Adsterra vs PropellerAds vs AdMaven: Which Network Gives Higher RPM?

Online advertising is constantly evolving, and publishers are always looking for the highest RPM (Revenue per Mille) to maximize their earnings. Among the top ad networks in 2025, Adsterra, PropellerAds, and AdMaven are popular choices for monetizing traffic through popunders, smartlinks, push notifications, and display ads.

In this detailed guide, we will compare these networks and reveal which one delivers higher RPM depending on traffic type, GEO, and ad format.

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What is RPM and Why It Matters

RPM (Revenue per Mille) represents the estimated revenue for 1,000 ad impressions and is calculated as:

RPM = (Total Earnings / Total Impressions) * 1000

Understanding RPM helps publishers:

• Compare revenue across ad networks

• Decide which network performs best for their traffic

• Optimize monetization strategy for maximum earnings

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Adsterra: Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Strong global coverage and Tier-1 GEO payouts

• Smartlink & Direct Link campaigns optimize automatically

• High eCPM for popunders and push notifications in premium markets

Weaknesses:

• Smartlink can underperform in low-quality traffic

• The dashboard can be overwhelming for beginners

Average RPM per GEO (2025 estimates):

Tier	eCPM Range
Tier 1 (USA, UK, Canada)	$5 – $12
Tier 2 (Brazil, Mexico, South Africa)	$1.50 – $6
Tier 3 (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan)	$0.30 – $3

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PropellerAds: Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• High fill rate and strong push notification monetization

• Easy to set up campaigns with minimal experience

• Offers CPM, CPA, and hybrid models

Weaknesses:

• Popunder CPM is slightly lower in Tier-1 GEOs than Adsterra

• Limited Direct Link automation compared to Adsterra

Average RPM per GEO (2025 estimates):

Tier	eCPM Range
Tier 1	$4 – $10
Tier 2	$1 – $5
Tier 3	$0.25 – $2.50

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AdMaven: Strengths and Weaknesses

Strengths:

• Focused on Tier-2 and Tier-3 GEOs with high-converting offers

• Easy to integrate pop-ups, push, and banners

• High ROI for small to medium publishers

Weaknesses:

• Tier-1 RPM is lower than Adsterra and PropellerAds

• Smartlink features are less advanced

Average RPM per GEO (2025 estimates):

Tier	eCPM Range
Tier 1	$3 – $8
Tier 2	$1 – $5
Tier 3	$0.30 – $2.50

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Which Network Gives Higher RPM?

1. Tier-1 Traffic (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany)

   • Winner: Adsterra

   • Reason: Direct Link & Smartlink campaigns deliver higher CPM in premium GEOs

2. Tier-2 Traffic (Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, Eastern Europe)

   • Winner: PropellerAds or Adsterra

   • Reason: Both networks optimize smartlinks and push campaigns effectively

3. Tier-3 Traffic (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria)

   • Winner: AdMaven or Adsterra Smartlink

   • Reason: Automated smartlink optimization works well with high-volume, low-cost traffic

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Tips to Maximize RPM Across Networks

• Segment traffic by GEO & Device: Prioritize Direct Link for Tier-1, Smartlink for Tier-2/Tier-3

• Test ad formats: Rotate popunders, push, banners for best eCPM

• Monitor performance: Use network dashboards to adjust campaigns in real-time

• Focus on high-quality traffic: Avoid incentivized or bot traffic to maintain high RPM

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Conclusion

• Adsterra dominates Tier-1 markets with high RPM and flexible Direct Link & Smartlink campaigns

• PropellerAds is strong for medium-tier GEOs with easy-to-use push & popunder campaigns

• AdMaven performs well in Tier-2/Tier-3 markets for small to medium publishers

By combining networks strategically based on traffic type and GEO, publishers can maximize overall RPM in 2025 and generate consistent revenue. Read More