Using advertising networks like Google AdSense and Mediavine is a common and effective way for bloggers to generate revenue from their content by displaying ads on their sites.
Google AdSense is ideal for beginners or smaller blogs because it has no minimum traffic requirement to join and offers a simple setup. It pays around $1 to $5 RPM (revenue per thousand impressions), with a revenue share of about 68% for content ads. AdSense provides basic ad management and limited optimization options, making it accessible but with moderate earning potential.
Mediavine, on the other hand, targets more established blogs with a minimum requirement of 50,000 monthly sessions. It offers a 75% revenue share to publishers and typically delivers much higher RPMs, ranging from $5 to $30 or more, with some reports of $15 to $50 RPM depending on niche and traffic quality. Mediavine provides full-service ad management, advanced optimization, premium ad partners, and better ad viewability and safety. However, it requires an exclusive partnership, meaning you cannot run other ad networks simultaneously.
Key differences:
| Feature | Google AdSense | Mediavine |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum Traffic | None | 50,000 monthly sessions |
| Revenue Share | ~68% (content ads) | 75% |
| RPM Earnings | $1–$5 (typical) | $5–$30+ (can reach $15–$50+) |
| Ad Management | Basic | Full-service, advanced |
| Ad Quality & Partners | Google inventory only | Google AdExchange + multiple partners |
| Exclusivity | No | Yes |
| Best For | Beginners, small blogs | Established blogs with steady traffic |
Mediavine’s technology uses programmatic advertising and real-time bidding to maximize ad revenue, often outperforming AdSense significantly, especially for blogs with U.S.-centric traffic and high engagement.
In summary, AdSense is a good starting point for new bloggers, while Mediavine offers higher revenue potential and better ad management for established blogs that meet its traffic requirements. Choosing between them depends largely on your blog’s size, traffic, and willingness to commit exclusively to one ad network.
