Ezoic has clearly established itself as one of the top solutions for publishers to monetize websites.
Ezoic is an ad tech platform used by more than 10,000 publishers.
Most know that their Ad Tester machine learning tool may significantly increase ad income on your website.
What is Ezoic Premium, though?
Ezoic Premium is an Ezoic subscription-based service where publishers pay a monthly fee to access ads from higher-paying advertisers.
Higher-paying advertising is subsequently displayed on your site, increasing revenue for you, the content creator.
(This hits me as a strange way to run an ad business, but we’ll get to that).
When compared to other advertising networks, the price strategy for this premium service is a little different.
I find it tough to determine exactly what you’re paying for and whether it’s worth it.
That’s probably why you’ve landed on this post, so let’s start analyzing.
[Sidenote: Ezoic also has a solid affiliate program, so you can refer other publishers to it. Read more info about the program here.]
Ezoic 101
Let’s take a quick look at Ezoic and what they do before we delve into the details of Ezoic Premium.
(skip this section if you’re already an Ezoic customer!)
They’re a website technology platform with a variety of features to assist publishers to enhance things like:
- Site speed
- User experience
- Ad earnings
- Layout testing
- Improved security
More than 10,000 site owners use for their websites.
Many Ezoic users use it exclusively for the Ad Tester.
Ezoic’s Ad Tester is a machine learning-based solution that helps publishers maximize earnings by optimizing ad placement.
The Ad Tester tries out various ad combinations to find the one that delivers the most income, UX, and engagement.
The Ad Tester, in my experience, does a fantastic job of raising revenue, especially compared to Google Adsense.
It’s common for publishers to see a big jump in ad revenue after using the Ad Tester to optimize their campaigns.
Related Reading: Ezoic Vs. Mediavine – Click To Read The Comparison.
Ezoic Premium 101
Ezoic Premium is an invitation-only program that allows publishers to earn more by accessing higher-paying advertisers.
The higher paying ads are the result of Ezoic’s pre-negotiated arrangements with well-known brands.
These pre-arranged agreements are with premium advertisers that are looking for a specific type of publisher traffic.
Ezoic doesn’t just hand out invitations to their premium program instantly, even if your site already has a lot of traffic.
Advertisers want to know that their ad funds are going to high-quality visitors.
It takes time for them to determine whether or not your website is suitable for the program.
A note from Ezoic: premium ad earnings will always be larger than the monthly price because the program is set up as such.
We’ll discuss this idea further…
[Just so you know, ad revenue is a large part of how I generate revenue for my websites and blogging business. Watch the video below if you want to learn more.]
Ok, let’s touch on some benefits in my Ezoic premium review.
Ezoic Premium Pros
The boost in ad revenue is the primary benefit of a premium plan.
Without a doubt, I believe this is why 99% of premium customers signed up in the first place.
I mean, if you’re paying $100 per month to be in the premium program, and get $150+ in ad revenue, then it’s guaranteed to be a net positive return.
However, aside from the added revenue, there are a few other advantages to utilizing Ezoic Premium, such as:
- Discounted price on Ezoic Site Accelerator subscriptions
- Premium advertiser reports (you get to see which advertisers make up your revenue)
- API access and expedited reported (you get to see your ad revenue data 24 hours before regular users)
- Dedicated account manager and monthly site reviews (optional)
Early access to reporting is a good perk.
But I believe that out of everything, having a dedicated account manager is the biggest benefit of joining Ezoic Premium.
While a part of the program, I enjoyed the added service.
When I contact our manager, the problem is quickly resolved (of course, I’d prefer there not to be any problems in the first place!)
Another advantage worth mentioning is that Ezoic Premium doesn’t post extra ads on your page to increase earnings.
Last but not least, Ezoic claims that premium customers see an increase in “regular” ad partner revenues.
According to the company, the platform analyzes premium users’ data first, resulting in constant income and UX optimization benefits.
Ezoic Premium Cons
Can’t Change Your Plan Manually
The first drawback to Ezoic Premium is you won’t be able to change your plan manually.
This fact made me uneasy when I was contemplating whether to commit to a premium plan.
The good news is that the premium subscription is designed to be a lucrative proposition for the publisher.
So what happens if my site’s traffic consistently reduces, resulting in premium revenue falling below the subscription price?
If this occurs, Ezoic will immediately downgrade your account and credit your balance.
Upfront Subscription Payment Is Required (recently changed)
The upfront payment is the second disadvantage of Ezoic premium.
Until recently, users were unable to pay for their premium subscription using existing ad revenue earned on the platform.
That has since changed.
(See the screenshot below from a small site project I have on Ezoic currently).
If you choose to prepay, at least do so with a credit card (you could at least earn points on the purchase).
Premium revenue might arrive 30-45 days after you pay for a given month’s subscription, depending on your payment cycle.
This one makes sense, though it would be good if the membership could be subtracted from ad revenue.
Advertisers are not paid until the month after the one in which Ezoic earned income.
So, if they let you deduct your subscription from ad revenue, they’d essentially be giving you free credit.
That’s because they haven’t yet received payment from advertisers.
This feature honestly had me scratching my head.
When asked why we had to pay, I was told “it’s so that we can afford to spend our time and go directly after better advertisers for you.”
While on one hand, I can understand this, it led me to ask: “wouldn’t you always want to be getting the best advertisers possible at all times?”
Here’s an example:
Let’s say I’m getting a job making $25/hr (nice).
They tell me that if I prepay $5 for every hour I work, I can make $32/hr instead.
Ok.
It works, but it doesn’t seem very logical.
Why not just pay me $27/hr instead.
That’s my main beef with Ezoic Premium.
Is that it just doesn’t seem logical.
Minimum One Year Commitment Is Required
Lastly, a year’s commitment is required to get better pricing.
You can sign a multi-year agreement for the best pricing.
But who wants to sign a contract for their ad network?
Other big guys like Mediavine don’t require this.
This is where your specific goals and what you aim to achieve for your site will come into play. Using a month-to-month contract can significantly reduce your profit potential.
Sure, a long-term contract shouldn’t be an issue and will save you money.
This perk applies to buy-and-hold digital asset investors and those who intend to keep their sites long-term.
However, it’s a disadvantage if you’re not sure if you want to commit to holding your asset for a year.
The higher price for a month-by-month plan can significantly reduce your return.
Related Reading: 25+ Best Jobs For Introverts (like us bloggers!) – Find Info About The Jobs Here.
Are Ezoic Premium’s Claims Of Boosted Income True?
I’m not going to overcomplicate things with graphs and reports to show you my results in this post.
Instead, I’ll give you an estimate of my recent experiences.
To answer the question quickly:
Yes, you do make more money with Ezoic Premium than you would without it.
Here’s a sample scenario:
Premium ads can earn you up to $60 per month if you pay $44 each month for them.
Ezoic splits the profits so that you can see the difference between regular and premium ads.
So you practically paid for your premium plan while also earning some extra cash. When you look at it this way, it all makes sense.
If you’re on Ezoic and don’t plan on moving your site anywhere anytime soon, you should definitely upgrade to premium.
You’ll surely be able to earn more money.
However, keep in mind that you may be entering a contract with significant cancellation fees if you cancel early.
Long-term contracts like this irritate me.
As a content creator, it’s a huge turn-off.
In my perspective, the entire premium business model is flawed. I mean, why have them at all??
Should You Consider Other Ad Companies?
Ezoic is a popular place to start new sites because it doesn’t have a traffic requirement.
But as your site grows, I recommend that you explore other ad platforms out there.
It’s all about you making as much money as possible with your hard work.
A site that you most certainly spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours creating.
I’ve removed Ezoic from two of my larger sites once they’ve reached 50,000+ sessions.
I moved over to Mediavine, which I’m also a big fan of.
The point I’m trying to make here is that it’s all about business.
Ezoic’s business is to monetize websites and collect money from their publishers in new and inventive methods.
It’s my job to make sure that my websites have the highest possibility of succeeding.
As a site owner, it is also my responsibility to take advantage of all changes that are offered to me.
Ezoic should be aware of this, but it seems like they aren’t the way their plans are laid out.
I’ll share a touch about Mediavine below.
Also, if you’re a Monumetric publisher, you can check out our guide comparing it to Ezoic here.
Mediavine
After a bit of groundwork, I decided to switch a site from Ezoic to Mediavine.
I wasn’t unhappy with Ezoic.
I just wanted to see if I could make more money with a different company.
It turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
There’s no chance Ezoic will touch this $30-40 RPM.
And I’m not charged for “premium ads” on Mediavine.
Hallelujah!
It’s really something to think about if you’re on the fence about Ezoic Premium.
It’s an excellent service, but Mediavine is worth checking out if you find that Ezoic is insufficient.
Ezoic Premium FAQs
So is Ezoic Premium worth it?
The simple answer is yes (even though I can argue easily against having it at all). I chose Ezoic Premium because I wanted to make more money from my website’s display ads. That is precisely what I received.
Different tiers (1 star to 7 diamond) and plans within those tiers make up the program (basic, preferred, and elite).
The highest tier your site qualifies for, and the elite plan provides the best returns.
Does Ezoic offer free trials?
Yup. Ezoic offers a 14-day free trial period for new premium customers at the time of writing. This trial gives you a chance to study the system in action.
How long do you have to wait to get invited to Ezoic Premium?
On the platform, the typical wait period is two months. That seems reasonable to me.
However, I’ve heard that if your website already attracts 100,000 or more visitors each month, you’ll get invited sooner.
Are you obligated to join if you’re invited?
Nope. You are under no function to use the program if you don’t believe it is a good fit for your objectives.
How much do you have to pay to use Ezoic?
It varies based on how much traffic your site receives. The price is set at a level where you can be confident of making more money than you pay for the membership.
Consequently, the most straightforward package costs $70 per month, while the most costly, 7 Diamond Elite, costs $18,000 per month.
Final Thoughts
In the end, you must do what is best for your company.
Bottomline: Ezoic Premium makes sense but I just don’t get the full logic behind it.
All other ad platforms already give you access to their premium advertisers without you paying for it!
Ezoic keeps going on and on about how people are constantly switching from other platforms to Ezoic.
My account manager even forwarded me links to case studies of people criticizing Adthrive and praising Ezoic.
As someone who now also works with Mediavine, I can tell you that they have never even mentioned Ezoic to me.
Their primary focus is the level of service they provide.
For the record, I continue to suggest Ezoic to everyone, especially smaller sites!
Just keep in mind that after your site gets enough traffic, you have alternate possibilities.
In my opinion, Ezoic has little chance of competing with the likes of Mediavine or Adthrive with their present premium model.
I wish you success whatever route you choose!
