Why Google AdSense Is Better Than Other Ad Networks For New Bloggers

You start a blog, you pour your time into every post, and then the big question hits: how do you actually turn those pageviews into money?

The internet is full of names like AdSense, Media.net, Ezoic, Mediavine, AdThrive, and Raptive. Each one promises great earnings, but as a new or growing blogger it can feel like choosing a credit card in a language you barely know.

This is where Google AdSense quietly shines. Some premium networks can pay more per visit, but AdSense often wins on ease, trust, and simple access. For most small and mid‑size sites, it is the best first step into display ads.

Why Google AdSense Is The Easiest Way To Start Making Money With Ads

For beginners, ease is everything. You do not want to spend weeks wrestling with code or staring at confusing dashboards. You want to copy a snippet, paste it once, and get back to writing.

That is where AdSense beats almost every other network for new bloggers.

No traffic limits: AdSense works for tiny and brand‑new blogs

Most premium ad networks want you to be “successful” before they even let you in. Mediavine, for example, has long listed a minimum of 50,000 sessions per month as a core requirement for its main program, which they explain in their own Mediavine requirements overview. Raptive and AdThrive usually look for similar or higher levels of traffic, often in the 50,000 to 100,000 visits or pageviews range.

AdSense plays a different game. There is no hard minimum traffic requirement to apply. Even Google’s own community support threads repeat that there is no minimum traffic requirement to apply for AdSense, as long as your site meets policy and quality rules.

That means a tiny hobby blog with 100 visits in a month can still show ads and earn something. It might only be a few dollars at first, but you get experience, data, and the feeling that your blog is “real” now.

Picture this: you run a small baking blog, share the link with friends, and see your first 120 visits in a weekend. With most premium networks, you are still invisible. With AdSense, you can already have ads running and see your first cents appear.

For a new blogger, that early feedback matters. It keeps you motivated to write the next post.

Fast approval and simple setup on almost any platform

AdSense tries to keep the setup simple. You apply, wait a few days in many cases, and once you are approved you paste a short piece of code on your site. That is usually it.

Guides like this AdSense approval guide for 2025 show that many new publishers get in without huge traffic or tech skills. AdSense works with WordPress, Blogger, many page builders, and even custom sites. Most popular themes and hosts already have a clear spot to paste the code.

Compare that with some alternatives. Ezoic often requires DNS changes at the domain level. That can feel scary if you are not comfortable touching DNS records. Premium networks like Mediavine or AdThrive sometimes need more complex setups, extra scripts, or closer checks on speed, layout, and content.

If you are a writer, not a developer, every extra tech step adds stress. AdSense reduces that stress and lets you start earning with only basic website skills.

Auto ads and smart matching do the heavy lifting for you

Once the code is in place, AdSense can handle a lot of the hard work through Auto ads. In plain language, Auto ads mean:

• Google scans your pages
• It chooses where and when to show ads
• It tests different placements and layouts over time

You do not need to guess where to place banners, how many to show, or which sizes to pick. Auto ads can add in‑content ads, anchor ads, and other formats in a way that usually balances earnings with user experience.

This helps beginners avoid common mistakes, like stuffing every open space with ads or placing banners in strange spots. AdSense also connects you to a huge pool of advertisers, so fill rates are very high and most ad slots actually show something and earn you money.

You keep focus on writing and growing traffic, while AdSense quietly experiments in the background.

How AdSense Beats Other Networks In Trust, Control, And Flexibility

Money matters, but peace of mind matters too. Many bloggers want to know two things: “Will I get paid on time?” and “Do I still control what appears on my site?”

AdSense scores well on both.

Backed by Google: strong brand trust and reliable monthly payments

AdSense is a Google product and has been around for many years. That alone makes many site owners feel safer. You are not trusting a brand‑new company with your main income stream.

AdSense pays publishers around the 21st of each month once their account reaches the standard $100 threshold. The rules are clear, and the schedule is stable. While some smaller networks also pay on time, they do not have the same long track record or global support system.

If you rely on your blog income to cover rent or bills, this stability matters. You do not want to wake up to a surprise email from a small ad network saying they are shutting down or changing terms overnight.

With AdSense, you are part of a system that thousands of bloggers and large publishers use every month.

Full control of ad types, placements, and what brands appear

AdSense gives you a detailed control panel where you can:

• Block certain ad categories
• Filter sensitive topics
• Turn off ads from certain buyers
• Adjust formats and placements

This level of control is a big deal if you care about your brand or your audience’s values. For example, a parenting or school blog might block dating or gambling ads to keep the site family‑friendly.

Some managed networks do offer category controls, but they often make most placement choices for you. That can be handy for hands‑off site owners, but it also means less flexibility if you want to fine‑tune your layout or brand rules.

With AdSense, you choose. You can start with Auto ads, then switch some placements to manual if you want more control later.

Works well with other income streams and future upgrades

AdSense also fits nicely into a mixed income plan. You can run AdSense alongside:

• Affiliate links
• Sponsored posts
• Your own digital products or services

There are no heavy‑handed rules stopping you from adding other income streams, as long as you follow the AdSense policies.

Even better, AdSense does not lock you in forever. You can:

• Start with AdSense while your site is small
• Apply to Ezoic, Mediavine, AdThrive, or Raptive once you hit their traffic or revenue requirements
• Keep AdSense running on some pages or ad slots if that mix works best for you

Think of AdSense as a flexible base layer. It teaches you how ads work, without boxing you into a single future path.

What About Earnings: Is AdSense Really Better Than Other Ad Networks?

Honesty matters here. Many publishers report that networks like Mediavine, AdThrive, or Raptive can pay higher RPMs, often in the $20 to $80 range in strong niches.

So how can AdSense still be “better” in many real cases?

Higher RPM is useless if you cannot get approved

Premium networks set high bars. Mediavine’s documentation has long pointed to a 50,000‑session requirement for its main program, and sites like This Week In Blogging explain how Mediavine and Raptive have shifted and clarified entry requirements. Raptive and AdThrive look for similar or higher levels of consistent traffic.

If you have a site with 1,000 to 5,000 pageviews per month, those networks may not even read your application. Their higher RPM is just a number on someone else’s screenshot.

Now picture two new blogs, each getting 3,000 pageviews a month:

• Blog A uses AdSense and earns, say, $10 to $25 in a month
• Blog B is not big enough for premium networks and has no ads at all

In theory, Blog B could earn more with a future premium network. In practice, today, Blog A is doing better because it is the only one actually earning.

For small and mid‑size sites, “available now” often beats “possibly higher later.”

Steady growth: learn with AdSense now, earn more later

AdSense is also a training ground. While your traffic is small, you can learn:

• What RPM and CPC mean in real life
• How ad placements affect click‑through and user behavior
• How seasonal trends or new posts change your ad income

By the time you hit 50,000 or 100,000 visits, you are not guessing anymore. You understand basic ad metrics, know how your audience reacts to ads, and can make smarter choices about upgrading to another network or staying with a well‑tuned AdSense setup.

In that sense, AdSense is not the ceiling. It is the foundation that helps you grow both your income and your skills.

Conclusion: Start Simple With AdSense, Grow Into Premium Networks Later

For most new or growing blogs, AdSense wins where it matters most: easy approval, no strict traffic limits, simple setup, strong trust, real control, and flexible use alongside other income sources. Premium networks like Mediavine, AdThrive, and Raptive can pay more per thousand views, but they want big, established sites.

If you are under roughly 50,000 monthly visits, AdSense is usually the smartest starting point. You can earn while you learn, adjust your ad setup, and watch real numbers in your dashboard instead of dreaming about future RPMs.

Take a quiet moment to look at your current traffic and your goals. If you are still small, apply for AdSense and start building that foundation. As you grow, you can decide whether to stay, optimize, or move into a premium network that fits your next stage.