EthicalAds alternative for developer sites
Nishant · Updated 10 Oct 2026 · 3 min read
Short answer
EthicalAds suits developer sites with about 50,000+ monthly pageviews that want contextual ads without finding buyers. It pays publishers 70% of revenue and restricts other ads on the same page. A monthly sponsor spot works on other topics and at smaller sizes, but you find the brand yourself and only booked months pay. Check placement restrictions before combining them.
On this page
you run docs, an open-source project or a developer blog with 50,000+ monthly pageviews.
you want published terms, no tracking and no contact with advertisers.
your site isn't developer-focused, or is under EthicalAds' traffic bar.
you'd rather sell a whole month to one brand you choose, at your own price.
At 50,000 pageviews a month: Your sponsor spots $80 asked, EthicalAds $125.
Networks pay every month they fill. A spot pays for the months someone books.
Estimates from each network’s published rates and sites’ own advertise pages. More on prices
The network estimate assumes acceptance; below its usual traffic bar, the chart shows that requirement instead. The sponsor figure is an asking price for similar sites' spots, earned only when they sell.
How EthicalAds works
From its publisher FAQ and publisher policy:
- Who can join. Invite-only via an application form, no contract. It looks for developer-focused sites with 50,000+ monthly pageviews. New publishers get test ads first, then a placement review.
- Revenue share. 70% of what EthicalAds earns goes to the publisher. It says publishers generally see about $2.50 per 1,000 pageviews, mostly from EU and North American traffic.
- Payouts. Monthly, aiming for the 15th, with a $50 minimum. Methods: Stripe Connect, PayPal, Open Collective and GitHub Sponsors. Traffic is reviewed before payout; bots, VPN and hosting IPs don't count.
- Format. One ad per page, above the fold, beside or around the main content, not inside it. Placements should reach at least a 0.1% click-through rate.
- Who picks the ads. EthicalAds picks advertisers and matches them to your content with machine-learning classification. No user tracking.
- Other networks. Not on the same page at the same time, but another ad may serve as fallback when EthicalAds has no paid ad, or you may split visitors between networks.
How Sponsor.st works
Paste one script tag, click where a spot goes and set a monthly price. Sponsors book calendar months and pay into your own Stripe or Dodo account; the ad goes live and comes down on its dates.
Side by side
| EthicalAds | Sponsor.st | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can join | Invite-only; aimed at developer sites with 50,000+ monthly pageviews | Anyone with a website |
| Topic | Developer audiences | Any topic |
| How you earn | 70% of ad revenue; about $2.50 per 1,000 pageviews (their estimate) | A monthly price you set per spot |
| Who finds advertisers | EthicalAds | You |
| Payouts | Monthly, $50 minimum | Paid to your own Stripe or Dodo account, minus that provider's processing fee |
| Who picks the ads | EthicalAds (contextual matching) | You; approving each ad first is optional |
| Ads per page | One | As many spots as you place |
| Tracking | None | No cookies |
| Other income on the page | Allowed as fallback, not at the same time | No restriction |
| Cost to you | Keeps 30% of revenue | Free, or Pro at $19/month |
What you trade
get published terms, no tracking and a spot that fills without you selling.
need a developer audience of about 50,000+ monthly pageviews, and one ad per page.
can sell on any topic at any size, at your price, to brands you choose.
find the sponsors yourself; a month nobody books stays empty.
Finding a sponsor
A network brings the advertiser. Here you do:
- Your booking page. Each spot gets its own page with its price and open months. Link it as “Advertise” in your footer or newsletter, and send it to brands that ask.
- A media kit. Make a one-page PDF with your audience and spots, for the brands you email.
- Who to ask. How to sell sponsorships covers finding brands that already sponsor sites like yours.
- The directory. Brands browse the Sponsor.st directory for sites to sponsor.
Common mistakes
- Applying under the traffic bar. EthicalAds looks for 50,000+ monthly pageviews; below that, expect a no.
- Putting the ad inside your content. Its policy wants it beside or around the main content.
- Running two networks on one page at once. Use another network only as fallback or a visitor split.
- Leaving a sponsor spot unpromoted. A booking page nobody sees earns nothing.
Keep EthicalAds while you try
EthicalAds' publisher policy allows other ads as fallback or on a split of visitors, not on the same page at the same time. The simple way: keep EthicalAds on your docs pages and sell one sponsor spot on a page it doesn't run on, such as your homepage. Check the current policy before you mix them.
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Paste one script tagIn your site’s head, once.
-
Click where a spot goesOn your own page, where readers look.
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Set a monthly priceSponsors book months and pay your Stripe or Dodo account.
Start free Free for 1 site and 3 spots · no card
Sources (checked 10 October 2026)
- EthicalAds publisher FAQ (70% share, about $2.50 per 1,000 pageviews, 50,000 pageviews, payouts): ethicalads.io/publishers/faq
- EthicalAds publisher policy (one ad per page, other networks, fallback): ethicalads.io/publisher-policy
- Website prices: Sponsor.st listings data, see banner ad pricing