Taboola Alternatives (2026): 10 Tools Compared

Taboola is a well-known content discovery network. Publishers use it to show recommended stories at the end of articles, and advertisers use it to put their content in front of readers on those sites. Plenty of people are happy with it. Others want a different mix: a network that welcomes smaller sites, a different route to get started, a regional focus or a different set of formats.

Here are ten alternatives to Taboola in no particular order, sorted alphabetically. A few are household names in advertising and most are smaller, more specialised networks. I've taken every description from each company's own website and directory listings, so check the current details on each site before you open an account. If you're still deciding what to promote, my look at what content marketing is doing right now is a useful warm-up.

Taboola alternatives side by side

In the free plan column, Yes means a permanent free tier, Trial only means a free trial but no ongoing free plan, and No means the company's own site states neither. Networks like these are normally free to join but you can't use them without spending on campaigns, so No here simply reflects what the sites say about a free plan. Terms change, so check before you start.

Tool	Type	Good for	Free plan
Adnow	Native ad network	Native recommendations for smaller sites	No
Adsterra	Ad network	Native banners next to other ad formats	No
Dianomi	Premium content network	Brand content beside financial and business editorial	No
Media.net	Contextual ad platform	Ads matched to the page around them	No
MGID	Native ad platform	Native and programmatic campaigns	No
Monetag	Ad network	Quick site approval and several formats	No
Revcontent	Recommendation engine	Native placements for advertisers and publishers	No
RichAds	Performance ad network	Native ads plus other performance formats	No
Teads	Open-web ad platform	Large network that now includes Outbrain's business	No
TripleLift	Programmatic ads	Formats across web, video and retail	No

Ten native ad networks to try instead of Taboola

Adnow

Best for: Publishers and advertisers who want a self-sign-up native network with a dedicated publisher section and a separate advertiser dashboard.

Adsterra

Best for: Site owners and advertisers who want native banners alongside other formats, with sign-up open to both sides.

Dianomi

Best for: Advertisers who want their articles placed beside editorial on premium publisher sites, with a conversation first rather than self-serve sign-up.

Media.net

Best for: Publishers and advertisers who care about ads matching the subject of the page, with a contact route to get started.

MGID

Best for: Advertisers and publishers who want a worldwide native network with open account creation on both sides.

Monetag

Best for: Site and app owners who want a simple account set-up, with a native-style banner among its formats.

Revcontent

Best for: Advertisers who want to start from a public registration page, and publishers who prefer to talk to the team first.

RichAds

Best for: Advertisers and publishers who want native ads in a wider set of performance formats, with open sign-up pages.

Teads

Best for: Advertisers who want a large open-web network, with expert help available when setting up a first campaign.

TripleLift

Best for: Brands and publishers who want programmatic native formats, with self-managed or hands-on managed options.

How to compare native ad networks and content discovery platforms

Networks in this space look similar from the outside, so compare them on the things that change how your campaigns or your site behave.

• Which side are you on? Some networks are built mainly for advertisers, some mainly for publishers, and some for both. Make sure the sign-up route you see matches your role.
• How you get started. Some let you create an account yourself. Others begin with a conversation with the sales team, and that tells you a lot about who they expect to work with.
• Where your content appears. Ask which sites, countries and devices the network reaches, and whether you can see placements.
• Targeting and controls. Look for options to include or exclude sites and topics, so your content only appears where you're happy to see it.
• Creative rules. Check what headlines, images and landing pages the network accepts before you write anything.
• Reporting. You want to see where results came from, not just a headline total.

Questions to ask a native ad network before you sign up

• Is the network open to new accounts today, or is it by invitation or contact only?
• What are the rules for the content I want to promote, and who reviews it?
• Can I choose or block the sites my content appears on?
• What reporting do I get, and can I export it?
• How do I pause or stop a campaign quickly?
• Who do I speak to when something goes wrong, and how fast do they reply?

Which native ad network suits which business

• Small businesses and solo marketers usually do best with a network that has a clear self-serve account area and simple controls.
• Publishers and bloggers should check what the network expects from a site, how recommendations look on the page and whether they can stay in control of what appears.
• Finance, professional services and B2B brands often prefer a network that places articles beside editorial on well-known publisher sites.
• Brands that sell across several countries should ask about regional coverage and language support.
• Teams that already run programmatic campaigns may look for native formats that connect with the tools they use.

A network can only send people somewhere useful, so make sure the page they land on is ready. My notes on building a landing page for an ad campaign apply here too, and so does writing a story-led ad that earns attention honestly.

Checking editorial and brand safety policies for native ad networks

Whichever network you consider, read its editorial policy and brand-safety policy before you commit. These documents explain what content is accepted, what kinds of headline or image are refused and which sites the network works with. That matters whether you're an advertiser worried about where your name appears or a publisher worried about what is recommended to your readers.

Also check that your own content meets advertising rules in the countries you target, including clear labelling where required. This isn't legal advice, so check the current rules for your own situation.

Native advertising mistakes to avoid

• Choosing a network because a competitor uses it, without checking that it fits your goal.
• Promoting a thin or confusing page. Readers will leave quickly.
• Using headlines that promise more than the page delivers.
• Skipping the site and topic controls because setting them up feels fiddly.
• Ignoring reporting. If you can't tell where visitors came from, you can't improve.
• Signing up with several networks at once before you understand one of them.

Why a smaller native ad network can be a smart pick

Smaller networks tend to have simpler account areas and faster conversations with the team. Some focus on one region, one kind of publisher or one kind of advertiser.

Before you rely on one, check that it's still active, read its policies and make sure you understand how to stop a campaign. Start small and keep a note of what you learn.

Do you make a content discovery or native advertising platform? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place on this list.

Final checks for your native ad network shortlist

Pick two networks that match your role and the way you like to work, then read their policies side by side. Open an account where self-sign-up is offered, or have a short conversation where it isn't. Keep whichever network gives you the clearest controls and the clearest reporting.

Frequently asked questions

What is a native ad network?

It places promoted content, such as articles or recommendations, inside the design of a publisher's site so it looks like the surrounding page. Advertisers supply the content and publishers supply the space.

Why look for an alternative to Taboola?

People usually want a different way to get started, a different regional focus or a network that suits a smaller site. Work out which of those matters most to you first.

Are native ad networks open to everyone?

Not always. Some let you register straight away while others ask you to contact the team first. Check each company's own site for the current route.

Do I need a landing page for native ads?

Yes, a clear and relevant page matters. Visitors who click a headline expect the page to deliver on it.

What should I check before choosing a network?

Look at who it serves, how you get started, the content rules, site and topic controls, reporting and its editorial and brand-safety policies.