April 8, 2025·by Himanshu·adsense / monetization / earnings
AdSense isnt dead, but its not king anymore — what is working instead
RPMs are flat, approvals are harder, and I am earning more from Monetag and Adsterra. Here is the breakdown by traffic type.
The numbers
Q1 2026 across my own sites (combined ~800K monthly pageviews):
| Network | RPM | Approval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AdSense | $1.40 | Strict | Main earner, but ceiling is real |
| Monetag | $2.80 | Instant | 2x RPM on Tier-3 traffic |
| Adsterra | $1.90 | Instant | Best for video & adult-adjacent |
What I would do today
For a brand-new site:
- Apply to Monetag first — instant approval, you start earning week 1
- Apply to AdSense at month 3 when you have content
- Run both in parallel — AdSense above the fold, Monetag in the sidebar/footer
For an established site:
- Do not replace AdSense. Stack on top of it.
- Monetag's smart push notifications are nearly invisible and earn well
The trick nobody talks about
Monetag's Smart Link monetizes traffic that AdSense rejects.
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