Note (September 2026): This guide was updated: the AdNow plugin is now listed on WordPress.org as “Adnow Native Widget” (version 2.0.3), and as of September 2026 the directory warns that it has not been tested with the latest 3 major releases of WordPress, so the original claim that it works equally well everywhere no longer holds without testing.
The AdNow WordPress plugin, listed on WordPress.org as Adnow Native Widget, is a free plugin that connects a WordPress site to the AdNow native advertising network so publishers can place ad widgets without editing code. As of September 2026 it is still available (version 2.0.3), but it is tested only up to WordPress 6.7.9 and has 40+ active installations.
Key Takeaways
- Still available: AdNow’s native ad network and its WordPress plugin were both online as of September 2026; the plugin’s WordPress.org name is Adnow Native Widget (slug native-ads-adnow).
- Maintenance risk: WordPress.org shows version 2.0.3, tested up to WordPress 6.7.9, while the current WordPress release is 7.1.2, and the directory warns the plugin may no longer be maintained.
- Setup is token-based: you need an AdNow publisher account, then paste a token from that account into the plugin and choose widget places.
- Payouts: AdNow’s publishers page lists weekly payments starting from $20.
- Audience figures are the company’s own: AdNow’s claims about publishers, impressions and countries are self-reported and differ between its own pages.
Why do we add ads on our website?
Inclusion of ads in your website helps you to earn an extra penny along with fulfilling the purpose of your website. These ads can be added in between the content of the site or at the specified positions on the webpage. The website owner is paid a specific amount for allowing the ads to be displayed on their site which helps the companies to advertise their products and services.
What are Plugins of Adnow and Why Do We Need It?

The ads, however, sometimes spoil the outlook and the design of the webpage. Hence this creates inconvenience to the website owner as well as the viewers of the webpage. This generates the necessity of an application that helps in the management of these ads and make sure that the layout of the webpage is not hampered. Thus, the plugins of adnow help us to fulfill this purpose on the website.
These plugins allow the ads management in such a way that they seem to be a part of the webpage instead of a separate portion that causes inconvenience and disturbance. It enables you to accomplish this efficiently through the help of widget installation and simple customization.
1) The benefits of using adnow plugins:
There are 4 prime benefits of plugins:
- Specialized application: The best thing in using adnow plugins is that you need zero knowledge of coding to use it. All you need to do is to simply employ its predefined templates and choose the one that is in accordance to your website layout and design. Hence the innate process of editing and development of the website requires only the installation of this widget without any prerequisite of coding and designing.
- Compatible with all the devices and peripherals: AdNow says its WordPress plugin uses an adaptive layout by default, so widgets resize for desktop and mobile screens. Two WordPress.org reviews, from 2017 and 2018, reported that the plugin did not support AMP pages, and as of September 2026 the plugin is listed as tested only up to WordPress 6.7.9, so check it on a staging copy of your site before relying on it.
- Apposite content and application: According to AdNow, its system picks the offers it considers most interesting for each site’s audience. It works effectively to serve your purpose and help you in the management of your website. Its audience gets the advantage of enjoying the best offers among the rest.
- Free of cost: The plugin is free to download from the WordPress.org plugin directory, and AdNow states that publishers can earn money without any prepayment or fees. Actual earnings are not fixed; they depend on your traffic and on the ads the network serves.
All the above mentioned benefits of adnow plugins make it a perfect blend to work for your website. Its main strengths are no upfront cost and a no-code setup; its main weaknesses today are a small install base and an outdated compatibility listing, both covered in the status section below.

2) How to make use of plugins of adnow?
As mentioned earlier, it is very easy to use adnow plugins to apply its widget application for your purposes. All you have to do is to follow the below simple steps:
- First and foremost you have to sign up to the AdNow.com for the management advertising using its widgets and applications.
- Next you need to choose the pre-customized designs and templates that are best suitable for your webpage. This step is referred to as “set up you widget”.
- Last and the final step is to switch on to the plugin and then place the setup widget as per the requirement. In the current version this means pasting the token from your AdNow account into the plugin’s Token field and choosing widget places in the plugin settings.
Following the above steps you can easily make full use of the adnow plugin.


3) Why only adnow plugins?
Adnow plugin is a free plugin, listed on WordPress.org as Adnow Native Widget, that helps you manage ads on your website. It enables you to monetize your website without an upfront fee, using widget templates that can be styled to match the website design and layout.
AdNow describes its units as native ads designed to blend with the surrounding content. The only prerequisite is a registered AdNow publisher account. On its publishers page, AdNow says 160,000 webmasters trust it and that it serves 6 billion impressions a month across 210,000 websites; these are the company’s own figures and have not been independently verified. 🙂
What Is AdNow?
AdNow is a native advertising and content recommendation network that pays website owners (publishers) for showing widgets of advertiser content, typically under articles, in feeds or in sidebars. The footer of the AdNow website names the operator as Renodo Media Ltd, with an address in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.
AdNow’s homepage lists 160,000 publishers, 1,700 advertisers and 114 countries, while its publishers page cites 210,000 websites and 6 billion impressions a month. The numbers differ between pages and are self-reported, so treat them as marketing claims rather than audited statistics. Justwebworld’s separate overview of the AdNow native advertising and content discovery network covers the network itself.
Is the AdNow WordPress Plugin Still Maintained?
The AdNow plugin is still downloadable, but its WordPress.org listing shows signs of limited maintenance. As of September 2026, the directory page carries a warning that the plugin has not been tested with the latest 3 major releases of WordPress and may no longer be maintained or supported.
| Detail | Status as of September 2026 (WordPress.org) |
|---|---|
| Plugin name | Adnow Native Widget (slug: native-ads-adnow) |
| Author | vbadnow |
| First added | 20 February 2017 |
| Version | 2.0.3 |
| Last updated | 27 March 2025 |
| Tested up to | WordPress 6.7.9 (current WordPress release: 7.1.2) |
| Minimum WordPress version | 3.0 |
| Active installations | 40+ |
| Rating | 3.5 out of 5 from 4 reviews |
AdNow’s own plugin page still calls the download “Nativeads”, which is why older guides use the name AdNow Nativeads plugin. Both names refer to the same AdNow WordPress integration.
How to Install and Set Up the AdNow Plugin
The AdNow plugin connects to your AdNow account with a token. The steps below follow the illustrated instructions on the plugin’s WordPress.org page.
- In the WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins, then Add New, and search for “Adnow”. Click Install Now, then Activate.
- Log in to your webmaster account on AdNow and open your profile settings, then the WordPress plugin section.
- Select your website; a token appears in the Token field. Copy it.
- In the WordPress sidebar, open Adnow Native Widget, paste the token into the Token field and click Save Changes. The screen then shows your AdNow account details and the Antiadblock settings.
- Click Manage Places, pick a page category (for example the main page or posts), choose where the widget should appear, select a widget from the list and preview it.
- Save your placements. According to the plugin FAQ, widgets start working right away.
The plugin’s installation notes add that it fetches the list of widgets from your AdNow account through an API service run by AdNow, so the site must be able to reach AdNow’s servers.
Where to Place AdNow Widgets
The AdNow plugin FAQ recommends placing a widget directly below articles, because readers who finish an article are looking for something to do next. The same FAQ says there is no limit on the number of widgets, but suggests that about 3 widgets per site is usually a good balance and warns against making ads annoying for visitors.
AdNow’s plugin page offers three default layouts: Under Article, In-Feed and Sidebar. The FAQ also states that pages load independently of the widget script; it is still worth measuring page speed before and after adding any ad code.
How AdNow Pays Publishers
According to AdNow’s publishers page, as of September 2026 payments are made weekly, starting from $20, through various payment methods, and new publishers can receive a first payment in 7 days. The same page lists a 5% referral program, a personal manager and support in local languages. Payout terms can change, so confirm the current minimum and methods in your AdNow account before you rely on them.
AdNow Plugin Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Free plugin with no upfront fee | Not tested with the latest 3 major WordPress releases |
| No coding needed; widgets placed from the dashboard | Small install base (40+ active installations) |
| Default Under Article, In-Feed and Sidebar layouts | Reviewers reported no AMP support |
| Weekly payouts from $20 (per AdNow) | Audience and revenue figures are self-reported by AdNow |
| Antiadblock feature switched on by default | Native ad quality depends on the advertisers the network serves |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Skipping a compatibility test: because the plugin lists an old tested-up-to version, try it on a staging site running your current WordPress version first.
- Overloading pages with widgets: the plugin’s own FAQ warns against annoying visitors; several stacked recommendation blocks can hurt reading experience.
- Treating marketing claims as guarantees: AdNow’s statement that Antiadblock could increase revenue by 25% is the company’s claim, not a measured result for your site.
- Ignoring click quality: never click your own ads or encourage others to; see Justwebworld’s explainer on what click fraud is and why it harms advertisers.
Alternatives to the AdNow Plugin
If the AdNow plugin’s maintenance status is a concern, you can place AdNow’s widget code manually, since AdNow says its code gets along with other ad systems, or compare other monetization routes. Justwebworld’s guides to Google AdSense alternatives and high-paying CPM ad networks for blogs compare other networks, and the list of WordPress plugins for business blogs and websites covers other site tools. Check that any network you choose is still operating and that its terms suit your site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the AdNow WordPress plugin free?
Yes. The AdNow plugin, listed as Adnow Native Widget, is free to download from the WordPress.org plugin directory, and AdNow states that publishers pay no prepayment or fees to join its network.
Does the AdNow plugin work with the latest WordPress version?
It is not confirmed. As of September 2026 the plugin is tested up to WordPress 6.7.9, while the current release is 7.1.2, and WordPress.org warns it may have compatibility issues with recent versions. Test it on a staging site first.
What is the minimum payout on AdNow?
AdNow’s publishers page lists weekly payments starting from $20 as of September 2026. Confirm the current threshold in your publisher account, as terms can change.
Do I need an AdNow account to use the plugin?
Yes. The plugin needs a token generated in your AdNow webmaster account; without it, the plugin cannot load your widgets.
How many AdNow widgets should I add to a site?
AdNow’s plugin FAQ says there is no limit but suggests about 3 widgets, with the spot directly below articles recommended as the best-performing placement.
Is the plugin the same as AdNow Nativeads?
Yes. AdNow’s website calls the download Nativeads, while the WordPress.org listing names it Adnow Native Widget; both refer to the same AdNow plugin.