“Pop traffic” usually means popunder, on-click, and clickunder inventory rather than classic pop-ups. We compared networks by traffic volume, GEO coverage, pricing, fraud filtering, and source-level controls that help affiliates cut weak traffic and scale profitable sources.
| # | Network | Since | Pricing models | GEOs | Best for verticals | Minimum deposit | Special features | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
ReachEffect
|
2014 |
CPM CPC CPA CPL |
250 |
Ecommerce Nutra Adult Gambling Dating Sweepstakes |
$100 |
API automation 20% cashback on first deposit from $500 |
|
| 2 |
Kadam
|
2012 |
CPM CPC |
195 |
Gambling Nutra Betting Dating Crypto Sweeps |
$100 |
Microbidding CPA target |
|
| 3 |
RichAds
|
2018 |
CPM CPC CPA |
220 |
Gambling Betting Nutra Utilities Antivirus |
$150 |
Target CPA Microbidding Performance mode |
|
| 4 |
Remoby
|
2021 |
Fixed CPC Fixed CPM SmartCPM |
195+ |
iGaming Social Apps Financial Giveaways |
$100 |
Audience intent targeting iGaming whitelists |
|
| 5 |
AdsCompass
|
2013 |
CPM CPC |
200+ |
Gambling Betting Dating Software |
$50 |
SST Pixel S2S Postback |
|
| 6 |
Hilltop Ads
|
2013 |
CPM CPC |
Worldwide |
Dating Gambling Streaming Dates OnlyFans Games Mobile Apps VPN Pin-Submit Ecommerce |
$100 |
n/a |
|
| 7 |
PopAds
|
2010 |
CPV |
n/a |
Adult |
$10 |
Helps avoid AdBlock |
Best Pop Ad Networks by Use Case
Different pop networks tend to work better for different verticals, budgets, and optimization strategies. Below are the strongest use-case fits among the networks in our listing.
| Use case | Pick |
|---|---|
| Adult & Dating | HilltopAds |
| Gambling & Betting | ReachEffect |
| Sweepstakes | Kadam |
| Low-cost testing | PopAds |
| Scaling | RichAds |
Best for Adult and Dating — HilltopAds. HilltopAds is a strong fit for dating, with popunder traffic available for both mainstream and non-mainstream campaigns. ReachEffect is another option for affiliates looking for adult and dating pop traffic. HilltopAds also specifically promotes popunder traffic for dating campaigns.
Best for Gambling and Betting — ReachEffect. ReachEffect specifically supports casino and sports betting campaigns with popunder traffic. Its GEO, device, OS, browser, and connection-type targeting also gives affiliates enough control to separate and optimize different traffic segments.
Best for Sweepstakes — Kadam. Kadam lists sweepstakes and lotteries among the verticals suited to its popunder traffic and publishes a minimum popunder price of $0.0002. That low entry bid can make the network useful for inexpensive tests in cheaper GEOs, although actual traffic prices depend on targeting and competition.
Best for Low-Cost Testing — PopAds. PopAds has a $10 minimum deposit, giving affiliates a low-cost way to run initial tests and collect source-level performance data before committing a larger budget.
Best for Scaling Pop Campaigns — RichAds. RichAds is particularly strong on campaign optimization. Performance Mode helps concentrate spend on converting sources, while Target CPA automatically adjusts bids around the desired acquisition cost. This makes it easier to scale profitable traffic segments without simply increasing bids across the whole campaign.
What to Look for in a Pop Ad Network
A low CPM means little if the traffic cannot be segmented and optimized properly. For affiliates running aggressive funnels, pre-landers, or cheaper GEOs, source transparency, frequency controls, and targeting depth often matter more than the headline price.
Traffic Quality and Inventory Sources
Pop inventory can vary widely even within the same GEO and device segment. Networks that expose clear source or site IDs and use effective fraud filtering make it easier to distinguish reliable placements from low-quality or suspicious traffic. This matters especially with mixed inventory, where a small group of profitable sources may sit inside a much larger pool that performs poorly.

Targeting, Frequency Caps, and Source-Level Optimization
For scaling, basic GEO and device targeting is rarely enough. OS, browser, carrier, source-level bidding, whitelists, blacklists, and frequency caps give affiliates much tighter control over where the budget goes. Frequency caps are particularly important with pop traffic, since repeated exposure to the same users can quickly reduce performance.
Direct vs Brokered and Redirected Traffic
Not all pop traffic comes directly from the original publisher. Some inventory passes through brokers, resellers, or additional redirects before the landing page or pre-lander loads.
That does not automatically mean lower quality, but extra layers can reduce source transparency and complicate attribution. This matters more with aggressive funnels and pre-landers, where knowing the real traffic origin is important for optimization. Traffic that passes through multiple intermediaries may require more testing before reliable sources can be moved into a separate whitelist campaign.

Pop-Up vs Popunder vs On-Click Traffic
Ad networks often group these formats under “pop traffic,” although the way each one is triggered and displayed differs. In affiliate media buying, the term commonly refers to popunder and on-click inventory rather than classic pop-ups.
| Format | How It Opens | Main Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Pop-up | Opens in front of the page the user is viewing | Appears immediately in the foreground |
| Popunder | Opens behind the active browser window or tab | Usually becomes visible after the user switches away from or closes the original page |
| On-click / Clickunder | Opens a new page after a click on the publisher’s site | The new page is triggered by a user action; clickunder implementations typically open it behind the active page |
For affiliates, the label matters less than how the network delivers and identifies the traffic. A campaign sold as “popunder” may still use different on-click mechanics, so source IDs, redirect depth, frequency caps, and placement-level performance are usually more useful for optimization than the format name alone.
FAQ
They can still be profitable, but results depend heavily on the GEO, offer, funnel, and individual traffic sources. Pop traffic is still used for verticals such as dating, iGaming, sweepstakes, and utilities, while broader campaigns often require source-level optimization rather than simply buying the cheapest CPM.
There is no universal benchmark. Tier, vertical, device, competition, and traffic quality can all affect the price. RichAds, for example, publishes minimum popunder bids starting at about $0.50 CPM for Tier 3 and $1 CPM for Tier 1, but these are bid floors rather than benchmarks for a profitable campaign.
Among the networks in our listing, PopAds has the lowest entry point at $10. Kadam and HilltopAds start at $100, while RichAds starts at $150. This gives PopAds the lowest upfront cost for a small initial test among these networks.
Yes, some pop networks accept adult and other non-mainstream campaigns. HilltopAds, for example, supports adult offers through its non-mainstream traffic channel. Policies vary by network, so affiliates should always check the current rules for both the offer and landing page before launch.

