Is your blog finally getting enough traffic to monetize with ads? Choosing the right ad network can be the difference between coffee money and rent money. Here’s a side-by-side look at Mediavine vs. Raptive (formerly AdThrive) — with firsthand insights from a blogger who earned $45 RPM with Mediavine without ever hitting massive traffic numbers.
🔍 Quick Summary / Key Takeaways
- Mediavine requires 50K sessions/month, Raptive requires 100K pageviews/month.
- Raptive may have higher RPM ceilings for very large lifestyle or finance blogs, but only if your site qualifies.
- Mediavine works well even for mid-tier bloggers, with strong ad fill rates and personalized support.
- Payout timelines are slow (Net 60+), but steady and professional.
- DIY ad waterfall methods can still work, especially if you’re under the traffic threshold.
- Your ad income depends more on niche, user engagement, and site speed than raw traffic numbers alone.
Ad Network Comparison: Mediavine vs. Raptive
| Feature | Mediavine | Raptive (AdThrive) |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Requirement | 50,000 monthly sessions | 100,000 monthly pageviews |
| Niche Restrictions | Open to all niches | Prefers lifestyle, parenting, finance |
| Average RPM | $15–$40+ (some get $50+) | $15–$50+ (can be higher for top earners) |
| Payout Schedule | Net 65 | Net 45–60 |
| Contract Terms | 90-day rolling | 30-day notice (but exclusive) |
| Customer Support | Personalized, responsive | High-touch, especially for large sites |
| Dashboard/UX | Clean and beginner-friendly | Feature-rich but more complex |
| Mobile Optimization | Strong | Strong |
| Bonus Programs | Loyalty bonuses, referrals | RPM bonuses for high performers |
| Publisher Size | Great for mid-size blogs | Best for large-scale publishers |
Simple Checklist: Is Your Blog Ready for an Ad Network?
Use this before applying:
- 50,000+ sessions/month (Mediavine) or 100,000+ pageviews (Raptive)
- HTTPS secure site
- Fast-loading, mobile-optimized layout
- Unique, high-quality content (no scraped/AI-only sites)
- No major ad policy violations
- Google Analytics installed + public traffic stats
- Patience — approval can take 2–3 weeks
If you’re not there yet, don’t panic. There are other ways to monetize while you grow — or build your own ad waterfall, like I did.
Intro: How I Earned $45 RPM Without Raptive
I’ve been blogging since the Google Friend Connect days. My first ads came from Google AdSense — easy approval, terrible payouts. I’m talking $2–$5 RPM. Not enough to even cover hosting.
But I didn’t settle.
I built my own DIY ad waterfall, layering multiple ad networks. If AdSense didn’t fill, the next network would. Then the next. That simple setup — years before “header bidding” was common — pushed my RPM up to $15–$25, even as a small blogger.
Eventually, I got accepted into Mediavine. I stayed with them for six years, and here’s the part that matters: even as my traffic dropped below the threshold, my RPM stayed steady at $45. Month after month.
I never qualified for Raptive. My traffic wasn’t massive. But I didn’t need it to be. Because I optimized what I had — and it paid.
Let’s break down how Mediavine and Raptive really compare, what I’d do if I were starting today, and why ad income isn’t just about traffic — it’s about strategy.
Table of Contents
FAQ
faq 1 What are RPMs and why do they matter?
RPM (Revenue per Mille) measures how much money you earn per 1,000 pageviews. It’s the core metric to compare ad performance.
- $5 RPM = $5 per 1,000 pageviews
- $45 RPM = $45 per 1,000 pageviews
Your RPM is affected by:
- Niche (finance > food > lifestyle)
- Seasonality (Q4 is gold)
- Ad placements (above the fold = $$$)
- Site speed & layout
👉 Always compare networks using RPM, not just raw income. It tells the real story.
faq 2 Why did you pick Mediavine over Raptive?
Honestly, I never even hit the traffic numbers required to apply to Raptive. But I didn’t need to.
Mediavine accepted my blog at 50K sessions/month, and the support, tools, and payouts were rock solid.
I consistently made $45 RPM, even when my traffic dipped. Raptive might offer higher payouts if you’re huge — but most bloggers aren’t. Mediavine was perfect for my scale and sanity.
faq 3 What if I don’t have enough traffic yet?
Don’t despair. You have options:
- Google AdSense — tiny payouts but easy entry.
- Ezoic or Monumetric — accept smaller sites.
- Build a DIY ad waterfall using multiple networks.
- Focus on affiliate income or digital products until you qualify.
And keep publishing. Traffic grows with time, content, and consistency.
faq 4 Is Raptive worth it if you qualify?
For some niches — especially high RPM verticals like personal finance or parenting — yes. Raptive offers:
- Advanced reporting
- Higher RPM ceilings
- Personalized account managers
But with great power comes exclusivity. Their contracts are tighter, their onboarding more rigorous. If you’re ready to scale like a media company, go for it. Otherwise, Mediavine is a safer bet.
faq 5 Do niche and content type affect ad income?
Absolutely.
| Niche | Typical RPM Range |
|---|---|
| Finance / Tech | $30–$60+ |
| Parenting | $20–$50 |
| Food / Recipes | $15–$40 |
| DIY / Craft | $10–$30 |
| General Lifestyle | $5–$25 |
Also, long-form content with multiple scroll depths earns more. Clean design, fast-loading pages, and engaged users all help boost RPM.
faq 6 What’s a DIY ad waterfall and should I do it?
A DIY ad waterfall means stacking ad networks in a priority order. If one can’t fill, the next one tries. Example:
- Google AdSense
- Media.net
- InfoLinks
This setup ensures no impressions go to waste.
I used this before Mediavine and it kept my income surprisingly steady. It’s more techy, but you can learn the basics — and I’ll be launching a paid course soon to walk through it all.
faq 7 How do you maximize Mediavine RPM?
Here’s what worked for me:
- Shorten paragraphs: Improves scroll depth.
- Use jump links and TOCs: Keeps people reading.
- Optimize mobile layout: 80%+ of readers are on phones.
- Target Q4 content: Holiday = higher ad rates.
- Avoid blocking categories: Adult content, medical claims, etc.
RPM isn’t static. Treat it like a game — and play to win.
faq 8 How long do payouts take and what should I expect?
Both Mediavine and Raptive pay Net 60 or Net 65 — meaning, you’re paid two months after the traffic is earned.
- Example: January earnings → paid end of March.
- They pay via PayPal or direct deposit.
- Expect a minimum payout threshold (usually $25–$100).
Don’t panic if it feels slow at first. Once it’s rolling, it becomes predictable.
faq 9 Where can I learn more?
🧠 Advanced Tips / Best Practices
- Use heatmaps (Hotjar, Clarity) to see where users stop scrolling.
- Run speed audits — fast-loading sites earn more.
- Track RPM by post, not just sitewide — double down on high performers.
- Update old content to be ad-optimized.
- Don’t block ads with popups or interstitials.
🎯 Final Thoughts / Next Steps
You don’t need 500K pageviews to earn serious ad income. I never cracked 100K — but I still earned $45 RPM, month after month, with Mediavine and smart planning.
Whether you’re dreaming of joining Raptive or just trying to get out of AdSense purgatory, there’s a path forward.
If you want the technical how-to for my DIY ad waterfall method (plus templates), get on the list for my course — it’s coming soon.
Click here to be notified.
✍️ Author Bio
Kelly Bejelly is a veteran blogger with over 14 years of experience monetizing content across food, lifestyle, and health niches. She built, scaled, and sold her blog A Girl Worth Saving after consistently earning top-tier ad revenue through Mediavine — all without chasing massive traffic. She now runs Money Diary, helping creators build sustainable, diversified income streams.
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