Finding the right monetisation platform can make all the difference between steady income and untapped potential for your app or website. Be it a mobile app developer, a website owner, or a digital publisher, the way you manage and monetise your ad inventory matters when it comes to generating ad revenue.
An ad network acts like a bridge between the publishers and advertisers. A publisher offers ad spaces on their websites or mobile apps to advertisers, while the ad network handles the complex back end, from ad tag implementation and header bidding to programmatic advertising and demand partner relationships. In turn, you (as a publisher) earn revenue from every click or impression those ads generate.
The digital advertising industry has been on the rise for the past few years. In 2024, the total global ad spending was over US$1 trillion, with a large chunk of it (about 72.7%) spent on digital ads. This constant growth is an indicator of the number of opportunities for online publishers to maximise ad revenue. At the same time, these astronomical numbers highlight the cut-throat competition among ad networks and ad tech providers to gain publisher loyalty.
This blog explores and compares three major monetisation platforms: MonetizeMore, Freestar, and Publift. We will look into how each platform functions, connect publishers and demand partners, the ad formats they support, and how they balance user experience with revenue growth.
In the following sections, we will dive deeper into how these platforms can be compared when it comes to traffic requirements, ad management approach, technology stack, analytics, and overall revenue optimisation.
MonetizeMore vs Freestar vs. Publift: Full Overview
Revenue share, CPM earnings, and Traffic Requirements
| Netzwerk | Verkehrsanforderungen | Umsatzbeteiligungsmodell | CPM/Earnings Indicative |
|---|
| MonetarisierenMehr | Established publishers with monthly ad revenue above ~US$1,000 or a strong traffic profile. | Revenue-share; publisher retains majority share, network takes a fee. | Customer testimonies show RPM increases, in some cases 28 % or more. |
| Freestar | Typically 1 million+ page-views per month or equivalent scale and 12-month history. | Fully managed yield-management; revenue share not always publicly disclosed. | A highlighted case: 67 % higher CPM for a Flex Video unit versus a non-video. |
| Publift | Mid-to-large publishers; often 500,000+ page-views/month or monthly revenue of US $2,000+. | Outsourced ad-tech partner; operates on 20% revenue share, allowing publishers to retain 80% of the ad revenue. | They position themselves as a premium monetisation partner for publishers with high-quality traffic and a mature ad setup. |
Zahlungsbedingungen
| Netzwerk | Zahlungsarten | Zahlungsplan | Mindestauszahlungsbetrag |
|---|
| MonetarisierenMehr | Wire transfer, bank/ACH, depending on region. | Typically Net 30 (30 days after the month closes). | Region dependent; some publishers report modest thresholds (~US$100) |
| Freestar | Bank transfers and other regional methods. | As per contract (varies by publisher). | Not publicly clearly stated across all regions. |
| Publift | Direct bank transfers globally. | Net 30 for Google-managed revenue; other networks may be Net 90 in arrears. | No minimum payout threshold. |
Was ist MonetizeMore?
MonetizeMore is a Google Certified Publishing Partner (GCPP) ad-tech platform that specialises in helping digital publishers and mobile apps manage ad operations and maximise ad revenue. With a strong reputation built over more than a decade, the company helps both website owners and mobile publishers in optimising their ad inventory and ad formats such as banner ads, video ads, native ads, and interstitial ads.
MonetizeMore’s technology stack includes:
- PubGuru: a header-bidding wrapper and ad-inventory management platform that allows multiple demand partners to compete in real time for each impression, thereby increasing yield and ad performance.
- Traffic Cop: an invalid traffic (IVT) and ad-fraud detection system that makes sure that ad inventory meets quality standards, thereby safeguarding revenue and publisher reputation.
- AI-driven ad operations tools for floor-price optimisation, device/geography segmentation, ad format testing, and ad-unit refresh strategies.
All of this supports publishers and mobile apps seeking to scale up across demand partner management, header bidding technology, ad-tag implementation, and yield optimisation.
Merkmale
- Supports both web and mobile app publishers, giving flexibility for digital publishers and app publishers alike.
- Real-time analytics dashboard showing key metrics like page RPM, session RPM, ad-unit breakdowns, geography, and ad performance.
- Enables header-bidding and demand partner management to help publishers manage multiple ad networks, ad exchanges, and demand partners.
- Offers robust fraud detection and policy-compliance support to maintain quality ad inventory and positive user experience.
- Comes with support for advanced ad units and formats like banner ads, native ads, and interstitial ads.
- Allows publishers to maintain control over optimal ad placements, ad inventory, and ad-unit strategy, while providing technical and strategic assistance.
Pro
- The Google Certified Publishing Partner status adds credibility and access to the Google ecosystem.
- Strong ad-tech stack built for optimisation, header bidding, and yield enhancement. Ideal for publishers willing to engage actively.
- Transparent reporting and control over ad units, ad inventory, and ad operations, a major advantage for publishers who like oversight and data.
- Suitable for publishers seeking to move beyond basic ad-networks like standard Google AdSense setups, and who want to optimise ad placements and revenue.
Nachteile
- The entry threshold may be higher than simpler networks; it may require decent traffic and revenue to make it worthwhile.
- Publishers without ad-ops experience or less mature ad inventory may find the learning curve steeper.
- If you prefer a purely plug-and-play network with minimal involvement, this may feel more hands-on than you would like.
Endgültiges Urteil
If you are a publisher with established traffic, solid ad inventory, and the drive to enhance performance through optimisation, MonetizeMore offers a powerful path to maximise ad revenue. It is especially relevant when you want sophisticated ad tech, header bidding, and control over your ad units and placements. For smaller publishers or those just starting out, other networks might be easier to adopt initially.
What Is Freestar?
Freestar is a full-service ad monetisation partner built for digital publishers seeking growth, monetisation, and optimisation. The company emphasises premium demand, high-quality ad inventory, advanced header bidding, and allows publishers to focus on content while Freestar handles much of the ad management side. It is especially suited to publishers with scale.
Freestar focuses on sustainable revenue growth, quality traffic, brand-safe demand, and optimised ad operations, signifying that your ad placements and user experience are taken seriously.
Freestar’s stack includes:
- A proprietary header-bidding wrapper with low latency, advanced floor-price algorithms, and support for multiple ad formats, including display, video ad, native, and interstitial ads.
- AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages) support and in-app mediation, enabling mobile publishers and publishers with AMP-enabled content to monetise effectively.
- A real-time dashboard for page-level revenue data, viewability, ad-unit analytics, and a dedicated yield-management team to support optimisation and partner management.
Merkmale
- Full-service ad ops: ad tag implementation, layout consultation, demand-partner management, header bidding set-up, and ad-units across devices.
- Supports a wide array of ad formats like banner ads, video ads (including out-stream/in-page video), native ads, interstitial ads, mobile-web, and app environments.
- Emphasis on premium demand and high-quality ad inventory, which can translate into higher CPMs and stronger ad performance.
- Traffic-growth and audience-development support, indicating they assist publishers not just with ad management but also with scaling content and traffic, to maximise revenue.
Pro
- Strong yield-management capability, making Freestar a good choice for publishers who want ad operations handled by the platform itself.
- Access to premium demand partners and advanced ad tech, which can lead to higher ad unit CPMs and increased ad revenues for publishers with a significant audience reach.
- Good analytics and support, along with higher control of ad format mix and budget allocation for top publishers.
- Suitable for publishers who want to outsource ad management so that they can concentrate on content and strategy.
Nachteile
- Smaller or newer publishers may not meet requirements for traffic volume, content quality, and ad inventory standards.
- Because it is more managed, you may have limited control of some ad-ops elements compared with fully self-managed networks.
- Fees and revenue share models may be less transparent and may cost more (in share or required quality) in comparison to simpler networks.
Endgültiges Urteil
Freestar is best suited to established publishers with solid traffic volume, quality ad inventory, and a desire to scale monetisation with partner-led ad operations. If you are mid-to-large scale and in need of expert support and strong advertiser access, Freestar ticks many boxes. If you are smaller or prefer a lightweight network, you might explore other alternatives.
Was ist Publift?
Publift is a programmatic advertising platform designed to help publishers step up their ad monetisation strategy. As a Google Certified Publishing Partner, it focuses on helping digital publishers and mobile apps optimise their ad inventory, ad units, and revenue streams through smart integration of ad-tech, header bidding, advanced analytics, strategic insight and human support.
Publift uses its proprietary “Fuse” tag. It is a lightweight and performance-focused script that powers header bidding, smart auction logic, dynamic layout optimisation, ad refresh, real-time bidding and other yield-focused features across both web and app environments. Their key feature, the Adaptive Tag adjusts how ads are shown based on user behaviour and device type, helping improve viewability and overall revenue. Their platform supports A/B testing of ad placements, ad formats such as sticky footer, interscroller, video ads, native ads, and interstitial ads, among others. The combination of ad-tech and human ad operations support helps publishers optimise ad placements, test formats, run yield experiments, manage demand-partner relationships, and maintain a strong user experience.
Merkmale
- Works with both website owners and mobile app publishers, supporting digital publishing across channels.
- Supports multiple ad formats such as banner ads, native ads, video ads, in-content ads, and interstitial ads, enabling you to diversify revenue streams and test new ad unit types.
- No lock-in contracts. Giving publishers flexibility to switch if necessary, and more control over their ad operations.
- Strong focus on analytics: interactive dashboards, revenue-per-visitor and revenue-per-network monitoring.
- An advisory team that delivers strategic oversight working with publishers to action header bidding insights, layout test results, and partner-management data.
Pro
- An ideal choice for mid-to-large digital publishers looking to move beyond basic ad networks like standard Google AdSense.
- Publift partners with enterprise publishers through its Fuse Enterprise solution, supporting advanced setups. It helps larger teams manage, optimise and scale their ad operations with greater control.
- Flexibility and control are higher than many fully-managed networks: publishers retain ad-unit selection, layout decisions, and partner engagement.
- Strong combination of ad-tech and hands-on support makes sure users get both automation (header bidding, ad-unit testing) and personalised optimisation.
- Good for diversifying formats and revenue streams: mobile apps, video ads, native ads, and interstitial ads.
Nachteile
- The entry criteria still exclude small publishers or those with low traffic volumes.
- Results vary based on user experience, content niche, geography, and quality of traffic, so your mileage may differ.
Endgültiges Urteil
If you are a publisher with growing traffic, decent ad inventory, and you want a partner that blends technology, strategy and support while giving you flexibility, Publift is a compelling choice. It works well for publishers ready to test modern formats, run experiments, and scale revenue in a focused way.
MonetizeMore vs Freestar vs Publift: Comparing Ad Networks
Vergleich der Genehmigungsanforderungen
MonetarisierenMehr
- Monthly ad revenue of at least approximately US$1,000 or a traffic base that justifies advanced ad-tech usage.
- The publisher must be able to implement ad units, integrate header-bidding wrappers (such as PubGuru), and engage with demand-partner management.
- Ad inventory must meet quality standards (low invalid traffic, policy compliance), since MonetizeMore emphasises ad inventory quality across digital publishing.
Freestar
- Typically requires around 1 million+ monthly page-views (or equivalent traffic quality) across your digital assets.
- Expectation of at least 12 months of historical traffic, consistent content, a unique visitor base, and an organic traffic mix (not just ad-arbitrage) due to its premium demand partner requirements.
- Ad inventory must meet brand-safety standards, viewability benchmarks, ad-layout rules, ad-density, and positive user experience guidelines.
Publift
- Minimum traffic is often cited as 500,000 monthly page views or monthly ad revenue of US$2,000 in some regions.
- Must be able to integrate the Fuse tag, support header-bidding setups, and cooperate with optimisation processes where it is appropriate, however Publift does have an integration team to assist with implementation (e.g., ad-unit testing, layout experiments).
- Willingness to work with new ad formats, optimise ad placements, engage in analytics, run yield experiments and maintain user experience standards.
Wichtige Unterschiede:
- Freestar has the highest entry barrier in terms of traffic and quality requirements, best suited to larger publishers with mature scale.
- MonetizeMore fits the middle-to-advanced range, offering strong ad-tech and optimisation tools but requiring established traffic.
- Publift provides a flexible upgrade path for mid-sized publishers who want to move beyond entry-level ad networks and mid to large-sized publishers seeking enterprise level support.
Comparing Ad Optimisation Opportunities
MonetarisierenMehr
With MonetizeMore, you benefit from a sophisticated ad-tech stack: header-bidding wrapper PubGuru, ad-refresh strategies, device/geographic segmentation, demand-partner testing, and ad-unit experiments. It allows digital publishers to optimise ad placements, test ad formats (banner, video, native), and coordinate demand-partner management to boost ad revenue. For example, a case study showed over 100 % uplift when a publisher used their Offerwall solution. The trade-off is what you will need to engage with these tools and ad operations actively.
Freestar
Freestar delivers a full-service yield-management experience. Their team handles ad ops, layout consultation, header bidding, AMP/in-app support, and more. Many publishers consider Google Freestar Vs Ad Exchange when evaluating this kind of service. The comparison highlights how Freestar manages auctions on your behalf vs a self-service ad exchange model. The benefit: you get advanced ad formats, stronger demand, and fewer operational burdens. For instance, their Flex Video unit case produced 67 % higher CPMs for video vs non-video.
Publift
Publift uses its Adaptive Tag and Yield Experiments to provide flexible optimisation for publishers. This approach enables A/B testing of ad placements and formats, header-bidding setup, interactive reporting, and hands-on guidance to improve revenue and ad-unit performance. This allows publishers to work actively on ad management, optimise ad placements, and experiment with newer formats. This makes Publift a strong option if you want to transition from simpler ad networks to more advanced monetisation solutions, test new formats, and optimise revenue at scale. To demonstrate, a case study of theirs stated a publisher grew their programmatic revenue by 66% YoY after working with Publift.
In a nutshell
- MonetizeMore is best for publishers who want complete control, advanced ad-tech, and are comfortable with active optimisation.
- Freestar is best for publishers who want a more hands-off, managed service with high scale and access to premium demand.
- Publift is best for publishers seeking a flexible model with technology plus personalised support, combining experimentation with human guidance for revenue optimisation.
Vergleich von Analysetools
MonetarisierenMehr
Their analytics dashboard provides real-time metrics: session RPM, page RPM, ad-unit performance, geography breakdowns, and demand-partner competition. Their Traffic Cop system monitors invalid traffic and helps protect ad inventory quality. For publishers eager to dig into data and manage optimisations themselves, MonetizeMore offers strong transparency.
Freestar
Freestar’s real-time dashboard shows page-level revenue, viewability metrics, ad-unit and layout performance, and provides direct support from their yield-management team. This is valuable for publishers who prefer actionable insights without building their own analytics infrastructure.
Publift
Publift offers a structured optimisation platform supported by detailed analysis. Publishers receive transparent reporting, clear attribution from controlled tests and meaningful insights across header bidding and ad-unit performance. This is combined with guidance from Publift’s team, giving publishers a model that maintains autonomy while benefiting from an institutional-level optimisation framework. It delivers the discipline of a managed service while avoiding the lack of clarity that sometimes comes with fully outsourced setups.
In simple words:
- MonetizeMore: high control, you interpret and act on analytics yourself.
- Freestar: strong analytics with a yield management team converting data into action.
- Publift: hybrid, advanced analytics with support and strategic insight in optimisation decisions.
Make your choice based on how much time you can devote to ad operations and the extent of support you need.
MonetizeMore vs. Freestar vs. Publift: Who Pays Better?
When you ask “who pays better?”, the reality is that your results depend heavily on various factors: traffic quality and geography, ad formats, ad unit placements, user experience, demand partners, and how well you optimise. Here is a relative summary:
- All three networks, MonetizeMore, Freestar, and Publift, are among the highest paying CPM ad networks for publishers who meet thresholds and optimise properly.
- MonetizeMore’s case studies and testimonials indicate that meaningful RPM increases shortly after implementation.
- Freestar’s case study on video ad formats highlighted a 67% higher CPM for video vs non-video.
- Publift clients typically enjoy a 55% average ad revenue increase when migrating from simpler setups.
If you have premium inventory, consistent traffic, and multiple ad formats, especially video and native ads, along with strong demand partner relationships, Freestar or Publift may deliver slightly higher CPMs. However, if you prefer to remain hands-on with your ad tech and maintain full control over optimisation, MonetizeMore provides excellent value and flexibility.
For smaller or mid-scale publishers, the overall difference in revenue will depend more on traffic quality, ad-unit optimisation, and user experience than on the choice of network itself. Additionally, if you are evaluating Google Freestar alternatives, both MonetizeMore and Publift are strong contenders, each catering to different levels of traffic maturity and operational involvement.
Abschließende Gedanken
If your website already has steady traffic and you are using high-quality ad formats like video and native ads, you will probably see stronger CPMs with partners like Freestar or Publift. These platforms are a perfect option for publishers who have the target audience size to attract premium demand partners and prefer a hands-off, managed service for their ad monetisation.
On the other hand, if you are the type who prefers more control with your ad tech, testing different ad placements and driving optimisation yourself, then MonetizeMore could be the perfect fit. It puts you in the driver's seat, giving you direct autonomy, enhanced transparency, and advanced tools to improve your ad performance, all without depending heavily on a support team.
For many small or mid-sized publishers, the key to maximising revenue is not just about picking the top ad network. Your earnings will often depend more on your own efforts - how well you optimise your ad units, the quality of your traffic, and your commitment to a positive user experience. If you are specifically looking at Freestar alternatives, both MonetizeMore and Publift are excellent options to consider. Your choice just depends on how involved you want to be in your day-to-day ad operations.
Finally, if your setup is already built around Google Ad Manager (GAM) or you are earning with Google AdSense, you should definitely take a look at Publift's “Verwendung von AdSense” program. It is specifically designed to help you optimise your ad placements and boost your ad revenue, all while ensuring a smooth experience for your visitors within the Google ecosystem.