EthicalAds: what it takes to join, what it pays, and who runs it
EthicalAds is a privacy-focused ad network for developer and open source sites. It suits sites that can give its one ad a clear spot near the top of the page. It takes sites with 50,000 pageviews a month. We list 3 sites that use EthicalAds, and 3 are confirmed live from their own ads.txt files or ad code.
Sites using EthicalAds
| site | niche | traffic | domain age | checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| docs.jupyter.org | Tech | top 1M | 12 yrs · 2014 | Oct 20 |
| ethical-ad-client.readthedocs.io | Tech | not ranked | 12 yrs · 2014 | Oct 20 |
| djangopackages.org | Tech | not ranked | 11 yrs · 2015 | Oct 20 |
What does EthicalAds require and pay?
- revenue share
- 70%
- payment minimum
- $50
- pay daytarget by the 15th
- Monthly
Joining
- Traffic
- 50,000 pageviews a monthExceptions may be considered for high-quality or growing sites
- Content
- Developer-focused sites that meet the publisher policyThe policy sets ad placement and click-through requirements
- Must connect
- Install the EthicalAds ad client after applying
- Not public
- Visitor location, Google standing, approval time
EthicalAds is for developer-focused sites. It sets a traffic minimum, but may make an exception for a high-quality or growing site. Once you're approved, you install the EthicalAds ad client, and your site has to meet the publisher policy.
The ad should sit above the fold on desktop and mobile. EthicalAds expects a click-through rate of at least 0.1%.
Pay
- Revenue share
- 70%
- Pay day
- Monthly; target payment date is the 15th
- Minimum payout
- $50
- Paid by
- Stripe Connect / bank transfer, PayPal, OpenCollective, GitHub Sponsors
How does EthicalAds pay?
EthicalAds pays monthly once your balance reaches the minimum, aiming to pay by the 15th. Methods include Stripe Connect bank transfer, PayPal, OpenCollective, and GitHub Sponsors.
Rules
What rules does EthicalAds set?
Don't show another ad on the same page as an EthicalAds ad. You can use a fallback ad, or show EthicalAds to some visitors and another network to others.
Content that breaks the policy can get your ads turned off. The policy doesn't set a contract term or notice period.
Service
What does EthicalAds do for you?
The publisher policy explains setup and the rules. Dashboard features and support response times are not public.
Sources: Publisher FAQ, Publisher policy, Publisher guide, Terms of service · checked Oct 21, 2026
Is EthicalAds a fit for your site?
It suits developer and open source sites that want one clean ad instead of many. It won't fit a page that needs several ad slots, because EthicalAds must be the only ad on that page.
What should you check before you apply?
Make sure you have a spot for the ad above the fold, on both desktop and mobile. EthicalAds also expects a minimum click-through rate, so a spot readers actually see matters. You'll also need about 50,000 pageviews a month, though EthicalAds may make an exception for a high-quality or growing site.
Can you run EthicalAds with another network?
Yes, as long as they never share a page. EthicalAds lets you split your visitors with another network, or set a fallback ad.
How does EthicalAds pay compare with AdSense?
You keep 70%, with a $50 minimum. Google AdSense shows 80%, but that's after its platform fee, and it works out to about 68% for Google Ads demand. Its minimum is $100 in US dollars.
If your project already takes donations, EthicalAds can pay you through OpenCollective or GitHub Sponsors.
What's similar to EthicalAds?
Carbon Ads also runs one ad built to fit the page. It publishes when and how it pays, but not your share, so you'd need to ask. Carbon must be the only ad network on your site.
How can you check if a site uses EthicalAds?
Look for EthicalAds in the site's ads.txt file, or paste the domain into our ad network checker.
EthicalAds stats
From our checks of 3 sites
How many sites use EthicalAds?
- 3
- sites listed
- 3
- confirmed live
- 41st
- of 44 networks
What kind of sites use EthicalAds?
Top niches
Share of 3 sorted sites.
Traffic
Sites grouped by their place in Chrome's list of the most visited sites.
| group | value |
|---|---|
| top 1M | 1 |
| not ranked | 2 |
How are EthicalAds sites built?
Domain age
When each site's domain was first registered. A domain can be older than the site on it.
12 yrsmedian, registered 2014
| registered | sites |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
Domain endings
The share of sites on each domain ending, such as .com or .co.uk.
.org67%.io33%