Popunder Ads for Media Buyers in Tier-1 Countries: Key Insights
Learn how media buyers can profit from popunders in Tier-1 markets. Explore strategies, campaign setups, and compliance insights to drive high conversions.
15 Nov 2025
Using popunders can be a profitable strategy as it allows high visibility without disrupting the user experience. People are more likely to engage with the ad content.
However, a popunder in Tier-1 countries can be even more profitable. Before pursuing this option, you should understand how to advertise in these lucrative markets.
What Is Tier-1 Traffic and Why Is It Valuable?
Tier-1 traffic comes from countries where the average user has high purchasing power compared to the rest of the world. And as a result, they tend to spend more.
Main Tier-1 Countries
These include the US, the UK, Canada, and many EU countries. Many of them have high income, significant competition, and strict regulations.
Specifics of working with Tier-1 traffic
Your success in pulling a decent ROI requires the following:
- Adherence to local regulations
- Focus on serving premium ad content that matches higher expectations
- Monitoring how the pop traffic responds to the campaign
Given the heavier investment required for Tier-1 markets, you should also make a greater effort to ensure you do things right.
Popunders in Traffic Arbitrage
Offering popunder ads is one thing, but profiting from them in the long term is another. So, you should first understand what popunders really are.
How popunders differ from push ads
Assuming there is no regulation that says otherwise, you don’t need user consent before serving popunders. However, push ads can be turned on and off at will.
Advantages and risks of the format
If you’re not sure whether popunder ads will be good for your campaign, we have summarized the pros and cons below:
| Pros | Cons |
| Work with most nichesHave high visibilityComplement other ad formats | Can result in site indexing issues if not done rightProne to being overused |
Monetizing Pop Traffic in Tier-1 Markets
Your success doesn’t depend only on the offer. Your choice of ad network and how your campaign is set up can also affect profitability.
Choosing offers for Tier-1 markets
Focus on verticals that generally see great results with Tier-1 audiences, such as iGaming and finance. Then, go for high-quality offers with high commission rates so you earn more per referral.
The role of advertising networks
Although the commission rate is something you should look at, make sure that they’re compliant with local regulations, too. This helps prevent legal issues with the campaign.
Campaign setup for Tier-1 countries
To set up successful and profitable campaigns, use auto-rules and tracking instruments. With Kadam, you can automatically increase CTR and conversion rates by disabling ineffective sources.
Optimization and Scaling Practices
After the initial launch and set up, you can watch your profits grow by implementing the following:
Tracker setup and automation
To lighten the load, use trackers and ensure that you monitor data across GEOs, browsers, devices, and operating systems. Then, set up rules to automatically shift traffic to the best-performing ads.
Split testing and conversion growth
When performing a split test, try to change just one variable at a time. This way, you can immediately see the effect on the conversion rates.
CPA, CPC, and CPL rates
Average CPA rates can start at $5, CPC — at $0.1–0.3, and CPL — at $2–3. But these high-priced leads mean that the market remains profitable: conversions are stable and the ROI is higher than in Tier 2.
Legal and reputational risks
Compliance isn’t optional. It’s a requirement so you can maintain access to the high-paying Tier-1 market.
Advertising regulations in Tier-1 countries
CCPA, GDPR, and ePrivacy Directives all have regulations regarding how advertisers and publishers can collect, process, and use data. Especially for formats like pop ads, make sure to meet any required disclosures.
Webmaster liability
As an advertiser, you’re responsible for complying with all applicable regulations. And if a fine applies, you’ll be liable for that too.
Conclusion: Recommendations for Arbitrage Marketers
Strategically handling popunder campaigns is more than just finding the most profitable ads or market segments. Prioritize compliance with regulations to protect your site and maintain access to Tier-1 markets.
FAQ
Why is popunder still in demand in Tier-1 markets?
They deliver high visibility and provide flexible targeting, both of which contribute to high conversions. As a media buyer, this means better returns on your ad spend.
How can I choose the right offer for Tier-1 traffic?
Apart from making sure that it’s available in Tier-1 markets, verify the quality of the offer itself to improve CLTV.
Which bidding models are most common in Tier-1?
Performance-based pricing like CPC and CPA is more common than CPM.