Ad Inserter vs AdRotate
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| Feature | Ad Inserter v2.8.19 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free · ★ 4.9/5 Visit Details | AdRotate v5.19.3 · checked 23 Oct 2026 Free + paid · ★ 4.3/5 Visit Details |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Active installs | 300,000+ | 20,000+ |
| Last updated | September 23, 2026 | October 10, 2026 |
| Editions | Ad Inserter | AdRotate Banner Manager · AdRotate Professional ($) |
| Pros | Insert ads at positions in the content, with loop-only options; Rotating banners and AdSense fallback; Shortcode, widget and virtual ads.txt | Ad groups and schedules in the free version; Local impression and click counting without an outside service |
| Cons | Many settings to learn before ads are placed correctly; Ad codes can slow pages and affect layout; AdSense connection goes through Google OAuth | Geo targeting and advanced scheduling need AdRotate Professional; Upgrade prompts appear across the dashboard |
| Mentioned in our posts | 1 | 1 |
| More features | ||
| Other features | Ad insertion at chosen positions, Rotating banners, Fallback when AdSense does not fill, AdSense connection through Google OAuth, Ad shortcode, Ad widget, REST settings endpoint, Virtual ads.txt file | Single adverts and groups output, Gutenberg block and widget for ads, Local impression and click counter, Geo targeting (Pro, license key field) ($), Advanced schedules per advert (Pro) ($) |
| Integrations | ||
| Other | Google AdSense | — |
| Requires WordPress | 6.0 | 4.9 |
| Requires PHP | 7.4 | 8.0 |
| Tested up to | 7.0 | 7.1.3 |
| Phones home | Only if you agree | No |
| External services | oauth2.googleapis.com, adsense.googleapis.com | — |
| Blocks | — | 2 |
| Shortcodes | 2 | 1 |
| Custom tables | — | 7 |