Native ad networks have come a long way, but let’s face it—many still clutter your site with spammy widgets that ruin the user experience. Finding a platform that actually respects your content while paying decent rates is like searching for a needle in a digital haystack.
That’s why the AffDude team has tested dozens of native ad networks over the last 15 years to find the ones that actually deliver.
We evaluated each platform on RPM performance, ad quality, fill rates, and dashboard transparency. These top picks maximize your revenue without turning your blog into a clickbait farm.
Why Native Advertising Works for Publishers?
Native ads blend seamlessly with your content, delivering 0.16% CTR on desktop and 0.38% on mobile—significantly outperforming traditional banner ads. This non-intrusive approach reduces ad fatigue whilst generating higher engagement rates and improved revenue potential for bloggers and publishers.
Modern native ad networks leverage first-party data and contextual targeting to serve relevant content recommendations that audiences genuinely find valuable. This alignment between advertiser goals and user experience creates a sustainable monetisation model that doesn't alienate your readership.
High-Quality Native Ad Networks for Publisher Monetization
| Native Ad Network | Traffic Scale | Optimization & Targeting Features |
|---|---|---|
| Outbrain | Global scale, top publishers | AI-driven content recommendations, behavioral targeting |
| Taboola | Large global reach | Advanced ML algorithms, interest-based targeting, audience retargeting |
| RevContent | Moderate to large | Strict content quality controls, contextual targeting |
| MGID | Medium scale, diverse GEOs | Geo-targeting, multiple native ad formats |
| Nativo | Growing global | Dynamic native ad placements, brand-safe targeting |
| RiverTraffic | Emerging growing | Real-time bidding, AI optimization |
| Adsterra | Large, 35B+ monthly impressions | Unique formats like Social Bar, device and browser targeting |
| Media.net | Large, via Bing/Yahoo | Contextual and native ads, demographic and keyword targeting |
| Google AdSense | Massive global coverage | Highly granular targeting, automated optimization |
1. Outbrain
Outbrain pioneered performance marketing on the open internet and continues setting industry benchmarks for Native Ad Networks for Bloggers and Publishers. As part of Teads, they've expanded resources whilst maintaining their commitment to exceptional publisher outcomes through advanced AI technology and contextual insights.
The platform connects publishers with premium advertisers seeking quality traffic, delivering content recommendations that generate genuine engagement. Their sophisticated bidding algorithms optimise for both click-through rates and downstream conversions, ensuring advertisers continue investing in your inventory.
⭐ Popular verticals: Finance, technology, lifestyle, health, e-commerce, and premium content publishers seeking brand-safe monetisation.
2. Taboola
Taboola delivers unmatched scale with 1.4 billion monthly users across their publisher network. Their specialised performance AI drives conversions through unique first-party data collected from powering both editorial and ad units across premium properties.
Taboola's conversion-focused approach targets users in the action stage of the funnel, making it ideal for publishers with audiences demonstrating commercial intent. Their Creative Shop has helped advertisers achieve 88% increases in conversion rates throughout 2024.
⭐ Popular verticals: E-commerce, enterprise brands, agency campaigns, financial services, technology products, and performance-driven advertisers seeking measurable outcomes.
3. RevContent
RevContent specialises in sustainable publisher revenue through cookieless native advertising that doesn't compromise user experience or page speed. Their lightweight widgets use significantly less page real estate than competing solutions whilst delivering competitive RPMs.
RevContent's AI-driven algorithms leverage extensive first-party advertiser demand to drive turnkey revenue without requiring feed units. Publishers maintain complete flexibility to work with other revenue solutions, maximising holistic monetisation potential.
⭐ Popular verticals: Content publishers, news sites, entertainment blogs, lifestyle media, and publishers prioritising user experience alongside monetisation.
4. MGID
MGID serves over 850 million unique users monthly across 200+ countries, offering publishers access to global advertiser demand through contextual targeting and sophisticated traffic insights. Their Traffic Insights feature provides actionable data about which geolocations generate optimal conversions.
The network balances scale with quality control, maintaining brand safety standards whilst delivering competitive payouts. Publishers benefit from multiple widget formats that integrate seamlessly with various content layouts.
⭐ Popular verticals: News publishers, entertainment content, technology blogs, lifestyle media, international traffic monetisation, and publishers serving diverse geographic audiences.
5. Nativo – Premium In-Feed Native
Nativo focuses on delivering high-quality branded content experiences through in-feed native advertising that maintains editorial standards. Their platform emphasises brand suitability and content relevance, making them ideal for publishers prioritising audience trust.
The company works primarily through custom partnerships with premium publishers, ensuring proper alignment between advertiser objectives and publisher audiences. Their AI-powered content delivery optimises both engagement and monetisation outcomes.
⭐ Popular verticals: Premium publishers, news organisations, magazine-style content, lifestyle brands, and media companies prioritising brand safety and content quality.
6. RiverTraffic
RiverTraffic offers publishers worldwide a flexible entry point into native advertising with no minimum traffic requirements. Their precise targeting capabilities help advertisers reach specific audiences whilst providing publishers with consistent demand across multiple geolocations.
The platform combines traditional native widgets with additional monetisation options, giving publishers flexibility in implementation strategies. Their global advertiser base ensures consistent fill rates across diverse traffic sources.
⭐ Popular verticals: Emerging publishers, international traffic, diverse content types, and publishers seeking flexible monetisation without strict approval requirements.
7. Adsterra
Adsterra combines native advertising with multiple additional formats including popunders, push notifications, and social bars. Their flexibility in accepting publishers without minimum traffic requirements makes them accessible to bloggers at any stage.
The platform's 15NET payment schedule processes payments every two weeks with a 15-day delay, providing more frequent payouts than many competitors. Publishers benefit from high CPM rates and 100% fill rates ensuring maximum inventory monetisation.
⭐ Popular verticals: Gaming, entertainment, software downloads, utilities, mobile apps, and publishers working with “grey niches” that stricter networks prohibit.
8. Media.net
Media.net serves contextual ads powered by the Yahoo-Bing network, offering publishers access to substantial advertiser demand from major search engines. Their contextual targeting analyses page content to deliver highly relevant ads that match user intent.
Media.net performs particularly well for publishers with US, UK, and Canadian traffic, where advertiser competition drives higher CPCs. Their responsive support team helps publishers optimise ad placements for maximum revenue generation.
⭐ Popular verticals: Technology blogs, finance content, business publications, software reviews, professional services, and publishers with Western English-speaking audiences.
9. Google AdSense
Google AdSense remains the gold standard for publisher monetisation, offering unmatched advertiser demand and reliable payment processing. Their native ad units integrate seamlessly with content whilst maintaining the quality standards that made AdSense the industry benchmark.
The platform's AI-powered optimisation automatically tests ad variations and placements to maximise revenue without requiring constant manual intervention. Publishers benefit from Google's massive advertiser ecosystem competing for inventory through real-time bidding.
⭐ Popular verticals: All content types meeting Google's quality standards, including blogs, news sites, entertainment content, educational resources, technology reviews, and general interest publishers.
💡 Native Ad Networks vs. Display Ads: What’s the Difference?
Native ad networks and display ads differ fundamentally in their approach to user experience, engagement, and visual integration.
Your Questions Answered: Native Ad Networks & Monetization
How much can publishers earn from native ads?
Revenue varies dramatically based on traffic quality, geographic distribution, and content vertical. Premium publishers achieve $5-20 RPM, whilst most sites generate $1-5 RPM.
Do native ads affect SEO performance?
Properly implemented native ads using lightweight widgets like RevContent minimally impact page speed, preserving SEO rankings whilst generating revenue.
Can I use multiple native ad networks simultaneously?
Yes, implementing header bidding or placing different networks on separate pages maximises revenue through increased competition for your inventory.
What traffic quality do native ad networks prefer?
Networks prioritise organic search traffic from Western countries demonstrating commercial intent, particularly users actively researching products or services.
Are native ads better than display advertising?
Native ads typically generate 0.16-0.38% CTR compared to 0.11% for display banners, whilst creating less user fatigue and better experience.
Do I need technical skills to implement native ads?
Most networks provide simple JavaScript widgets requiring basic HTML knowledge, whilst platforms like Google AdSense offer even simpler integration processes.
What content types work best with native advertising?
Editorial content including news, how-to guides, product reviews, and informational articles perform optimally, particularly when targeting commercial intent keywords.
Final Thoughts on Native Ad Monetisation
Native advertising remains one of the most sustainable revenue channels for publishers in 2026, offering 8–10x higher engagement than traditional display ads. By partnering with the right network, you can monetize your content seamlessly without sacrificing user experience or site speed.
If you manage a high-traffic news site or a niche blog, there is a platform tailored to your needs. Don't leave money on the table—test different networks, optimize your placements, and start turning your readership into reliable revenue today.
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