Wbcom Designs WB Ad Manager
WordPress WordPress.org REST API v2.8.0

One plugin. Three tools. Zero bloat.

WB Ad Manager replaces a separate affiliate link plugin, an ad rotator, and a classifieds plugin with a single free install. 5 ad types. 16+ placements. Link cloaking. Click tracking. AdSense. BuddyPress and bbPress integration. Full REST API. All of it ships in the free version. Pro adds the advertiser portal and paid marketplace upgrades.

Download Free Read the Docs Try Live Demo See WB Ad Manager Pro →
One plugin. Three tools. Zero bloat. — product screenshot
Free on WordPress.orgLink cloaker + ad manager + classifiedsWorks with any themePriority support on ProGPL Licensed

Every WordPress monetization setup ends up with three plugins that do not talk to each other.

One plugin to cloak affiliate links
Pretty Links, ThirstyAffiliates, or a custom shortener. Each keeps its own click log, its own redirect rules, its own dashboard.
Another plugin to rotate ads
Ad Inserter, Advanced Ads, AdRotate. Each one competes for placement, needs its own targeting setup, and fires its own hooks.
A third plugin for classifieds
Business Directory, AWPCP, Classifieds. Each has its own CPT, its own frontend, its own paid-upgrade logic.
Three dashboards, zero unified data
You cannot answer "which post makes the most money?" because affiliate clicks, ad impressions, and listing upgrades live in three separate databases.
WB Ad Manager ships all three tools (link cloaker, ad manager, classifieds) as one plugin sharing one data model. Free forever.
The only plugin of its kind

Three tools in one plugin. The free version is not crippleware.

Most free ad plugins are a tease: a handful of placements, no scheduling, no targeting, no link cloaker. WB Ad Manager ships rotation, 16+ placements, link cloaking with click tracking, AdSense, email capture, BuddyPress and bbPress integration, and a full REST API in the free version. Pro adds features that only matter once you have advertisers.

01

Link cloaker with click tracking

Turn long affiliate URLs into clean /go/product-name links on your own domain. 301, 302, and 307 redirects. Broken-link detection. Partnership inquiries. CSV bulk import. This is the whole module, not a stripped-down freebie.

02

Ad manager with 5 types and 16+ placements

Image, rich content, HTML or JavaScript, AdSense, and email capture. Place ads before or after content, after paragraph N, in sidebars, sticky header or footer, popups (exit intent, timed, scroll), between archive posts, in BuddyPress activity feeds, and in bbPress topics. Every placement supports scheduling and targeting by device, role, and content.

03

Classifieds marketplace

Free ships the classifieds CPT, browse pages, and single-listing views. That is enough to run a manual directory. Pro adds frontend submission, paid featured and urgent upgrades, inquiries, and member-sold listings with membership plans.

How it works

Your first ad and your first cloaked link go live in under 5 minutes.

1
Install from WordPress.org
Search "WB Ad Manager" in Plugins, Add New, install, activate. The setup wizard walks through ad label preferences, AdSense Publisher ID, and admin visibility defaults in 2 minutes.
2
Create an ad or cloak a link
Ads, Add New: pick the ad type (image, rich, code, AdSense, or email capture), drop in the creative, pick a placement, and set schedule or targeting. Links, Add New: paste the affiliate URL and pick a slug. Done.
3
Track what works, scale what wins
Analytics shows impressions, clicks, and CTR by placement and device. When you outgrow admin-placed ads, upgrade to Pro and turn on the advertiser portal. The same ads and links stay exactly where they are.
Who it's for

Who it's for

Bloggers and content creators
Replace three plugins (link cloaker, ad rotator, popup tool) with one. Clean /go/ URLs for affiliate links, scheduled AdSense placements, and email-capture popups all share the same targeting rules.
Affiliate marketers and niche publishers
Bulk-import hundreds of affiliate URLs, cloak them on your domain, track every click, and get notified when a destination 404s before the commission stops flowing.
BuddyPress and bbPress community owners
Place ads inside activity streams, member profiles, group pages, forum topics, and replies without touching template files. Placements auto-detect when the integration is active.
Small publishers considering AdSense
Auto Ads and manual unit support in one setup screen. Schedule units, target specific post types, exclude categories, and set frequency caps. You get more control than the raw AdSense snippet alone.
Directory and marketplace operators
Free ships the classifieds CPT and browse pages. Upgrade to Pro when you need frontend submission, paid upgrades, and member-sold listings. Same plugin, no data migration.
vs. Advanced Ads & Ad Inserter

Both are solid ad plugins. Neither gives you a link cloaker or classifieds. Neither lets your advertisers sell ads themselves.

Advanced Ads and Ad Inserter are the two most common free ad plugins on WordPress.org. WB Ad Manager matches their ad features and adds a link cloaker, classifieds module, and (in Pro) a full advertiser self-serve portal. One plugin covers what previously took three.

Capability
WB Ad Manager
Free
Advanced Ads
Free
Ad Inserter
Free
Affiliate link cloaker + click tracker
Classifieds marketplace module
5 ad types (image, rich, code, AdSense, email capture) PartialPartial
16+ placements out of the box
Ad rotation and A/B comparison Partial
Scheduling (date, day, time)
Device and user-role targeting
BuddyPress / bbPress integration
AdSense Auto Ads + manual unit support
Email capture ad type
REST API for ads and links
Advertiser self-serve portal Pro
Credit wallet with WooCommerce / PMPro adapters Pro
A/B testing with auto-winner ProPro
Revenue dashboard by advertiser Pro

Choose WB Ad Manager if you want one plugin that covers affiliate links, ads, and classifieds. The free version actually does all three. If you only need banner rotation on a small blog, any of the three plugins will work.

The three-in-one story

One install. Link cloaker, ad manager, classifieds. Fully functional in the free version.

Most WordPress monetization plugins force a choice: do you want to cloak affiliate links, rotate banner ads, or run a classifieds section? WB Ad Manager refuses the choice. All three modules ship in the free plugin. They share the same taxonomy and targeting engine, and they write to one unified database. You can finally answer "which post earned the most revenue this month?" across all three monetization channels.

Link cloaker module
Clean /go/slug URLs on your domain. 301, 302, and 307 redirects. Per-link click tracking. Broken-link health checks. CSV bulk import. Group and category organization.
Ad manager module
5 ad types. 16+ placements including BuddyPress and bbPress. Rotation, priority, frequency caps. Scheduling. Device, role, and content targeting. Full REST API.
Classifieds module (free stub)
Classifieds CPT, browse pages, single-listing template, category and location taxonomies. Enough to run a manual directory. Upgrade to Pro for frontend submission and paid upgrades.
Admin ads list showing all 5 ad types with impressions and clicks

Ads admin screen: image, rich, code, AdSense, and email capture ads in one list with impressions and clicks per ad.

Features

Everything your community needs

No extensions to buy. No integrations to configure. It ships with all of this.

Affiliate link cloaker

Turn long affiliate URLs into clean /go/slug links on your own domain. 301, 302, and 307 redirects. Group organization, category tagging, CSV bulk import. Per-link analytics with full click log.

Click tracking and health checks

Every click on a cloaked link is logged with timestamp, page URL, and device (free plugin logs aggregate data; Pro adds geo). Broken-link detection pings destination URLs on a schedule and flags 404s before commissions drop.

5 ad types

Image banner, rich content (WYSIWYG), custom HTML or JavaScript, Google AdSense (Auto Ads or manual units), and email capture forms. All 5 share the same placement, schedule, and targeting engine.

16+ placements

Before content, after content, after paragraph N, between archive posts, sidebars, footer widget areas, sticky header, sticky footer, exit-intent popup, timed popup, scroll popup, BuddyPress activity feed, BuddyPress profiles, BuddyPress groups, bbPress topics, and bbPress replies.

Rotation, priority, and frequency caps

When multiple ads qualify for the same placement, rotation and priority rules decide the winner. Per-user frequency caps prevent banner blindness. A/B comparison ships in the free version. Auto-winner is a Pro feature.

Scheduling and targeting

Schedule by date range, day of week, and time of day. Target by device (desktop, tablet, mobile), login status, WordPress user role, post type, category, and tag.

BuddyPress and bbPress integration

When BuddyPress or bbPress is active, WB Ad Manager automatically adds community placements: activity stream, member profiles, group pages, forum topics, replies. No template edits, no child-theme overrides.

Google AdSense support

Set the Publisher ID once, then create AdSense ads that get the same targeting, scheduling, and placement options as every other ad type. Auto Ads are supported for set-and-forget monetization.

Email capture ads

Build simple newsletter signup forms as ads. Integrate with any list provider via the HTML or JavaScript ad type. Perfect for exit-intent and scroll-triggered popup placements.

REST API

Full CRUD endpoints for ads, links, placements, and analytics under the wbam/v1 namespace. Build custom dashboards, mobile companions, or external reporting without touching wp-admin.

Shortcodes, blocks, and widgets

Display any ad via shortcode, Gutenberg block, or classic widget. Works with Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, WPBakery, and every page builder that accepts a WordPress widget or shortcode.

CSV bulk import for links

Already have hundreds of affiliate links in a spreadsheet? Upload the CSV, map columns to URL, name, and slug, and import all links in one click. Each imported link gets automatic cloaking and tracking.

See it in action

A complete platform, not a simple widget

Ads admin: image, rich, code, AdSense, and email capture ads with impressions and clicks per ad.

Image ad editor: upload banner, pick placement, set schedule, apply device or role or content targeting.

Rich content ad: WYSIWYG editor for styled blocks, offers, and call-to-action layouts.

Code ad: custom HTML or JavaScript for affiliate networks, embed codes, and custom widgets.

AdSense ad: manual unit or Auto Ads, with the same targeting and placement rules as every other ad.

Email capture ad: newsletter signup forms that inherit placement and popup-trigger options.

Links admin: cloaked /go/slug URLs with click counts, status, and broken-link detection.

Add link: paste affiliate URL, pick a /go/slug, choose redirect type, and organize into groups.

Frontend: first ad placed above post content with the label preference you configured.

Settings: ad label, AdSense Publisher ID, admin visibility, GDPR, and cache compatibility.

Post-install: plugin activated. Setup wizard prompt links directly to the 2-minute onboarding.

WordPress.org listing: install from the standard Plugins, Add New search. No manual download.

Pricing

Simple, honest pricing

One-time payment or annual subscription. All features included in every plan — no hidden add-ons.

WB Ad Manager Free
Unlimited sites
Free
  • Unlimited sites (no license key)
  • Link cloaker with click tracking
  • 5 ad types, 16+ placements
  • Rotation, priority, frequency caps
  • Scheduling + device / role / content targeting
  • AdSense support (Auto Ads + manual)
  • BuddyPress and bbPress integration
  • Email capture ads
  • REST API for ads and links
  • Classifieds browse + single-listing templates
  • CSV bulk import for links
  • Forever free (no feature locks)
Get WB Ad Manager Free
Most popular
Pro Personal
1 site
$59 /year
  • Everything in Free, plus:
  • 1 site license
  • Advertiser self-serve portal + wallet
  • Classifieds marketplace (frontend submission, featured / urgent)
  • A/B testing with auto-winner
  • Revenue dashboard by advertiser
  • Geographic targeting
  • All 5 Credits SDK adapters (WC / Subscriptions / Memberships / PMPro / MemberPress)
  • 1 year of updates & priority support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
Get Pro Personal
Pro Agency
Unlimited sites
$299 /year
  • Everything in Pro Personal, plus:
  • Unlimited site licenses
  • Link partnerships module
  • Client site deployment
  • Priority email support
  • 30-day money-back guarantee
Get Pro Agency

Free forever. No credit card required. Pro plans renew annually. Cancel any time.

Free plugin: no strings attached. Pro plans: 30-day money-back guarantee.
FAQ

Common questions

Is WB Ad Manager really free?
Yes. The version on WordPress.org is fully functional with no artificial limits. You get unlimited ads, unlimited cloaked links, all 5 ad types, all 16+ placements, full targeting, scheduling, rotation, and the REST API. No feature locks. No per-site license. No premium-only hooks. Pro is a separate plugin that adds the advertiser portal, classifieds marketplace, and A/B auto-winner. Those features only matter once you want others to pay you for ad placement.
How is this different from Pretty Links or ThirstyAffiliates?
Pretty Links and ThirstyAffiliates are link-cloaker plugins. They do links well but not ads or classifieds. WB Ad Manager does all three in one plugin, sharing one click-tracking system and one targeting engine. If you eventually sell ad placements or add a classifieds section, you do not swap plugins. The data stays where it is.
How is this different from Advanced Ads or Ad Inserter?
Advanced Ads and Ad Inserter are ad-management plugins. They do ads well but do not cloak affiliate links and do not ship a classifieds module. WB Ad Manager matches the ad features (rotation, targeting, scheduling, AdSense, BuddyPress and bbPress) and adds a link cloaker and classifieds in one free plugin.
Will it slow down my site?
No. Ad queries use denormalized counters so there is no COUNT query on page load. Placements only run when the hook fires on the current page type. BuddyPress and bbPress integrations only load when those plugins are active. Frontend JavaScript stays under 10 KB gzipped for the popup and sticky placements. The plugin is cache-friendly with WP Super Cache, W3 Total Cache, LiteSpeed, and WP Rocket.
Does it work with my theme?
Yes. WB Ad Manager uses standard WordPress hooks, widgets, shortcodes, and Gutenberg blocks. Placements that fire on content hooks work on any properly coded theme. Community placements only appear when BuddyPress or bbPress is active. Template overrides live in your theme’s /wb-ad-manager/ directory.
Does it work with page builders?
Yes. Elementor, Beaver Builder, Divi, WPBakery, and Gutenberg all support the WB Ad Manager shortcode, block, or widget. Drop an ad into any page or section without touching template files.
Is there a limit on ads or links?
No. Unlimited ads, unlimited links, and unlimited placements in both Free and Pro. The only limits are on the advertiser-portal side (Pro only), and even there the cap is based on wallet credits, not a hard quota.
Can I migrate from Pretty Links, ThirstyAffiliates, or another plugin?
Use CSV bulk import. Export your existing links from the other plugin (most support CSV export), upload the CSV to WB Ad Manager, map columns to URL, name, and slug, and import. Each imported link gets automatic cloaking and click tracking. Click history from the previous plugin does not migrate.
What does Pro add?
The advertiser self-serve portal (members sign up and submit their own ads), a credit wallet with WooCommerce, Subscriptions, Memberships, PMPro, and MemberPress adapters, the classifieds marketplace with frontend submission and paid upgrades, A/B testing with auto-winner, revenue dashboard by advertiser, geographic targeting, membership plans for classifieds quotas, and link partnerships. Pro starts at $59/year for 1 site or $199 lifetime. See /wb-ad-manager-pro/ for the full comparison.
Is the documentation shared with Pro?
Yes. Free and Pro share a single documentation site. Free features and Pro modules are documented together with clear labels indicating which parts require Pro.
Who owns the ad and click data?
You own your data. Everything lives in your WordPress database: wp_wbam_* tables for links, a CPT for ads, and wp_options for settings. No data is sent to Wbcom Designs servers. No telemetry. No usage tracking. A clean uninstall option removes all tables, options, capabilities, and scheduled jobs.

Start free today. Upgrade to Pro when your advertisers want to sell the ads themselves.

One license. Instant download. Works with any WordPress theme.

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