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Outbrain vs Raptive (formerly AdThrive). Side by side.

Compare pricing, strengths, and use cases so it is easier to pick the right fit.

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Outbrain

Raptive (formerly AdThrive)

Best overall

Neither Outbrain nor Raptive is for everyday users — both are specialized advertising and monetization tools for publishers and marketers. Outbrain wins for advertisers who need to run native ad campaigns on premium sites, while Raptive is the clear choice for content creators and publishers who want hands-off ad revenue optimization. The single biggest difference: Outbrain is for spending money on ads, Raptive is for making money from your content.

Outbrain

#17 of 3,826 Web

Raptive (formerly AdThrive)

Contact Sales #1436 of 3,826 Web

Scores at a glance

OutbrainRaptive (formerly AdThrive)Practical Versatility

Onboarding Ease

Ecosystem Fit

Market Value

Choose Outbrain if

You run a business and want to drive sales or leads through native ads on news and lifestyle sites
You have a budget for paid advertising and want AI-optimized bidding to reduce costs
You need detailed conversion tracking and can handle a complex dashboard
You're an affiliate marketer looking for a performance-focused ad platform

Choose Raptive (formerly AdThrive) if

You already have a website or blog with over 100,000 monthly visitors and want to maximize ad income
You don't want to manually manage ad placements — you want AI to do it for you
You create video content and want a platform that monetizes video alongside display ads
You value premium advertiser relationships and are willing to share revenue for better RPMs

Key differences

Outbrain is for spending money on ads; Raptive is for earning money from your content.
Outbrain has no minimum traffic requirement; Raptive requires 100k monthly pageviews.
Raptive is completely hands-off ad management; Outbrain requires active campaign setup and monitoring.
Outbrain has a complex dashboard; Raptive's AI handles optimization behind the scenes.
Outbrain is now part of Teads; Raptive remains an independent creator-focused platform.
Raptive pays publishers; Outbrain charges advertisers — they serve opposite sides of the market.

Facts side by side

	Outbrain	Raptive (formerly AdThrive)
Free plan
Mobile app
API access

Outbrain: strengths & weaknesses

Access to premium publisher sites like CNN and ESPN for your ads
Strong automated bidding that can lower cost per acquisition
Detailed reporting and pixel tracking to measure campaign performance
No mobile app — you must use a desktop browser to manage campaigns
Dashboard is complex and not beginner-friendly
Strict editorial guidelines mean your ads can be rejected easily
High minimum spend for managed services (not for small budgets)

Raptive (formerly AdThrive): strengths & weaknesses

Industry-leading ad revenue (RPMs) thanks to premium advertiser demand
Completely hands-off — AI optimizes ad placement automatically
Includes video monetization and SEO guidance at no extra cost
Paid out over $4 billion to creators and publishers
Requires 100,000 monthly pageviews minimum — most small sites won't qualify
Revenue share model can take a big cut from high-earning publishers
No mobile app or public API for custom integrations
Strict content quality requirements — not all niches accepted

Common questions

Can I use Outbrain or Raptive on my phone?

No. Neither tool has a mobile app. Both require a desktop browser for setup, management, and reporting.

Which is better for a small blog with 10,000 monthly visitors?

Neither. Outbrain requires a paid ad budget and isn't for earning money from your site. Raptive requires 100k pageviews minimum. You'd be better off with Google AdSense or Mediavine.

Is Outbrain worth the price for a small business owner?

Only if you have a dedicated ad budget and are comfortable with a learning curve. Outbrain's pricing isn't published, but managed services have high minimum spends. It's best for medium-to-large advertisers.

Does Raptive work with WordPress?

Yes, Raptive offers a WordPress plugin for easy ad script installation. But you still need to meet the 100k pageview threshold to join.

Outbrain helps you spend ad money on premium sites; Raptive helps you earn ad money from your content — and neither is for casual users.

If you're an advertiser with a budget and want to run native ads on premium sites, Outbrain is your pick — but be ready for a steep learning curve. If you're a content creator with serious traffic (100k+ monthly pageviews) and want to maximize ad revenue without lifting a finger, Raptive is the gold standard. For everyone else, look elsewhere — these are specialized tools, not everyday AI apps.

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Detail pages: Outbrain · Raptive (formerly AdThrive)

Outbrain

Raptive (formerly AdThrive)

Free plan

Mobile app

API access