Mediavine Requirements and Transfer Checklist

When display advertising is a significant revenue source for a content site, ad network eligibility becomes a key due diligence item. Buyers often assume a site’s Mediavine relationship transfers with the sale. It doesn’t.

This guide applies to sites where Mediavine represents a meaningful portion of revenue.

Looking to buy a profitable Mediavine website? Browse blogs for sale here.

Mediavine Accounts Do Not Transfer

Mediavine accounts are non-transferable. When you acquire a site, you must apply for your own Mediavine account (if you do not have one already) and have the site approved under your ownership. The seller’s approval history, revenue share, relationship tenure, and account standing do not carry over.

This means a site that has been running Mediavine ads for years could be rejected when you apply as the new owner. The site must meet current eligibility requirements at the time of your application.

Current Eligibility Requirements (2026)

As of January 2026, Mediavine restructured its program into revenue-based tiers. Here’s what you need to know:

Main Mediavine Network: Requires a minimum of 50,000 sessions per month. This threshold has remained consistent and applies to ownership transfers. Sites changing hands must meet this requirement for re-approval.

Journey Program: As of January 15, 2026, the Journey program lowered its threshold from 10,000 sessions to just 1,000 sessions per month. Journey is designed for growing sites that don’t yet qualify for the main network. However, Journey sites have lower revenue share (70%) and require the Grow plugin to be installed for at least 30 days before applying.

Revenue-Based Tiers: The January 2026 restructure introduced tiered levels based on annual ad revenue: Official ($5K+), Select ($25K+), Signature ($100K+), Premiere ($250K+), and Premiere Plus ($500K+). Each tier offers progressively higher revenue share, ranging from 75% at Official to 90% at Premiere Plus.

Important clarification: The $5,000 annual ad revenue threshold determines tier placement after acceptance—it is not a gate for initial application. Sites with 50,000+ sessions can still apply to the main network. Revenue history affects which tier you’re placed in, not whether you can apply.

The Transfer Process

Mediavine has a specific process for sites changing ownership. According to their documentation, sellers should notify Mediavine in advance with a firm transfer date so “all of the necessary approvals are in place” and there’s “no lapse in spend or earnings.”

As the buyer, you’ll need to:

1. Create your own Mediavine account (you cannot use the seller’s login) if you do not already have one
2. Apply with the site under your ownership
3. Meet current eligibility requirements (50,000 sessions for the main network)
4. Pass content quality and traffic source review

The site will be evaluated as if it were a new application. Your review will include content quality assessment and traffic source verification through Google Analytics.

What Mediavine Reviews

During the application process, Mediavine evaluates:

• Traffic volume: Must meet the 50,000 session threshold (or 1,000 for Journey)
• Traffic quality: Sources are verified through GA4. Mediavine looks for legitimate, organic traffic patterns
• Content quality: Original, advertiser-friendly content with good user experience
• Site standing: No policy violations, copyright issues, or problematic content
• Geographic distribution: Traffic from Tier 1 countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia) is valued more highly

Due Diligence Checklist

Before making an offer on a Mediavine-monetized site:

1. Verify current traffic: Request Google Analytics access. Confirm the site consistently meets the 50,000 session threshold. Look at the trailing 3-6 months, not just the most recent month.
2. Check traffic trends: A site at 52,000 sessions but declining 5% monthly could fall below threshold by the time you close. Build in margin.
3. Review content quality: Assess whether content meets Mediavine’s advertiser-friendly standards. AI-generated or thin content may face additional scrutiny.
4. Understand traffic sources: Heavy reliance on a single traffic source (especially social or paid) is riskier than diversified traffic.
5. Plan for the gap: There will likely be a period between ownership transfer and Mediavine approval where the site generates no ad revenue. Factor this into your valuation.
6. Have a backup plan: If Mediavine rejects your application, what’s your alternative? Ezoic, Raptive (formerly AdThrive), or Google AdSense have different requirements and some have lower RPMs.

If You Already Have a Mediavine Account

Existing Mediavine publishers adding a newly acquired site to their portfolio may have a smoother process, but approval is not guaranteed. Each site is evaluated individually, and your account history doesn’t exempt a new site from meeting eligibility requirements.

Contact Mediavine support before closing the deal to understand the specific process for adding an acquired site to an existing account.

Valuation Implications

When valuing a Mediavine site, account for these risks:

• Revenue gap: Assume 1-4 weeks with no ad revenue during the transfer and approval process
• Rejection risk: If the site is borderline on traffic or content quality, factor in the possibility of rejection
• Tier placement: Your revenue share depends on tier qualification. A site earning $20K/year in ad revenue would place at Official (75% share), not the higher tiers
• Alternative monetization: Calculate what revenue would look like with backup ad networks as a worst-case scenario

Bottom Line

Mediavine eligibility is not a transferable asset. When you buy a site, you’re buying the content, domain, and traffic—not the ad network relationship. The site must qualify under your ownership, meeting current requirements at the time of your application.

For sites where Mediavine revenue is a significant portion of the value proposition, verify eligibility thoroughly before making an offer. Request GA access, review traffic trends, assess content quality, and contact Mediavine to understand the transfer process. Don’t assume approval is automatic.