The published comparison
| Dimension | AdSense | Mediavine |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | Policy review, no minimum Google AdSense Help2026-08 | 50,000 sessions / 30 days Mediavine2026-08 |
| Published share | 80% after platform fee (~68% of spend) Google AdSense Help2026-08 | 75% base to 90% by program Mediavine Help2026-08 |
| Service model | Self-serve, automated | Managed: human ad ops, curated demand |
| Reported metric | Page RPM | Session RPM |
| Formats | Standard display and auto ads | Managed display plus video and premium formats |
What managed yield actually buys, per the published record
Note the shares: AdSense's published split is not obviously worse than Mediavine's 75% base Google AdSense Help2026-08 Mediavine Help2026-08. The managed-network case rests on the revenue before the split: curated advertiser demand, denser tested layouts, video inventory and human optimization raising the gross that the share applies to. How much gross uplift that is for your site is the number nobody publishes not published, which is why this page compares mechanics and declines to print a multiplier.
The basis change will inflate the story
pre-switch: $500 on 50,000 pageviews = $10.00 page RPM
post-switch (1.4 pages/session): same $500 on 35,714 sessions = $14.00 session RPM
apparent uplift from the basis alone: +40%, before any real change
Every switch testimonial you read is inflated by this arithmetic unless it converts bases. Keep your own before/after on one basis; the method is on session RPM.
Until you qualify
- Below 10,000 sessions: AdSense or Ezoic; the fork is AdSense vs Ezoic.
- 10,000 to 50,000 sessions: Journey opens the in-family path; the live alternative is worked on Journey vs Ezoic.
- At 50,000 sessions: apply, and also check Raptive, whose pageview bar you probably cleared long before.