If you’re a website owner, blogger, or content creator looking to monetize your online presence, choosing the right ad network is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Among the many ad networks available today, Google AdSense and Adsterra stand out as two of the most popular choices.
But which one is right for you? In this post, we’ll dive deep into AdSense vs Adsterra, comparing their requirements, features, earnings potential, pros, and cons to help you make an informed decision.
1. Overview: AdSense vs Adsterra
Google AdSense
Google AdSense is the most popular ad network in the world. It allows publishers to display ads on their websites and earn money every time a visitor views or clicks on an ad. Because it’s backed by Google, AdSense has one of the largest advertiser pools, which means high-quality ads and competitive CPC (Cost Per Click) rates.
AdSense is ideal for websites with quality traffic, good SEO, and a consistent audience. However, it also has strict approval requirements and a low tolerance for policy violations, which makes it harder for beginners to get started.
Adsterra
Adsterra is an ad network that provides a variety of ad formats including pop-unders, display banners, native ads, push notifications, and even social bar ads. Unlike AdSense, Adsterra is known for its relatively quick approval process, flexible policies, and ability to work well with small publishers and beginners.
It’s an excellent alternative for publishers who can’t get approved for AdSense or whose websites don’t meet Google’s strict guidelines.
2. Approval Process
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AdSense:
Getting approved for AdSense can be challenging. Google looks for websites with unique and valuable content, a professional design, clear navigation, and compliance with AdSense policies (no copyright infringement, adult content, or prohibited material). The approval process can take days to weeks. -
Adsterra:
Adsterra’s approval process is much faster. Most websites are approved within 24 hours. It is more beginner-friendly and accepts websites with lower traffic, though they still review sites for illegal or harmful content.
Verdict: Adsterra wins here. If you’re just starting out and want quick approval, Adsterra is the better option.
3. Ad Formats
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AdSense:
AdSense primarily offers display ads, in-feed ads, in-article ads, matched content (for eligible publishers), and anchor/overlay ads. These ads are less intrusive and blend well with website content, providing a good user experience. -
Adsterra:
Adsterra offers a wide variety of ad formats, including pop-unders, native banners, direct links, push notifications, and social bar ads. This makes it more versatile for monetizing different kinds of traffic and platforms (websites, mobile apps, even social traffic).
Verdict: Adsterra takes the lead for variety, while AdSense is better if you want minimal, user-friendly ads.
4. Revenue Model & Payment Rates
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AdSense:
AdSense uses CPC (Cost Per Click) and CPM (Cost Per Thousand Impressions) models. The CPC rates are typically higher because Google works with premium advertisers. Your earnings depend heavily on your niche, traffic location, and ad engagement. -
Adsterra:
Adsterra offers CPM, CPC, and CPA (Cost Per Action) models, depending on the ad type. Pop-under ads and push notifications often generate good CPM rates, especially if you have global traffic.
While AdSense can potentially pay more per click, Adsterra can generate steady income if you have a high volume of traffic and don’t mind using more aggressive ad formats.
5. Minimum Payout & Payment Methods
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AdSense:
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Minimum Payout: $100
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Payment Methods: Bank Transfer, Wire Transfer, EFT, Cheque, Western Union (varies by country)
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Payment Frequency: Monthly (if threshold is reached)
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Adsterra:
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Minimum Payout: $5 – $100 depending on payment method
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Payment Methods: PayPal, Bitcoin, WebMoney, Paxum, Tether (USDT), Wire Transfer, and more
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Payment Frequency: Net15 (payments every 15 days)
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Verdict: Adsterra is more flexible and pays faster with a much lower payout threshold.
6. Traffic Requirements
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AdSense:
There is no official traffic requirement for AdSense, but your website must have enough content and visitors to make the account worthwhile. Thin-content sites are often rejected. -
Adsterra:
No strict traffic requirements. Even new websites can get approved and start monetizing traffic immediately.
7. Policy Strictness
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AdSense:
Extremely strict. Any violation (invalid clicks, prohibited content, copyright issues) can result in suspension or permanent ban. -
Adsterra:
More lenient. While they still prohibit illegal content, they allow adult traffic (something AdSense does not support) and are generally more forgiving if issues arise.
8. Pros & Cons of Each
Google AdSense Pros
✅ High-quality ads from top advertisers
✅ High CPC rates, especially for competitive niches
✅ Non-intrusive ad formats that maintain a good user experience
✅ Trusted brand with a long history
Google AdSense Cons
❌ Hard to get approved for beginners
❌ Strict policies and risk of account ban
❌ $100 payout threshold can be hard to reach for small publishers
Adsterra Pros
✅ Quick approval process – great for beginners
✅ Wide range of ad formats (including pop-unders and push notifications)
✅ Accepts websites with low traffic
✅ Flexible payment options and low payout threshold
✅ Allows adult and more niche-specific content
Adsterra Cons
❌ Some ad formats (like pop-unders) can hurt user experience
❌ CPM rates may be lower compared to AdSense CPC
❌ More suitable for high-volume traffic than small, targeted traffic
9. Which Should You Choose?
The choice between AdSense and Adsterra depends on your website type, traffic, and goals.
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Choose AdSense if:
You have a well-established blog or website with original content, SEO traffic, and you prefer a clean, user-friendly experience with higher CPC rates. -
Choose Adsterra if:
You have a new website, social traffic, or you want to monetize global traffic quickly without worrying about strict policy compliance. It’s also great if you want more ad format variety and faster payouts.
10. Final Thoughts
Both AdSense and Adsterra are excellent ad networks, but they serve different types of publishers. Many website owners actually use them together (on different websites) to diversify their income streams.
If you’re just getting started, Adsterra is a good entry point to start earning while you work on building your traffic. Once your site matures and meets Google’s requirements, you can apply for AdSense to take advantage of higher-paying ads.
The best strategy? Test both, compare earnings, and stick with the one that maximizes your revenue without harming user experience.
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