When you start showing ads on your website, one of the first questions you likely have is: “How much of the money do I actually get to keep?” Understanding how revenue is shared is the key to knowing your worth as a creator.
Here is a simple guide to the AdSense Revenue Share Explained so you can understand the numbers behind your earnings.
The Standard Breakdown
For a long time, the way earnings were split was very straightforward. For most people who use the platform to show ads on their blog or website, the share is 68%.
This means that for every $100 an advertiser pays to show ads on your site, you receive $68. The remaining $32 stays with the platform to cover the costs of technology, support, and connecting you with millions of advertisers.
Different Rates for Different Tools
Not every ad on your site follows the 68% rule. Depending on how the visitor interacts with your site, the percentage might change:
- Content Ads: These are the standard banner and text ads you see inside your articles. You keep 68% of this revenue.
- Search Ads: If you have a custom search bar on your site and a user clicks an ad in the search results, you keep 51% of that revenue.
- Platform Partners: If you use a third-party service to manage your site, they might take a small additional cut for their services, which could slightly change your final take-home amount.
Recent Changes to the Payment Model
Recently, the system has moved toward a more transparent “split” model. While the final amount you receive remains about the same (the 68% target), the way it is calculated has been updated to match how the rest of the advertising industry works.
Instead of looking at the transaction as one big pile of money, it is now viewed in two parts:
- The Buy-Side: The platform used by the advertiser to buy the ad space.
- The Sell-Side: The platform you use to sell your ad space.
Under this updated structure, you generally receive 80% of the revenue after the advertiser’s platform has taken its initial fee. Even though the math looks different, the goal is for your total earnings to remain stable and consistent with the old 68% rule.
Why Does the Platform Keep a Share?
It might seem like a large chunk is being kept, but that share pays for several important things that make your job easier:
- Finding Advertisers: You don’t have to go out and knock on doors to find companies to pay you; the system does that automatically.
- Safety and Security: The platform filters out “bad” ads that might harm your site’s reputation or spread viruses.
- Technology Updates: They provide the code, the tracking, and the reporting tools so you can see exactly how your site is performing.
Focus on Total Value, Not Just Percentages
A common mistake is to look for another ad network just because they offer a “90% share.” However, 90% of a small amount is still less than 68% of a large amount.
Because this specific network has access to the largest pool of advertisers in the world, the “bid” for your ad space is often higher. This means that even with a lower percentage share, your actual paycheck at the end of the month is often higher than it would be elsewhere.
How to Check Your Share
If you want to see exactly what your active products are earning, you can find this information in your account settings. Look under the Account Information tab to see a clear list of the revenue share for each type of ad you are running.
