AdSense vs Mediavine vs Ezoic: which network should you start with?
Honest comparison of AdSense, Mediavine, and Ezoic for new publishers — traffic requirements, RPMs, payouts, and which one to apply to first.
March 28, 2026·10 min read·AdSense Ace Team
Ad networks
Monetization
New publishers usually pick one of three networks. Here's the honest comparison for 2026.
Google AdSense
No traffic minimum. Lower RPMs ($2–$10 typical) but accepts brand-new sites. The obvious starting point. Approval is the hard part.
Ezoic
No strict traffic minimum (Access Now tier). Higher RPMs than AdSense in most niches. Requires more on-site config. Good middle step between AdSense and premium networks.
Mediavine (Journey & Premier)
Journey tier accepts sites with ~10k sessions/month; Premier requires 50k. Highest RPMs of the three. Most polished publisher experience. Apply once you cross 10k.
Recommended path
- Apply to AdSense as soon as you hit the readiness checklist.
- Switch to Ezoic when AdSense RPM plateaus.
- Apply to Mediavine Journey at 10k sessions.
Ready to apply? Run a free AdSense readiness scan →