consider when choosing Google Adsense alternatives
If Google Adsense is so ubiquitous, why would you want to look at alternatives? What can they offer you that Google Adsense might not?
There are actually several reasons to consider Google Adsense alternatives:
- Eligibility requirements. Most advertising networks require sites to achieve certain metrics before joining the network. Smaller networks might have lower eligibility requirements than Google Adsense.
- Minimum payout. Google Adsense has a minimum payout of $100; for small creators, this can take a while to accumulate. Several alternative networks boast lower minimum payouts, with some as low as $10.
- Payment frequency. Another important thing to consider is how often you get paid. Most ad networks keep publishers on a 30-day payment cycle, but some may come with a longer or shorter turnaround.
- Revenue share. As a Google Adsense publisher, you receive 68% of the earnings from ads on your site. Some of the smaller networks offer higher rates.
- Ad customization. Alternative ad networks sometimes allow you to customize the appearance of ads to better fit your website’s theme.
- Specialized ads. Certain ad networks, like SHE Media, are dedicated to ads for specific audiences. This might be a demographic group, like women, or an industry.
Now that you know what you’re looking for, let’s dive into the options!
Best Google Adsense Alternatives
1. InfoLinks
Minimum views: No required minimum.
Revenue share: 70%
Payout: Every 45 days. Minimum payout of $50.
Why use InfoLinks instead of Google Adsense: Lower minimum payout.
InfoLinks is a little different from the usual display ads: they specialize in in-text links. Their technology searches your website for keywords and places links to relevant products and services in your content.
If this doesn’t sound ideal to you, don’t fret. InfoLinks also offers targeted display ads, and they’re remarkably easy to set up.
InfoLinks also offers some clear advantages for small creators. There is no minimum view requirement, and you only need to earn $50 to get paid.
You can choose to receive InfoLinks payments via PayPal, Payoneer, or Western Union.
2. PropellerAds
Minimum views: No required minimum.
Revenue share: 80%
Payout: Weekly payments. Minimum of $5 to receive payment.
Why use PropellerAds instead of Google Adsense: Significantly lower minimum payout and the ability to get paid weekly.
Right off the bat, PropellerAds seems like an excellent choice for small business owners. There is no minimum view count, the revenue share is high, and the minimum payout is low. The weekly payments are also a nice perk.
Another great thing about PropellerAds is the sheer number of payment methods they offer. You can accept PropellerAds payments through PayPal, Payoneer, Webmoney, E-payment, bank transfer, or credit card. However, the wire transfers cost $50, so your best bet is to stick with PayPal or Payoneer.
The most important thing to note here is that while PropellerAds doesn’t have a minimum view count, they do have quality standards. They won’t refuse you outright, but your CPM will be lower if your website doesn’t have an effective, modern design.
3. SkimLinks
Minimum views: Unspecified.
Revenue share: 75%
Payout: Minimum $10, paid monthly. Runs on a 90 day cycle, so you will receive payment for January’s earnings at the end of April.
Why use SkimLinks instead of Google Adsense: Lower minimum payout.
SkimLinks works by searching your content for existing links to their partners and turning them into affiliate links. For example, if you have a link to Target, they will turn it into an affiliate link. You will then earn 75% of the revenue from that link.
SkimLinks revenue is based on sales, not clicks. This means you’ll earn less often but can stand to earn much more overall.
SkimLinks earns its place as one of the best Google Adsense alternatives by negotiating exclusive rates with big brands. Many of these brands have their own affiliate programs, but you can earn up to twice as much by using SkimLinks.
However, SkimLinks is a bit vague about the requirements to join their program. They do not specify any required metrics. They do mention that your audience must be in locations where their affiliates sell products but don’t specify what those locations are. So you’ll just have to apply and see if you make the cut.
4. Amazon Native Shopping Ads
Minimum view count: None
Revenue share: 4-8% of sales (based on volume)
Payout: Minimum payout of $100+$15 check processing fee. Payments are made 60 days after purchase (so earnings for January will be paid out at the end of March).
Why use Amazon Native Shopping Ads instead of Google Adsense: You’re already an Amazon Affiliate and want to maximize that income.
Amazon Native Shopping Ads are highly targeted e-commerce ads that can be placed in banners along the top, sides, or bottom of your site. They use the same payment structure as Amazon Affiliates, paying you based on sales rather than views. You must be an Amazon Affiliate to use these ads.
While in theory this arrangement can earn you more money, the program isn’t particularly friendly to small creators. The $100 minimum payout is quite high, and the $15 check processing fee eats notably out of a small company’s profits. This means that you should only pursue Amazon Native Shopping Ads if you have a significant audience.
5. Sovrn //Commerce
Minimum views: No minimum view count.
Revenue share: Varies based on the companies/products being advertised and the type of site you’re running.
Payout: Payment threshold of $10 for PayPal and $50 for ACH. Runs on a 90 day payment cycle (so commissions earned in January will be paid at the end of April).
Why use Sovern //Commerce instead of Google Adsense: Lower minimum payment.
Sovrn //Commerce, formerly known as Viglinks, provides a similar service to SkimLinks. Their technology searches your site for links to products from companies they’re partnered with and transforms those links into affiliate links. You earn commissions based on people’s purchases, not views.
Many of Sovrn //Commerce’s partners offer their own affiliate programs, but Sovrn //Commerce has negotiated premium rates on behalf of their clientele. This means that even with the commission they take, you stand to earn more money than you would by going directly to the companies whose products you use.
6. Adversal
Minimum views: 50,000 pageviews per month
Revenue share: Unspecified.
Payment: Payment threshold varies based on payment type; the lowest is $20 for payment by PayPal or check. Earnings are credited to your count 35 days after the close of the month they were made in (so January earnings will show up in the second week of March).
Why use Adversal instead of Google Adsense: Get paid based on impressions and receive your money as soon as you have more than $20.
Adversal offers a wide variety of ad types and boasts ad codes that can get past most ad blockers. They also pay based on impressions rather than clicks or sales, which makes it easier to start earning.
However, Adversal has some pretty strict requirements. You need to publish regular, original content and have more than 50,000 page views per month. Your site also cannot contain any objectionable content (such as adult content) or excessive advertising.
7. Media.net
Minimum views: Unspecified; however, your audience must be primarily in the US, UK, and Canada.
Revenue share: Varies based on the advertiser.
Payment: Minimum payout $100. Payments are run on a net 30 cycle; this means that if you earn $100 in January, you will receive payment by the beginning of March.
Why use Media.net instead of Google Adsense: Wide variety of ad types.
Media.net allows publishers to earn money from a variety of ad types, with an emphasis on contextual ads. These ads use the power of the Yahoo! Bing Network to show people links relevant to terms they usually search for.
There is no specified minimum page views, but it appears that most online publishers with an audience in the US, UK, or Canada are eligible. They also offer an impressively fast approval process.
8. Bidvertiser
Minimum views: None
Revenue share: Unspecified; uses a mix of CPM, CPA, and CPC models.
Payment: Minimum $10 for PayPal, $100 for check, $500 for bank wire. Paid on a Net 30 basis.
Why use Bidvertiser instead of Google Adsense: Lower payment threshold and access to a wide variety of ad types.
Bidvertiser is an advertising network that allows you to monetize every aspect of your site. You can use any combination of ad formats, including display banners, slide-ins, and smart links. This allows you to monetize every area of your site.
The other great thing about Bidvertiser is their $10 minimum payout. This ensures that even small creators on the network don’t have to wait too long to get paid.
However, I do find the lack of transparency around revenue frustrating. Without more information, it’s impossible to even guess your site’s earning potential.
9. AdSterra
Minimum views: None to become a member; some ad formats are only available to users with a certain amount of traffic.
Revenue share: Unspecified; varies based on the country of the visitor, the browser they’re using, and their operating system.
Payment: Minimum payment is $5 for Paxum and Webmoney, $100 for PayPal and Bitcoin, and $1,000 for wire transfer. Paid twice a month on a Net15 basis (so earnings received at the beginning of the month will be paid at the end of the month).
Why use Adsterra instead of Google Adsense: Biweekly payment on a Net 15 basis. If you use Paxum or Webmoney, you can also enjoy the low minimum payment.
Adsterra has something of a unique structure: anyone can sign up, even if your source of traffic isn’t a traditional website. There is no minimum traffic requirement to open an account, but the types of ads you can use will be limited until you hit a certain amount of traffic. This makes it something of a mixed bag for creators.
The greatly varied minimum payments for different types of payments is also important to consider. Small publishers might find it difficult to reach the $100 or $1000 payment thresholds in a reasonable amount of time. This means you may not want to use Adsterra unless you’re already registered with Paxum or Webmoney.
10. Revcontent
Minimum views: 50,000 per month
Revenue share: Unspecified.
Payment: Minimum payment $100, paid on a Net 30 basis.
Why use Revcontent instead of Google Adsense: Access to a variety of lightweight ads, including ads designed to be embedded in emails.
Revcontent is an advertising platform built for medium-to-large businesses with a constant flow of traffic. They offer lightweight, fast-loading ads in a variety of formats, including ads designed to be embedded in emails.
The Revcontent website boasts that publishers using their platform earn 80% more than competitors but specific rates are not mentioned.
11. SHE Media
Minimum views: 20,000 per month. Some sites with smaller but higher quality audiences may be accepted.
Revenue share: Unspecified.
Payment: Paid on a Net 60 basis; no minimum payment is stated.
Why use SHE Media instead of Google Adsense: Fully vetted ads targeted to a highly specific audience and more personalized support.
The SHE Media Partner Network, formerly known as the BlogHer Partner Network, is an advertising network for publishers who create content for women. Their eligibility requirements are stringent, requiring that your audience is at least 80% US-based and 70% women.
Members of the SHE Media Partner Network enjoy high commission rates, opportunities to host ads in numerous formats, and access to helpful support staff. The network only accepts ads that are relevant to American women, so you can also guarantee that your ads will be expertly targeted.
Final thoughts on the best Google Adsense alternatives
Like many things in business, there is no one-size-fits-all answer here. The best advertising network for you is the one that meets your business’s specific guidelines. But I can offer some suggestions:
- If you want a network with a low minimum payout, consider PropellerAds, SkimLinks, Adsterra, or Sovrn //Commerce.
- If you are already an Amazon Affiliate and want to maximize your earning potential, choose Amazon Native Shopping Ads.
- For access to a wide variety of ad types, select Bidvertiser or Media.net.
- If you consistently get more than 50,000 views a month and want a more advanced approach to advertising, go with Adversal or Revcontent.
- If you’re a medium-to-large publisher that caters to women, choose SHE Media.
What do you think of our list of the best Google Adsense alternatives? Which option seems most appealing to you?