For small publishers or those just starting, monetizing your website can seem like an uphill battle, especially if you’re not getting significant traffic yet. While Google AdSense is often the default choice for most new website owners, getting approved or making decent earnings through it can be challenging if you have low traffic.
Fortunately, there are several alternative ad networks that cater specifically to small publishers or websites with modest traffic. These networks often offer flexible entry requirements, various ad formats, and opportunities to start earning from your site—even if you’re only just starting. Some of them may even pay more than AdSense, particularly if they have niche-specific ad offers or more effective ad formats for smaller sites.
Here’s a list of the best banner ad networks for small or low-traffic publishers, and why they might be a better fit for your site.
1. PropellerAds
Payout Model: CPM, CPC, CPA
Traffic Requirement: No minimum traffic requirement
Best for: Websites with global or mobile traffic
PropellerAds is a popular ad network for small publishers because it doesn’t have strict traffic requirements. It offers a variety of ad formats, including native ads, push notifications, and banner ads, making it a versatile option for monetizing your site. If your site gets a lot of mobile traffic, PropellerAds can be especially lucrative, as they specialize in mobile-friendly ad formats.
Why PropellerAds is great for small publishers:
- No traffic requirement: You can join even if you’re just starting out.
- Multiple ad formats: In addition to traditional banner ads, PropellerAds offers push notifications, interstitials, and native ads, which can perform better than standard banners.
- High CPM for mobile traffic: If your website has a lot of mobile visitors, PropellerAds offers strong monetization options, often with higher CPMs than other networks.
Drawbacks:
- User experience concerns: Some ad formats like pop-unders can be intrusive, potentially affecting user experience negatively.
- Not as premium-focused: PropellerAds doesn’t always work with high-end advertisers, which could result in lower-paying ads.
2. Monumetric
Payout Model: CPM
Traffic Requirement: 10,000 monthly pageviews
Best for: Publishers with growing traffic who want better control over ad placements
Monumetric is an excellent choice for publishers who are beginning to see steady traffic (at least 10,000 pageviews per month) but haven’t yet reached the levels required for premium networks like AdThrive or Mediavine. Monumetric focuses on helping smaller publishers increase their revenue through highly optimized ad placements. They take a hands-on approach, which helps maximize your earnings through better ad placement strategies.
Why Monumetric is great for small publishers:
- Lower traffic requirement: Unlike many premium networks that require 50,000 or more pageviews, Monumetric only needs 10,000.
- High CPMs: Monumetric often delivers higher CPMs than Google AdSense by working with premium advertisers.
- Optimized ad placements: Monumetric helps small publishers strategically place ads to improve both earnings and user experience.
Drawbacks:
- Setup fee: For websites with fewer than 80,000 monthly pageviews, Monumetric charges a $99 setup fee, which can be a barrier for new publishers.
- Ad variety: It mostly focuses on standard display ads, so if you’re looking for more creative ad formats, you might need to look elsewhere.
3. SHE Media
Payout Model: CPM
Traffic Requirement: 20,000 monthly pageviews
Best for: Websites with a female audience or lifestyle-related content
SHE Media is specifically designed for content that caters to female audiences. If your site is focused on topics like beauty, fashion, parenting, wellness, or lifestyle, SHE Media can be an excellent alternative to AdSense. It not only offers display ads but also provides opportunities for sponsored content, brand partnerships, and video monetization, which can lead to higher earnings than simple banner ads.
Why SHE Media is great for small publishers:
- Niche-specific advertisers: If your audience is primarily women, you’ll get access to premium advertisers willing to pay higher rates for targeted exposure.
- Sponsored content opportunities: Beyond banner ads, SHE Media also connects publishers with sponsored content opportunities, which can be much more lucrative.
- Lower traffic requirements: Compared to premium networks, SHE Media has relatively low entry requirements, making it accessible for small but growing sites.
Drawbacks:
- Female-focused: If your website doesn’t cater to a female demographic or lifestyle-related content, SHE Media might not be the best fit.
- Traffic requirements: While 20,000 monthly pageviews is lower than some other networks, it still may be out of reach for brand-new sites.
4. Infolinks
Payout Model: CPM, CPC
Traffic Requirement: No minimum traffic requirement
Best for: Small publishers looking for non-intrusive, text-based ads
Infolinks is one of the most accessible ad networks for small publishers, as it has no minimum traffic requirement. It works by placing non-intrusive ads that are often embedded within the text of your content. These ads are contextually relevant, meaning they’ll match the content of your site, which can result in higher engagement. Infolinks also offers a variety of other ad formats like in-fold ads and video ads, giving you options to experiment with.
Why Infolinks is great for small publishers:
- No traffic requirement: Perfect for new or small sites with limited traffic.
- Non-intrusive ad formats: Infolinks ads are integrated into your content without disrupting user experience, which can lead to better engagement.
- Easy setup: It’s quick to implement and doesn’t require complicated installations.
Drawbacks:
- Lower earnings potential: Since Infolinks focuses on text ads and non-intrusive formats, earnings may be lower compared to more prominent display ad networks.
- Less control over ad types: You won’t have as much control over which ads are shown as with other networks.
5. AdSterra
Payout Model: CPM, CPC, CPA
Traffic Requirement: No minimum traffic requirement
Best for: Small publishers with global or mobile traffic
AdSterra is another ad network that accepts small publishers without strict traffic requirements. It offers a wide range of ad formats, including display ads, pop-unders, interstitials, and native ads. Like PropellerAds, AdSterra works well for websites with mobile traffic or international audiences, offering competitive CPMs and various ad models.
Why AdSterra is great for small publishers:
- No minimum traffic: You can join as a beginner, making it accessible for new websites.
- Flexible ad formats: Whether you prefer banner ads, native ads, or pop-unders, AdSterra offers a wide range of options.
- Mobile traffic optimization: AdSterra is highly effective for sites that attract a lot of mobile users.
Drawbacks:
- Ad quality: Some publishers report lower-quality ads compared to premium networks, which could affect user trust.
- Pop-unders: If you opt for more aggressive ad formats like pop-unders, you could risk alienating your visitors.
6. PopAds
Payout Model: CPM
Traffic Requirement: No minimum traffic requirement
Best for: Small websites with global traffic or publishers okay with pop-under ads
PopAds is one of the highest-paying pop-under ad networks available. While pop-unders may not be ideal for every website, they are a popular ad format in some niches, particularly for entertainment, download, or streaming sites. PopAds is easy to join, with no minimum traffic requirements, and they offer fast payments—making it a viable option for new publishers who want to start earning quickly.
Why PopAds is great for small publishers:
- No traffic requirement: You can monetize your site from day one.
- High CPM for pop-unders: If you’re okay with pop-unders, PopAds tends to pay well compared to other ad networks.
- Fast payments: PopAds offers daily payments, which is faster than most networks.
Drawbacks:
- User experience issues: Pop-unders can be annoying for some users, potentially driving away visitors.
- Limited ad formats: If you’re looking for a variety of ad types, PopAds is mainly focused on pop-unders.
Conclusion
While Google AdSense remains the most well-known ad network, there are plenty of great alternatives for small publishers who are just starting out. Networks like PropellerAds, RevenueHits, and Infolinks offer easy entry with no traffic requirements, while others like Monumetric and SHE Media provide higher earnings potential for sites with modest but growing traffic.
Choosing the right ad network depends on your website’s niche, traffic sources, and user experience goals. If you’re willing to experiment with different ad formats and networks, you can find a solution that pays well and works for your specific audience—even if you’re just getting started.
