Growing an audience
Running the business
Both cover ad networks. Here is what separates them on price, billing, what you can take with you, and coverage.
| Google AdSense | Raptive | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Billing | Usage-based | Not stated |
| Free trial | Not stated | Not stated |
| API | Not stated | Not stated |
| Data export | Not stated | Not stated |
| Their cut | 20% of what you earn | Not stated |
| Runs on | Not stated | Not stated |
| Covers | Ad Networks, Monetization & Payments | Ad Networks, Brand Deals & Sponsorships |
| Works with | Nothing in particular | Nothing in particular |
| Founded | Not listed | Not listed |
| Reader rating | No reviews yet | No reviews yet |
| Live deals | None right now | None right now |
Ads on your site, paid out by Google
AdSense is the default answer to putting ads on a site, and for most creators it is the only one available until traffic grows enough for a managed network to take the call. Setup is a script tag and a review. The rate per thousand views is lower than what Raptive or Mediavine negotiate, and the trade is that nobody has to want you first.
Our note
Start here, and treat the 25,000 pageview mark as the day to apply to Raptive. The same traffic earns several times more through a managed network, and the switch is a script change.
Only on this side
Ad management for sites past 25,000 pageviews
Raptive, which was AdThrive until 2024, sells ads on behalf of sites that have enough traffic to be worth a salesperson. Rates per thousand views run well above what a self-serve network pays, and the company handles layout, video units and direct deals. The catch is the door: a site under the pageview floor cannot apply.
Our note
The reason to move here from AdSense is the rate per thousand views, not the features. Ask for the revenue split in writing before switching, because it is the one number the site will not tell you.
Only on this side
Ratings are the average of reviews readers left. The facts are stated by each tool’s own listing and are not verified by CloutStack. How we make money.