Raptive vs Ezoic: Ad Network Comparison for 2026

Overview

Raptive (formerly AdThrive) and Ezoic both serve mid-to-large publishers but take fundamentally different approaches to ad management. Raptive is a fully managed, creator-focused network known for premium RPMs and white-glove service. Ezoic is an AI-powered ad testing platform that gives publishers more control over their ad optimization.

With Raptive lowering its threshold to 25,000 pageviews and Ezoic raising its requirement to 250,000 monthly unique visitors, these networks now occupy different tiers in the publisher landscape. Understanding their strengths helps you pick the right partner for your specific situation.

Traffic Requirements

Raptive requires 25,000 pageviews per month, reduced from their previous 100,000 threshold in October 2025. Sites with 25K–99K pageviews need 50% of traffic from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand. Above 100K pageviews, the geographic requirement drops to 40%. This makes Raptive accessible to a wider range of mid-tier publishers.

Ezoic now requires 250,000 monthly unique visitors for new publishers as of February 2026. This is a significant barrier that places Ezoic above Raptive in terms of entry requirements. The shift was aimed at focusing their platform on larger publishers where their AI optimization can have the most impact.

For publishers in the 25K–250K range, Raptive is clearly more accessible. Only publishers above 250K monthly uniques need to consider Ezoic as an option.

Revenue Potential

Raptive consistently delivers some of the highest RPMs in the industry, typically $20–$40+ for US traffic in premium niches. Their direct advertiser relationships and premium positioning allow them to command high rates, especially in food, home, parenting, and finance verticals. Payment is NET 45 via direct deposit.

Ezoic’s RPMs typically range from $8–$25 depending on niche, traffic quality, and how well the AI has been able to optimize. Their revenue model takes a share of incremental earnings above a baseline, which means they are incentivized to improve on what you were earning previously. Payment is NET 30 with multiple payout options.

At the same traffic level, most publishers report higher RPMs with Raptive than Ezoic. However, Ezoic’s AI can sometimes find revenue in unexpected ways by optimizing ad density per visitor segment, which may close the gap for certain site types.

Ad Technology

Raptive uses advanced header bidding with machine learning optimization. They handle all ad operations including placement decisions, advertiser relationships, and yield management. Their technology is designed to work in the background while you focus on content creation. They also offer SEO tools, social strategy guidance, and business consulting.

Ezoic’s technology centers on their AI testing engine, which runs multivariate tests on ad layouts for each visitor. They offer LEAP for site speed optimization, a CDN, video player, and Big Data Analytics for granular revenue insights. Publishers have more control over ad configuration but must invest time learning the platform.

The key difference is management style: Raptive is fully managed with minimal publisher involvement, while Ezoic is a platform that rewards active engagement and optimization.

Ease of Getting Started

Raptive’s application takes 1–3 weeks with a manual review. Once accepted, their team handles everything from ad code installation to initial optimization. There is virtually no technical work required from the publisher beyond granting site access.

Ezoic’s setup involves DNS integration or a WordPress plugin, followed by a 2–4 week AI learning period. The dashboard has a significant learning curve, and publishers need to configure ad placeholder positions and set optimization preferences. This hands-on approach suits technically inclined publishers but can feel overwhelming for content creators who prefer simplicity.

Who Should Choose Raptive?

Raptive is ideal for publishers with 25,000+ monthly pageviews who want the highest possible RPMs with minimal management overhead. Content creators in lifestyle, food, home, and parenting niches tend to thrive with Raptive’s advertiser base. If you want a partner who handles everything and provides strategic growth guidance, Raptive is the stronger choice.

Publishers who have grown beyond AdSense or Monumetric and want their next step up should prioritize Raptive if they meet the geographic traffic requirements.

Who Should Choose Ezoic?

Ezoic is a fit for large publishers with 250,000+ monthly unique visitors who want AI-driven optimization and are comfortable managing a more complex ad platform. If you enjoy data, testing, and actively optimizing your ad setup, Ezoic’s tools give you the ability to fine-tune your monetization in ways that fully managed networks do not.

Publishers in tech, news, reference, and educational content may find Ezoic’s AI testing more effective, as these niches sometimes require non-standard ad configurations that benefit from automated optimization.

The Verdict

For most publishers, Raptive is the better choice. It offers higher RPMs, a lower traffic threshold, and a fully managed experience that lets you focus on creating content. Ezoic’s 250K requirement makes it inaccessible to many publishers who would be well-served by Raptive.

If you have the traffic to qualify for both, the decision often comes down to whether you prefer hands-off management (Raptive) or hands-on optimization (Ezoic). Most publishers choose simplicity and higher base RPMs, which points to Raptive. Scan your site with AdGateScore to see which networks match your current profile.