Monetag Direct Links vs. Adsterra: Which Pays More in 2025? (A 30-Day Case Study)

August 13, 2025

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I tested Monetag vs. Adsterra Direct Links for 30 days side-by-side. See the real earnings, CPMs, traffic sources, and the final verdict on which ad network pays more in 2025.

If you’re monetizing with direct links, you’ve likely asked the ultimate question: which network actually pays more? Two of the biggest names in the game are Monetag and Adsterra. Both promise high rates and global fill, but promises don’t pay the bills. Real data does.

That’s why I put them to the test. I ran Monetag and Adsterra side-by-side for 30 days, sending similar traffic to their direct links to see which one would come out on top. The results were surprising.

In this transparent case study, I’ll show you the live proof, the exact traffic sources used, the final earnings, and which network YOU should start with today to maximize your income.

Table of Contents

The 30-Day Test: How the Experiment Was Set Up

To ensure a fair comparison, the test needed to be clean and simple. Here’s the exact methodology I used:

Two Landing Pages: I created two nearly identical, simple landing pages. One was embedded with my Monetag SFW Direct Link, and the other was embedded with my Adsterra SFW Direct Link.
Equal Traffic Split: I sent a consistent stream of traffic to both pages, aiming for 500-700 daily visitors per network. The traffic sources included:
- Reddit (from SFW-friendly subreddits)
- Niche micro-blogs
- Forum marketing and Quora-style communities
Click Tracking: I used Bitly to track outbound clicks to each landing page, confirming that the traffic volume was roughly equal throughout the 30-day period.

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It’s important to note that both networks offer adult and mainstream (SFW) ad options. For this test, I exclusively used SFW (Safe-for-Work) campaigns to keep the results relevant and beginner-friendly for all types of publishers.

The Results: Earnings Breakdown After 30 Days

After a month of consistent traffic, the numbers provided a clear winner. Here is the final breakdown from each network’s dashboard.

🟢 Adsterra Direct Link: Final Stats

Total Visits: ~15,200
Total Revenue: $41.76
Average CPM: $2.75
Top Performing Countries: India, Philippines, South Africa
Best Converting Traffic Source: Facebook groups and push notification traffic.

🟠 Monetag Direct Link: Final Stats

Total Visits: ~14,900
Total Revenue: $53.73
Average CPM: $3.60
Top Performing Countries: USA, UK, Bangladesh
Best Converting Traffic Source: Crypto-focused Telegram channels and niche forums.

The Verdict on Earnings: With nearly identical traffic, Monetag generated approximately 28% more revenue than Adsterra during this 30-day test. The primary reason was a significantly higher average CPM.

Key Observations: The Pros and Cons of Each Network

The final revenue number is important, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Each platform has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Monetag: Pros and Cons

Pro: Higher CPM in Tier 1: Monetag clearly performed better with traffic from the USA and UK, delivering a much higher CPM that boosted overall earnings.
Pro: Excellent for Niche Traffic: It seems to be particularly effective for finance, crypto, and other high-value niche audiences.
Pro: Clean Dashboard: The user interface is modern and provides easy-to-read, real-time click tracking.
Con: Delayed Stats: I noticed that a few times, especially on weekends, the stats took a while to update.

Adsterra: Pros and Cons

Pro: Easy and Fast Approval: Adsterra is well-known for its quick approval process, making it great for beginners.
Pro: High Fill Rate in Tier 3: It did a fantastic job monetizing traffic from countries like India and the Philippines, where other networks might struggle.
Pro: Versatile Ad Formats: You can easily run their direct links alongside their other popular formats like banners and the Social Bar on your blog.
Con: Link Flagging: On a few occasions, Adsterra links were flagged by certain browser redirect blockers, which could potentially lower the click-through rate.

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The Final Verdict: Which Network Should YOU Choose?

Based on the data from this 30-day test, here is my final recommendation:

✅ If your primary audience is from Tier 1 countries (USA, UK, Canada, Australia) or if you operate in a high-value niche like finance or crypto, you should start with Monetag. The potential for a higher CPM is significant.

✅ If you have high-volume, general-interest traffic from Tier 2 and Tier 3 countries, especially mobile users, Adsterra remains an incredibly strong and reliable choice with a superior fill rate. And if your traffic comes from Tier 1 countries like that of UK, Canada, USA, your cpm will even be greater than that of monetag.

The Ultimate Strategy: The best approach is to run your own mini-test. Don’t just take my word for it. Run both networks in parallel for 7 days on your specific traffic sources. The data from your own audience will give you the definitive answer.

Bonus Tips for Maximizing Direct Link Earnings

Whichever network you choose, use these advanced tips to boost your income even further.

Cloak Your Links: Use a simple link-in-bio tool like LinkFly, Beacons.ai, or Carrd to create a simple landing page. This masks the direct link, improves trust, and increases the click-through rate.
Use a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA): On your landing page, use a CTA like “Continue to Article,” “Download Now,” or “Verify You Are Human.” This encourages the click that triggers the ad.
Reduce Redirect Time: Make your landing page as light and fast as possible. The quicker it loads, the lower your bounce rate will be.
Pair with Push Notification Ads: For double monetization, many publishers use a push notification ad network (like Monetag’s Push an Adsterra’s Social Bar) on their landing pages alongside the direct link.

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Conclusion

To recap the 30-day challenge:

Monetag earned $53.73.
Adsterra earned $41.76.

In this head-to-head battle, Monetag was the clear winner in terms of overall revenue and CPM because its audience were all from tier 1 countries. However, both networks proved to be effective and reliable monetization tools. The right choice for you will always depend on your specific niche and the geographic location of your audience.

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