Glossary
What is Google AdSense?
Also called: AdSense
Google AdSense is Google's ad network for publishers: it finds advertisers, runs the auction, places the ads and pays you a share of the revenue.
हिंदी में पढ़ेंAdSense sells your ad space for you. Google Ads advertisers and other authorised buyers, such as ad networks, trading desks and DSPs, bid; Google runs the auction, picks the ads and pays you a share. Google says AdSense fits best if you do not have a direct sales business. You can review and block authorised buyers under Brand safety, Content, Blocking controls.
Since early 2024 AdSense has paid per impression rather than per click. For display ads, Google says publishers receive 80% of revenue after the advertiser platform takes its fee. When Google Ads is the buyer, it keeps on average 15% of advertiser spend, so from $1.00 of spend, $0.85 is left and you get 80% of that: $0.68. Earnings are finalised around the 3rd of the next month, after invalid activity is removed.
The main health checks are page RPM, coverage, Policy center and your ads.txt status. When you start selling direct deals or want several demand partners competing, that is the point to look at Google Ad Manager.
Example
A site has $500 of estimated earnings in a month from 200,000 page views. Page RPM is $500 ÷ 200,000 × 1,000 = $2.50. If Google removes $20 of invalid activity before finalising, the finalised figure is $480.
Why it matters to publishers
AdSense is the simplest way to earn from a site, but you give up control over who competes. Knowing how it pays helps you judge when it is time to move on.