Mediavine vs Raptive vs Ezoic
The three premium ad networks for serious bloggers
Once your blog clears 50K monthly sessions, you become eligible for premium ad networks that pay 5-15x what AdSense does. Here's the head-to-head on RPM, requirements, and which to apply to first.
The three contenders
What each one is, in one card
- 01
Mediavine
The category leader for lifestyle
Starting price
Revenue share, 50-75% to publisher
Best for
Lifestyle, food, travel, parenting blogs hitting 50K sessions
- 02
Raptive (AdThrive)
The premium positioning network
Starting price
Revenue share, 65-75% to publisher
Best for
Higher-RPM niches at 100K+ sessions/month
- 03
Ezoic
The accessible entry point
Starting price
Revenue share, varies by tier
Best for
Newer blogs that don't yet meet Mediavine/Raptive thresholds
The full comparison
Attribute by attribute
| Attribute | Mediavine | Raptive (AdThrive) | Ezoic |
|---|---|---|---|
Minimum traffic | 50,000 sessions/month | 100,000 sessions/month | Effectively no minimum |
Approval timeline | 1-3 weeks typical | 2-4 weeks typical | Days to a week |
Typical RPM range Ranges are observed across publisher reports; actual RPM varies by niche, season, and traffic source | $15-50 (lifestyle), $25-80+ (finance, software) | $20-60 (lifestyle), $30-100+ (finance, software) | $5-20 across most niches |
Niche fit | Strong: lifestyle, food, travel | Strong: finance, software, business | All niches |
User experience impact | Clean ad placements | Clean, premium-feeling placements | More aggressive by default |
Site speed impact | Moderate | Moderate | Variable, can be heavier |
Exclusivity required | Yes, sole ad network | Yes, sole ad network | Yes, sole ad network |
Publisher tools | Strong dashboard, video player included | Strong dashboard, premium tools | Heavy on A/B testing tools |
Payment terms | Net 65 days | Net 45 days | Net 30 days |
The verdict
Which one for which person
Apply to Mediavine if
You're at 50K+ sessions in a lifestyle, food, travel, parenting, or general consumer niche. Mediavine is still the strongest fit for these niches and the broadest set of publishers should start here.
Apply to Raptive if
You're at 100K+ sessions in a finance, software, business, or other higher-RPM niche. The RPM premium is real for the right niches and worth the higher traffic threshold.
Apply to Ezoic if
You haven't hit 50K sessions yet but want better RPM than AdSense. Ezoic is the right bridge for blogs in the 10K-50K range. Plan to graduate to Mediavine or Raptive when you qualify.
Other comparisons