Key takeaways
- AdSense is one option among many, and often not the best one for small, niche, or community sites.
- Match the model to your audience: readers, buyers, communities, and gamers monetize differently.
- Combining two or three models usually earns more than relying on a single one.
Why publishers look for AdSense alternatives
Google AdSense is the default first step for many website owners: you add a code snippet, Google fills the space with ads, and you earn from the views and clicks they get. It is simple, but it does not suit everyone. Publishers usually start looking elsewhere for one of these reasons:
- The site was not approved, or the account was limited after a policy issue.
- Earnings are too low because traffic is small or comes mostly from lower-paying countries.
- Many visitors use ad blockers, so a large share of pages earn nothing.
- The property is not a content site at all, but an app, a game, a Discord server, or a tool.
- Display ads hurt the experience and the owner wants something that fits the product better.
The good news is that display ads are only one of at least eight ways to earn from an audience. Here they are, with who each one suits, starting with the one we recommend for most interactive properties.
| Model | You earn from | Works best for |
|---|---|---|
| Offerwalls | Completed offers | Rewards sites, games, apps, communities |
| Display ad networks | Views and clicks | Content sites with steady traffic |
| Native and recommendation ads | Clicks | News sites and blogs |
| Affiliate marketing | Sales and leads | Reviews, comparisons, how-to content |
| Sponsorships | A fixed fee | Niche audiences, newsletters, podcasts |
| Memberships | Recurring payments | Loyal audiences and communities |
| Digital products | Direct sales | Expert and hobby niches |
| Rewarded ads | Completed video views | Games and apps |
Our recommendation
For games, apps, rewards sites, and communities, our first pick is the Sharklio offerwall. You reward users in your own currency at your own exchange rate and receive a signed postback for every reward and chargeback. Publisher accounts are opening soon. See how the Sharklio offerwall works.
1. Offerwalls such as Sharklio
An offerwall is a page inside your site, game, or app that lists offers such as trying an app, signing up for a service, or answering a survey. Users who complete an offer receive your own currency, such as coins, gems, or points, and you earn from the advertiser for every completed offer. Nobody is forced to see anything, because users choose to open the wall. Best for: rewards sites, games with a virtual currency, apps, and communities with a points or level system. Watch out for: fraud and reversals, which need server-side checks and a clear hold period. What is an offerwall? explains the model in full.
Shark Earnings, our sister site, is a rewards site built around offerwalls and surveys, and its guide What is a GPT site? shows how the model looks from the user’s side.
2. Other display ad networks
Other networks work like AdSense: they place banner and video ads on your pages and pay per thousand impressions. Some sell to more advertisers or optimise placements more aggressively, which can raise earnings on the same traffic. The premium ones usually ask for a minimum amount of monthly traffic and mostly visitors from high-paying countries. Best for: content sites that already have steady search traffic. Watch out for: heavy ad layouts that slow the page and push readers away.
3. Native and content recommendation ads
Native ads look like part of the page, often as a block of recommended articles below the content. They pay mainly per click. Best for: news and entertainment sites with many page views. Watch out for: low-quality clickbait from some networks, which can damage trust in your site.
4. Affiliate marketing
You recommend a product with a tracked link and earn a commission when a reader buys or signs up. Affiliate income can be far higher per visitor than display ads when the content matches buying intent, such as reviews, comparisons, and tutorials. Best for: sites that help people choose something. Watch out for: recommending products only for the commission. Readers notice, and so does search.
5. Direct sponsorships
A brand pays you a fixed fee to be featured in an article, newsletter, video, or server announcement. You set the price and the rules, and no network takes a share. Best for: focused niches where brands want exactly your audience. Watch out for: the time it takes to find and manage sponsors, and the need to label sponsored content clearly.
6. Memberships and subscriptions
Readers or members pay monthly for extra content, an ad-free experience, early access, or a private community. Income is predictable and grows with loyalty rather than traffic. Best for: creators and communities with a devoted core. Watch out for: the ongoing work of giving members something new every month.
7. Digital products
Sell something you make once and deliver many times: templates, guides, courses, presets, tools, or game assets. Margins are high because there is no stock. Best for: sites where readers trust your expertise. Watch out for: payments, taxes, and support, which you now handle yourself.
8. Rewarded video ads
In games and apps, users choose to watch a short video ad in exchange for an in-game reward, such as an extra life or a bonus. They pay per completed view and are well accepted because users opt in. Best for: mobile games and apps with frequent sessions. Watch out for: giving too many rewards, which can hurt in-app purchases.
How to choose the right mix
- Think about intent. Readers who want to buy suit affiliate links. Readers who want to learn suit display ads and products. Users who want to earn or progress suit offerwalls and rewarded ads.
- Look at where your audience lives. Display ads pay much less for visitors from lower-paying countries, while offerwalls and affiliate programs often have offers for many markets. See Tier 1, 2 and 3 countries explained.
- Consider the format. A Discord server cannot show banners, but it can run an offerwall on a companion website, sponsorships, and memberships.
- Count your time. Networks are mostly passive. Sponsorships, memberships, and products need ongoing work but keep more of the money with you.
Example with sample numbers
A game guide site has 60,000 monthly visitors. Display ads earn $3 per thousand page views on 120,000 page views, which is $360 a month. The owner adds a points system and an offerwall for logged-in readers: 1,500 of them open it, 10% complete an offer, and the average earning is $0.80 per completion, which adds $120. Affiliate links to the games bring another $90. Three models together earn about 60% more than display ads alone.
Can you use AdSense and an alternative together?
Usually yes. Many sites run display ads on articles, affiliate links inside the content, and an offerwall on its own page. Read the policies of every network you use: most display networks forbid encouraging users to click their ads, so never place rewards on or next to display ads, and keep any offerwall clearly separate.
Earning with the Sharklio offerwall
Sharklio publishers add an offerwall or connect our API, reward users in their own currency at their own exchange rate, and receive a postback for every reward and chargeback. Publisher accounts are opening soon, and every application is reviewed by our team. Read How the Sharklio offerwall works and Get your publisher account approved to prepare.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to AdSense?
It depends on the property. For content sites, other display networks and affiliate links. For games, apps, and communities, offerwalls and rewarded ads. Most sites earn the most with a combination.
Can a small website make money without AdSense?
Yes. Affiliate links, sponsorships, and offerwalls can work with a small but engaged audience, because they pay for actions rather than for large numbers of page views.
Do I need a lot of traffic for an offerwall?
No, but you need engaged users with a reason to earn your currency, such as a game, a rewards program, or community perks. A few hundred active users can matter more than thousands of passing visitors.
Which pays more, AdSense or affiliate marketing?
Affiliate links usually earn more per visitor on content with buying intent, while display ads earn something on every page. Many sites use both.