Best Google AdSense Alternatives for Bloggers (2025 Edition)

If you are earning less than expected from AdSense—or your application is still pending—consider these performant ad networks. Each option supports different traffic tiers, content niches, and payout models.

Quick Comparison

Network	Ideal For	Payment Model	Minimum Traffic
Media.net	Contextual ads for US/UK audiences	CPC + CPM	3K+ pageviews/month
Ezoic	AI layout testing for growth-stage blogs	Revenue share	10K+ sessions/month
Mediavine	Lifestyle, food, parenting, travel	Revenue share	50K sessions/month
PropellerAds	Push notifications, pop-under, interstitials	CPM + CPA	No minimum
AdThrive (Raptive)	Premium advertisers targeting US households	Revenue share (75% to publisher)	100K pageviews/month + 50% US traffic
SheMedia	Female-focused sites and lifestyle communities	Revenue share	20K+ sessions/month
Sovrn //Commerce	Commerce-focused or affiliate heavy blogs	CPM + CPA	Flexible

Top Networks to Consider

Media.net

A Yahoo/Bing network with contextual ads that blend well with editorial blogs. Works best if most of your traffic comes from US, UK, or Canada.

Visit site →

✅ Dedicated account manager once approved
✅ Compatible with AdSense as a backup
⚠️ Approval can take 3–5 business days
⚠️ Requires quality content and consistent traffic

Ezoic

Automates ad testing with machine learning, improving RPM over time. Offers additional tools such as site speed accelerator and analytics.

Visit site →

✅ Onboarding specialists help with DNS and setup
✅ Pays via PayPal, Payoneer, bank transfer
⚠️ Needs DNS integration or Cloudflare
⚠️ Short learning curve to tune placeholders

Mediavine

A premium network known for industry-leading RPMs. Perfect for lifestyle and food bloggers with strong US-based traffic.

Visit site →

✅ 30-day payment terms via ACH, PayPal, Payoneer
✅ Excellent dashboard and reporting tools
⚠️ Strict content and traffic requirements
⚠️ Exclusivity clause—cannot run other display networks

PropellerAds

A global ad network with aggressive formats such as push notifications, pop-under, and interstitial ads. Works well for entertainment, downloads, gaming, and streaming niches.

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✅ Fast approval and no minimum traffic
✅ Weekly payouts starting at $5 via PayPal, Payoneer, bank
⚠️ Intrusive formats can hurt UX if overused
⚠️ Requires compliance with browser policy changes

AdThrive (Raptive)

A premium network with deep advertiser relationships across lifestyle, tech, and finance. Best suited for authoritative publishers with mostly US traffic.

Visit site →

✅ High RPMs and strong direct-sold campaigns
✅ Includes video player, header bidding, and reader surveys
⚠️ Requires 100K monthly pageviews with 50%+ US readers
⚠️ Strict brand safety and content guidelines

SheMedia

Targets female-led audiences with campaigns from top lifestyle advertisers. Provides sponsored content opportunities alongside display revenue.

Visit site →

✅ Inclusive community events and brand collaborations
✅ Support for audio, video, and newsletter sponsorships
⚠️ Needs 20K monthly sessions and majority female audience
⚠️ Focused on English-language content

Choosing the Right Mix

Instead of relying on a single network, combine monetization levers to stabilize revenue:

Display ads: Pair AdSense with Media.net or Ezoic to fill inventory.
Affiliate links: Promote niche-specific products alongside ads.
Sponsored posts: Pitch brands once your traffic meets advertiser thresholds.
Digital products: Offer e-books, templates, or premium newsletters.

How to Prepare a Strong Application

Eligibility Checklist

Publish at least 30–40 high-quality, original articles.
Maintain clear navigation, About, Contact, and Privacy Policy pages.
Ensure 50–60% of traffic matches the network’s target geography.
Keep site speed scores above 70 on mobile and desktop.

Application Tips

Collect screenshots of Google Analytics (last 30 days, traffic sources).
Highlight popular posts and engagement metrics in your pitch.
Disclose existing monetization partners upfront.
Follow up after seven days with a polite status email if needed.

Payment Timelines and Thresholds

Network	Threshold	Frequency	Payout Methods
Media.net	$100	Net-30	Wire, PayPal
Ezoic	$20	Net-30	PayPal, Payoneer, bank transfer
Mediavine	$25	Net-65	ACH, PayPal, Payoneer
PropellerAds	$5	Weekly	PayPal, Payoneer, wire, Skrill
AdThrive (Raptive)	$25	Net-45	ACH, wire, PayPal

RPM Optimization Checklist

During Setup

Place ads above the fold, in-content, and at the end of articles.
Enable lazy loading and defer non-critical scripts.
Use responsive ad units for mobile and tablet devices.
Test header bidding or mediation to increase demand.

Monthly Maintenance

Monitor Core Web Vitals—particularly CLS and LCP.
Review RPM by device, geography, and page type.
Optimize top-earning posts with updated keywords and CTAs.
Split-test ad density to balance UX and revenue.

FAQ

Can I use multiple ad networks at the same time?

Yes. Many publishers run Media.net alongside AdSense or use Ezoic’s mediation feature to test different partners. Check each network’s policy to avoid exclusivity conflicts.

Which network pays the fastest?

PropellerAds releases payments weekly once you hit $5. Media.net and Ezoic pay net-30, while Mediavine and AdThrive pay net-65.

Will switching networks hurt SEO?

No. Ad networks do not affect Google rankings directly. Focus on ad layout, page speed, and Core Web Vitals to maintain user experience.

Blogger blogging

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Ankaj Gupta

June 04, 2025

libmceliece: Full Installation Guide

libmceliece Installation Guide

Complete guide for installing libmceliece — a high-performance C implementation of the McEliece post-quantum cryptosystem — from source globally on Linux systems.

Note: If you see warnings like this script does not know how to check instruction-set extensions without python3-capstone, install python3-capstone for accurate CPU detection.

Prerequisites

Install all necessary dependencies:

sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y autoconf build-essential clang python3 python3-pip gcc valgrind libcpucycles-dev librandombytes-dev python3-capstone wget curl make man-db

Package Categories

Category	Packages
Build Tools	gcc, clang, build-essential, make
Testing Tools	valgrind
Crypto Dependencies	libcpucycles-dev, librandombytes-dev
Python Environment	python3, python3-pip, python3-capstone
Network & CLI	wget, curl, man-db

Download Source

Fetch the latest libmceliece release:

# Download latest version
wget https://lib.mceliece.org/libmceliece-latest-version.txt
version=$(cat libmceliece-latest-version.txt)
wget https://lib.mceliece.org/libmceliece-$version.tar.gz
tar -xzf libmceliece-$version.tar.gz
cd libmceliece-$version

Build & Install

Configure, build and install the library:

./configure
make -j$(nproc)
sudo make install

This installs to /usr/local.

Installation Locations

• Headers: /usr/local/include/
• Libraries: /usr/local/lib/
• Binaries: /usr/local/bin/
• Man pages: /usr/local/man/

Testing & Verification

Run the test suite and configure the system:

Run Test Suite

make check

Configure Dynamic Linker

sudo ldconfig

Verify the installation:

ldconfig -p | grep mceliece

ls /usr/local/include | grep mceliece

mceliece-keygen --help

Troubleshooting

Missing Capstone Warning

Error: this script does not know how to check instruction-set extensions without python3-capstone

Fix: sudo apt install python3-capstone

Missing Libraries

Error: Missing libraries like libcpucycles or librandombytes

Fix: sudo apt install libcpucycles-dev librandombytes-dev

Package Reference

Complete package breakdown by function:

Category	Packages
Build Tools	gcc, clang, build-essential, make
Testing Tools	valgrind
Post-quantum Dependencies	libcpucycles-dev, librandombytes-dev
Python Environment	python3, python3-pip, python3-capstone
Network & CLI Tools	wget, curl, man-db

Optional Verification

Additional checks for complete setup:

Verify All Prerequisites

gcc --version
clang --version
python3 --version
python3 -c "import capstone; print('Capstone OK')"

If all commands print versions or success messages, your prerequisites are ready.

References

• libmceliece Install Guide
• libmceliece Download Page

Version: Based on 2025.04.28 release.

libmceliece Python

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Ankaj Gupta

August 13, 2024

AssertionError: SessionMiddleware Must Be Installed

Fixing the "AssertionError: SessionMiddleware Must Be Installed" in FastAPI

This error occurs when accessing request.session in custom middleware before the SessionMiddleware has been properly applied.

Understanding the Issue

The error indicates that the SessionMiddleware is either not installed correctly or is being accessed too late in the middleware stack. Ensure that SessionMiddleware is added before any custom middleware that relies on session data.

Key Point: The order of middleware matters in FastAPI. Session middleware must be added in the correct sequence.

Error Example Code

Here's a FastAPI application demonstrating the incorrect setup:

from fastapi import FastAPI, Request
from starlette.middleware.sessions import SessionMiddleware

app = FastAPI()

# Add SessionMiddleware first (INCORRECT)
app.add_middleware(SessionMiddleware, secret_key="some-random-string")

@app.middleware("http")
async def testing_session(request: Request, call_next):
    if 'session' in request.scope:
        session = request.session
        test_value = session.get("test", None)
        if test_value:
            print(f"Middleware session value: {test_value}")
        else:
            print("No session value found.")
    else:
        print("Session middleware is not applied correctly.")

    response = await call_next(request)
    return response

@app.get("/test-session")
async def test_session(request: Request):
    request.session['test'] = 'value'
    return {"session": dict(request.session)}

Correct Solution

Fix: Move app.add_middleware(SessionMiddleware, secret_key="some-random-string") to the last line. This resolves the session middleware issue.

Here's the corrected FastAPI application:

from fastapi import FastAPI, Request
from starlette.middleware.sessions import SessionMiddleware

app = FastAPI()

@app.middleware("http")
async def testing_session(request: Request, call_next):
    if 'session' in request.scope:
        session = request.session
        test_value = session.get("test", None)
        if test_value:
            print(f"Middleware session value: {test_value}")
        else:
            print("No session value found.")
    else:
        print("Session middleware is not applied correctly.")

    response = await call_next(request)
    return response

# Add SessionMiddleware LAST (CORRECT)
app.add_middleware(SessionMiddleware, secret_key="some-random-string")

@app.get("/test-session")
async def test_session(request: Request):
    request.session['test'] = 'value'
    return {"session": dict(request.session)}

Key Points

Order Matters

Ensure that SessionMiddleware is added after your custom middleware. This allows the session to be properly initialized and accessible.
Check Middleware Setup

In your custom middleware, check if request.session is available. If not, it might indicate that SessionMiddleware is not correctly applied.
Testing

Use endpoints like /test-session to set and retrieve session values, confirming that session management is working as expected.

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Ankaj Gupta

September 04, 2023

apt-get vs apt vs yum | Debian-Based vs Red Hat-Based Linux Systems | Comparison and Differences

Debian-Based Systems vs Red Hat-Based Systems

The choice between apt-get and yum (or its modern replacement dnf) depends on the Linux distribution you are using. Each package manager is designed for specific Linux ecosystems, so there's no single "best" package manager that applies universally. Here are some considerations.

Debian-Based Systems

Introduction

Debian-Based Systems refer to Linux distributions built upon the Debian operating system as their foundational framework. These systems inherit the core characteristics, package management tools, and philosophies of Debian, known for emphasizing free and open-source software, stability, and adherence to strict licensing standards. Popular Debian-based distributions include Ubuntu, Linux Mint, and Debian itself.

apt-get

On Debian-based systems, such as Ubuntu, apt-get is commonly used. However, in more recent Ubuntu versions (Ubuntu 16.04 and later), the apt command is recommended over apt-get as it offers a more user-friendly and efficient experience.

apt

As mentioned, consider using the apt command on modern Debian-based systems for a better experience. It provides shorter and more intuitive commands.

Red Hat-Based Systems

Introduction

Red Hat-Based Systems are Linux distributions derived from or influenced by the Red Hat operating system. These systems share commonalities with Red Hat, including package management tools like YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) and DNF (Dandified Yum), as well as the use of RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) package format. They are known for stability, robustness, and suitability for enterprise environments. Prominent distributions include Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CentOS, and Fedora.

yum

Historically, yum was the package manager of choice for Red Hat-based systems. However, it's being gradually phased out in favor of dnf (Dandified Yum).

dnf

On recent Red Hat-based systems (CentOS 8 and later, Fedora), dnf is the recommended package manager. It offers improved performance and dependency resolution compared to the older yum.

Summary

Here's the key takeaway: Use the package manager native to your Linux distribution. If you're on a Debian-based system, use apt (or apt-get if you're on an older version). If you're on a Red Hat-based system, use dnf (or yum if it's still available). Using the native package manager ensures compatibility and access to the software repositories specific to your distribution.
There's no need to compare them in terms of "best" since their performance and functionality are optimized for their respective ecosystems.

apt apt-get Debian-Based Systems Linux Linux Distributions Red Hat-Based Systems yum

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Ankaj Gupta

September 04, 2023

Debian-Based vs Red Hat-Based Systems: A Comprehensive Comparison

Debian-Based Systems vs Red Hat-Based Systems

Debian-Based Systems and Red Hat-Based Systems are two major categories of Linux distributions, each with its own characteristics, package management systems, and philosophies. Here's a comparison between the two:

Debian-Based Systems

Introduction

1. Package Management

APT (Advanced Package Tool): Debian-based systems primarily use APT for package management. Commands like apt-get (or apt) are used to install, update, and manage software packages.

2. Distributions

Notable distributions: Ubuntu, Debian, Linux Mint, and many others. Debian-based distributions are known for their stability and reliability, making them popular for server environments and desktop usage.

3. Package Format

Debian packages use the .deb file format.

4. Philosophy

Debian places a strong emphasis on free and open-source software. It has a strict policy regarding software licensing and includes only open-source software in its official repositories.

5. Release Cycle

Debian follows a stable release model with long-term support (LTS) versions. This results in a longer release cycle, with a focus on stability and security.

6. System Configuration

Configuration files are typically stored in the /etc directory, and package management tools like APT manage these files.

Red Hat-Based Systems

Introduction

Red Hat-Based Systems are Linux distributions derived from or influenced by the Red Hat operating system. These systems share commonalities with Red Hat, including package management tools like YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) and DNF (Dandified Yum), as well as the use of RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) package format. Red Hat-Based Systems are known for their stability, robustness, and suitability for enterprise environments. Prominent distributions include Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CentOS, and Fedora.

1. Package Management

YUM (Yellowdog Updater, Modified) and DNF (Dandified Yum): Red Hat-based systems historically used yum and have transitioned to dnf in more recent versions like CentOS 8 and Fedora. These tools are used for package management.

2. Distributions

Notable distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), CentOS, Fedora. Red Hat-based distributions are often used in enterprise environments due to their focus on stability and support.

3. Package Format

Red Hat packages use the .rpm file format.

4. Philosophy

Red Hat, Inc., the company behind Red Hat-based distributions, offers commercial support and certifications for its products. While they include open-source software, they may also include some proprietary software and drivers.

5. Release Cycle

Red Hat-based distributions follow a release cycle with major versions and regular updates. CentOS Stream, a variation of CentOS, offers a rolling release model.

6. System Configuration

Configuration files are typically stored in the /etc directory, and the yum or dnf package manager does not manage these files directly.

Summary

In summary, the choice between Debian-based and Red Hat-based systems depends on your specific needs and preferences. Debian-based systems are often favored for their stability and adherence to free software principles, while Red Hat-based systems are commonly used in enterprise environments with commercial support options. The package management tools and package formats also differ between the two ecosystems.

Debian-Based Systems Linux Linux Distributions Red Hat-Based Systems

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