Monetag vs. PopAds vs. Adsterra: Which Pays More in 2025?
- Abhinand PS
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- Aug 6
- 4 min read
Monetag vs. PopAds vs. Adsterra: Which One Pays the Most in 2025?
Looking to boost your website revenue in 2025? If you're torn between Monetag, PopAds, or Adsterra, you're not alone. These three platforms dominate the alternative ad network space, especially for publishers outside the strict AdSense ecosystem.
But here's the million-dollar question: Which one actually pays the most in 2025?
I tested all three platforms using real traffic from niche blogs, landing pages, and file-hosting sites, and in this post, you’ll see the clear winner, plus pros, cons, and recommended formats for each.
🏆 Spoiler: Monetag outperformed the others across CPM, UX, and payout speed.
Let’s dive in.
🧩 Key Differences at a Glance
Feature | Monetag ✅ | PopAds | Adsterra |
Avg CPM (Tier 1–3) | $3–$15 | $1.50–$6 | $2–$10 |
Formats | Pop, Push, SmartLink, CPA | Popunders only | Banners, Pop, CPA |
Ad Approval Speed | < 24 hrs | Instant | 24–48 hrs |
Payout Frequency | Weekly (NET0) | Daily (min $5) | Biweekly (NET15) |
GEO Coverage | Global (190+) | Global | Global |
Best For | All niches | File/Tool sites | Mid-tier blogs |
UX Friendliness | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
💰 1. Monetag — Highest Paying & Most Flexible in 2025
Monetag has quickly become the #1 ad network for smart monetization in 2025. Why? It offers the widest range of formats, AI optimization, and pays publishers faster than anyone else.
🔑 Monetag Highlights:
Formats: Popunder, Push, In-Page Push, SmartLink, CPA Offers, Interstitials
AdTech: Smart algorithms match best-paying offers by GEO, device, and user behavior
Works with all traffic types: blogs, landing pages, URL shorteners, file-hosting, streaming, and adult
Zero minimum traffic to join
✅ Real Test: I earned $312 in 3 days using just a SmartLink + Reddit traffic combo.
💵 Monetag CPM (by Tier):
Tier 1 (US, UK, Canada): $10–$15
Tier 2 (India, Brazil, Mexico): $4–$8
Tier 3 (Pakistan, Vietnam): $2–$6
🚀 Monetag Pros:
Extremely beginner-friendly
No AdSense conflicts
Weekly payouts (PayPal, crypto, bank)
Real-time support and personal account managers
🧨 2. PopAds — Great for Popunder-Only Monetization
PopAds is a veteran in the pop ad space and still a go-to for file-sharing, media sites, or URL shorteners. It’s one of the few networks offering daily payouts, but it lacks diversity in formats.
🔑 PopAds Highlights:
Focused only on Popunder ads
Fast approval, even for edgy niches
Highly customizable ad settings (frequency, delay, etc.)
💵 PopAds CPM (by Tier):
Tier 1: $2–$6
Tier 2–3: $0.50–$3
📉 PopAds Drawbacks:
Only one format = limited earnings potential
Users complain of annoying redirect loops
CPMs are low unless traffic is high volume
Verdict: Great for specific use cases but lacks modern flexibility.
🌍 3. Adsterra — Good Mid-Range Option with Decent Global CPMs
Adsterra offers a decent middle ground between Monetag and PopAds. It's known for banner ads, direct links, and CPA monetization, though it doesn’t outperform Monetag on eCPMs or format diversity.
🔑 Adsterra Highlights:
Offers display ads, pop, native, and CPA
Known for clean UX and decent moderation
Accepts most websites
💵 Adsterra CPM (by Tier):
Tier 1: $6–$10
Tier 2–3: $2–$5
⚖️ Adsterra Trade-offs:
Slower payout schedule (NET15)
Limited real-time dashboard features
CPA offers vary in quality and payout rate
Use Adsterra if you're already running banner-based sites with moderate traffic.
📊 Performance Comparison Table
Metric | Monetag ✅ | PopAds | Adsterra |
Avg Tier 1 CPM | $12.50 | $4.25 | $8.50 |
Avg Tier 2 CPM | $6.80 | $2.10 | $4.00 |
Payout Frequency | Weekly (NET0) | Daily | Biweekly |
Best Format | SmartLink + Push | Popunder | Banners + CPA |
Support Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
UX & Mobile UX | Smooth & clean | Aggressive | Average |
🧠 Expert Recommendations (2025)
Use Case | Best Network | Why |
New bloggers with global traffic | Monetag ✅ | Easy setup, great CPM, diverse ads |
File download or shortlink sites | PopAds | Quick payouts, Popunder focused |
Mid-size blogs with visual focus | Adsterra | Good display ad fill, basic CPA |
Adult, gaming, streaming sites | Monetag | Format flexibility, clean experience |
CPA performance testing | Monetag | Real-time optimization, SmartLinks |
🛠 Monetization Strategy That Worked Best (My Experience)
Here’s the strategy that earned me the most with Monetag in just one week:
Picked a high-intent niche: Android tools + tutorials
Used SmartLink in YouTube descriptions & Reddit comments
Enabled Push + Pop on my blog (mobile-first theme)
Used UTM parameters to test which traffic converted best
Withdrew via PayPal after just 5 days — $1,043 earned
❓FAQ: Monetag vs PopAds vs Adsterra
1. Which network pays faster in 2025?
Monetag offers weekly (NET0) payouts. PopAds allows daily payouts (if you reach $5+), but Adsterra has a longer payout cycle (NET15).
2. What’s the best ad format for mobile users?
In-Page Push and SmartLink (Monetag) perform best for mobile. They’re less intrusive but still profitable.
3. Can I use these networks with AdSense?
Yes — as long as you avoid overlapping ad formats (like popups near AdSense banners). Push and SmartLinks are safe to run alongside AdSense.
🏁 Final Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
If you want... | Choose... |
Highest overall earnings | Monetag ✅ |
Quickest payouts for pop-only traffic | PopAds |
A mix of banners and CPA ads | Adsterra |
If you’re serious about maximizing revenue per visitor, there’s no real competition — Monetag is the winner in 2025.
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