Adsterra Review A Viable Adsense Alternative for Blog Monetization
Adsterra Review A Viable Adsense Alternative for Blog Monetization
I’ve known about Adsterra for quite some time, but I never seriously considered using it on my blog. My initial assumption was that Adsterra was primarily used for spammy blogs, mainly because I often saw it on download sites and low-quality content platforms.
However, after testing it on a regular blog with standard articles, I found that the results were actually quite promising.
This article provides a detailed review of Adsterra after using it for 10 days, including a comparison with Google Adsense on my blog and other key insights.
Note: I’ve only recently started monetizing my blogs with Adsterra, and I’m not using any tricks or hacks. This review is based purely on my experience.
For an update after 40 days of using Adsterra, check out my Adsterra Review Update article.
Why I Started Using Adsterra
It happened by chance. I had briefly used Adsterra before, but only on low-quality websites, and the earnings were negligible. However, everything changed in December 2023 when I attended a meetup with Arif Abdul Gafur, a well-known figure in the industry.
I was blown away by his daily earnings from Adsterra, which were significantly higher than I expected. That’s when I decided to give it a try on my own blogs.
After 11 days of implementation, the earnings turned out to be quite impressive. Here’s what I’ve made so far:
Note: I haven’t reached my first payout yet. I’ll update this article once I do.
Sign Up for Adsterra Here
Types of Blogs I Used for Adsterra
I implemented Adsterra ads on several blogs with standard article-based content. However, these blogs were mass-generated using AI, so they could still be considered low-effort sites.
I tested Adsterra on 8 different blogs, each with varying traffic levels, ranging from 10 visitors per day to 1,000 visitors per day.
Additionally, all my blogs target international audiences, meaning they are written in English or other foreign languages—not Indonesian.
Adsterra vs. Adsense: A Comparison
For an accurate comparison, I installed both Adsterra and Adsense on the same blog.
Blog Details:
- Daily Traffic: 800-1,000 visitors
- Niche: Not disclosed 😉, but written in English
- Ad Placement: Replaced one Adsense spot with an Adsterra display banner
- Remaining Adsense Ads: Two ad placements within the article, plus auto ads enabled
- Audience: Global visitors, not country-specific
Earnings Comparison (December 31, 2023 – January 10, 2024)
| Ad Network | Total Earnings |
|---|---|
| Adsense | ~ Rp 430,000 (around $28) |
| Adsterra | $127 |
How I Use Adsterra
There’s no secret strategy—at least, not yet. My current approach is very simple:
✅ I use only one display banner ad
✅ I disable Erotic Ads and Gambling Ads
❌ I don’t use popunders, direct links, or other ad formats
According to Arif, there are many advanced strategies to maximize Adsterra earnings, but I haven’t experimented with them yet. Maybe I’ll explore them once my other websites are fully set up.
How to Register a Website on Adsterra
Adsterra doesn’t have strict requirements for website approval. You can register multiple sites, and the approval process is usually instant.
Do I need to register all my websites?
Not necessarily. You can register just one website and use the same ad code on multiple sites. If you don’t have a website, you can still monetize traffic using Adsterra’s Direct Link ads.
Adsterra Ad Formats
Adsterra offers several ad types, including:
- Direct Link Ads – A link that redirects users to a dynamic page based on their location.
- Popunder Ads – Opens a new tab with an advertisement (common on download sites).
- Display Banner Ads – Standard banner ads, like those used on Adsense.
- Native Banner Ads – Ads that resemble “related posts” sections, with images and headlines.
- Social Bar Ads – Floating ads/icons similar to popups.
- Web Push Ads – Push notifications (requires special activation).
Which Ad Format is Best?
It depends on your blog.
- For general blogs: Display ads work best.
- For download or streaming sites: Popunder ads might be more profitable but can be annoying for visitors.
Important Note:
Adsterra’s Display Banner Ads may sometimes include popunder ads by default. If this happens, contact support and request them to disable popunders from your display ads. This setting isn’t available in the dashboard, so you’ll need to provide a screenshot or screen recording as proof.
How Adsterra Calculates Earnings
Adsterra operates on a CPM (Cost Per Mille) basis, meaning you get paid per 1,000 ad impressions.
- CPM rates vary based on advertisers, niche, and visitor location.
- Tier 1 countries (USA, UK, Canada, etc.) have high CPM rates.
- Lower-tier countries (Indonesia, India, etc.) typically generate lower earnings.
Payment Schedule:
Adsterra processes payments biweekly (every two weeks). However, if you earn over $100 per week, you can request weekly payouts.
Is Adsterra a Good Adsense Alternative?
Based on my experience, yes—but with some conditions:
✔ If your visitors are from high-CPM countries, Adsterra can be more profitable than Adsense.
❌ If your traffic comes from lower-tier countries, Adsense might still be the better option.
This concludes my first Adsterra review. I’ll update this article as I continue testing. If you’re interested in trying Adsterra, feel free to sign up through my referral link below (it helps me out! 😆).
Would you like me to add anything else, such as SEO-optimized headings or additional monetization tips? 🚀