Best Ad Networks for Publishers
37 ad networks scored on 10 criteria — 13 built for small publishers, 33 built for mid-market, 26 built for enterprise.
Last verified Oct 19, 2026 · No vendor payments · How we score · What changed
Research by Vahe Arabian · Scored and edited by the SODP team
Not quite this? Best Native Ad Networks for PublishersBest Ad Yield Management Platforms for PublishersBest Agentic Advertising Platforms for PublishersBest Identity Resolution & First-Party ID Solutions for Publishers
At a glance
- Benchmark Grid scores 37 ad networks on 10 published criteria, last verified 19 Oct 2026.
- By publisher size: 13 are built for small publishers, 33 for mid-market and 26 for enterprise (a tool can serve more than one).
- The most heavily weighted criteria are Revenue yield & RPM uplift (16%), Demand access & header bidding (14%), Ad quality & brand safety controls (12%).
- Scores range from 2.4 to 4.3 out of 5; 16 of 37 are rated Strong Choice or better.
- 735 publishers in our tracking use at least one of these tools.
- Scores combine capability (45%), publisher fit (40%) and cost of ownership (15%). Vendors cannot pay for inclusion or a position.
| Compare | Tool | Score | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best-in-Class 1 | ||||||
Ezoic AI-powered revenue infrastructure platform optimizing monetization and user experience for digital publishers | 4.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
| Strong Choice 15 | ||||||
Aditude Unified programmatic ad-tech platform for enterprise publishers and modern media companies | 3.9 | Enterprise | ||||
 Amazon Publisher Services (APS) Amazon's publisher monetization tools including Transparent Ad Marketplace and UAM. | 4.0 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Freestar A premier ad management and yield optimization platform for high-traffic digital publishers | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Google AdSense Monetize website content through automated high-quality ads targeted to your specific digital audience | 4.1 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Google AdX (via GAM) A unified ad-serving and programmatic exchange platform for maximizing cross-screen digital revenue | 4.0 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Index Exchange Independent omnichannel programmatic exchange for premium publishers to maximize advertising revenue | 4.0 | Enterprise | ||||
Media.net Global contextual advertising leader providing high-yield programmatic and native solutions for publishers | 4.1 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Mediavine A full-service ad management platform optimizing revenue through lifestyle-focused programmatic advertising | 4.1 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
MonetizeMore AI-driven ad operations platform for maximizing revenue through header bidding and fraud protection | 4.1 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Opti Digital AI-powered ad monetization suite optimizing yield and user experience for premium publishers | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Playwire A comprehensive revenue amplification platform for digital publishers to maximize ad yield through AI and automation. | 3.9 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Publift Programmatic ad tech platform empowering publishers with Fuse technology to maximize revenue through AI-driven optimization. (Acquired by carsales (Car Group Limited) in February 2023; continues to operate and expand under the original Publift brand name.) | 3.9 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Publisher Collective A digital advertising partner providing UX-first monetization and audience intelligence for category publishers. | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Raptive (AdThrive) A leading digital media platform providing elite ad monetization, audience growth tools, and AI infrastructure. | 3.9 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Sovrn A comprehensive platform for publishers to maximize revenue through advertising, commerce, and data-driven insights. | 3.9 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
| Fair Fit 16 | ||||||
AdPushup AI-powered ad layout optimization and header bidding for mid-market publishers | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Adsterra AI-powered global advertising network providing high-fill monetization across multiple ad formats and regions | 3.3 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Criteo Commerce media and retargeting ad network connecting publishers with retail advertisers. | 3.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Equativ Independent ad tech company offering combined sell-side, ad server, and demand tools. | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
GumGum Omnichannel SSP using audience mindset and contextual intelligence across display, video and CTV. | 3.4 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Kargo Curated marketplace with high-impact ad formats across web, app and CTV. | 3.4 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
LiveIntent Ad network monetizing publisher email newsletters through people-based advertising. | 3.5 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Magnite Independent sell-side platform for CTV, video, display, and audio monetization. | 3.6 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
OpenX Privately held sell-side platform for programmatic display, video, and CTV. | 3.6 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
PubMatic Publicly traded sell-side platform running owned cloud infrastructure for publishers. | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Seedtag Contextual advertising ad network for publisher content monetization. | 3.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Sharethrough Sell-side platform offering first-price header bidding for display, video, and native. | 3.5 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Teads Outstream video and native sell-side platform, merged with Outbrain in 2025. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
TripleLift Sell-side platform specializing in native, video, and CTV ad formats. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Venatus A global advertising growth engine for gaming and entertainment, connecting brands with immersive In the Zone audiences. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Vuukle AI-native engagement and monetization suite for publishers to build community and capture first-party data. | 3.7 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
| Limited 5 | ||||||
AdMaven Global performance ad network specializing in high-CPM alternative formats and AI-driven optimization | 2.9 | Small | ||||
HilltopAdsHands-on tested Effective monetization and advertising platform for web and mobile publishers. | 2.9 | Small | ||||
2.4 | Small, Mid-market | |||||
Optima Tech Publisher-side ad revenue optimisation, adblock recovery and reporting. | 3.2 | Mid-market | ||||
2.7 | Small, Mid-market | |||||
| Compare | Tool | Score | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strong Choice 5 | ||||||
Google AdSense Monetize website content through automated high-quality ads targeted to your specific digital audience | 4.1 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Google AdX (via GAM) A unified ad-serving and programmatic exchange platform for maximizing cross-screen digital revenue | 4.0 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Mediavine A full-service ad management platform optimizing revenue through lifestyle-focused programmatic advertising | 4.1 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Raptive (AdThrive) A leading digital media platform providing elite ad monetization, audience growth tools, and AI infrastructure. | 3.9 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Sovrn A comprehensive platform for publishers to maximize revenue through advertising, commerce, and data-driven insights. | 3.9 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
| Fair Fit 4 | ||||||
Adsterra AI-powered global advertising network providing high-fill monetization across multiple ad formats and regions | 3.3 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
LiveIntent Ad network monetizing publisher email newsletters through people-based advertising. | 3.5 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Sharethrough Sell-side platform offering first-price header bidding for display, video, and native. | 3.5 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Vuukle AI-native engagement and monetization suite for publishers to build community and capture first-party data. | 3.7 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
| Limited 4 | ||||||
AdMaven Global performance ad network specializing in high-CPM alternative formats and AI-driven optimization | 2.9 | Small | ||||
HilltopAdsHands-on tested Effective monetization and advertising platform for web and mobile publishers. | 2.9 | Small | ||||
2.4 | Small, Mid-market | |||||
2.7 | Small, Mid-market | |||||
| Compare | Tool | Score | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best-in-Class 1 | ||||||
Ezoic AI-powered revenue infrastructure platform optimizing monetization and user experience for digital publishers | 4.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
| Strong Choice 13 | ||||||
Amazon Publisher Services (APS) Amazon's publisher monetization tools including Transparent Ad Marketplace and UAM. | 4.0 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Freestar A premier ad management and yield optimization platform for high-traffic digital publishers | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Google AdSense Monetize website content through automated high-quality ads targeted to your specific digital audience | 4.1 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Google AdX (via GAM) A unified ad-serving and programmatic exchange platform for maximizing cross-screen digital revenue | 4.0 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Media.net Global contextual advertising leader providing high-yield programmatic and native solutions for publishers | 4.1 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Mediavine A full-service ad management platform optimizing revenue through lifestyle-focused programmatic advertising | 4.1 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
MonetizeMore AI-driven ad operations platform for maximizing revenue through header bidding and fraud protection | 4.1 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Opti Digital AI-powered ad monetization suite optimizing yield and user experience for premium publishers | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Playwire A comprehensive revenue amplification platform for digital publishers to maximize ad yield through AI and automation. | 3.9 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Publift Programmatic ad tech platform empowering publishers with Fuse technology to maximize revenue through AI-driven optimization. (Acquired by carsales (Car Group Limited) in February 2023; continues to operate and expand under the original Publift brand name.) | 3.9 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Publisher Collective A digital advertising partner providing UX-first monetization and audience intelligence for category publishers. | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Raptive (AdThrive) A leading digital media platform providing elite ad monetization, audience growth tools, and AI infrastructure. | 3.9 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Sovrn A comprehensive platform for publishers to maximize revenue through advertising, commerce, and data-driven insights. | 3.9 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
| Fair Fit 16 | ||||||
AdPushup AI-powered ad layout optimization and header bidding for mid-market publishers | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Adsterra AI-powered global advertising network providing high-fill monetization across multiple ad formats and regions | 3.3 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Criteo Commerce media and retargeting ad network connecting publishers with retail advertisers. | 3.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Equativ Independent ad tech company offering combined sell-side, ad server, and demand tools. | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
GumGum Omnichannel SSP using audience mindset and contextual intelligence across display, video and CTV. | 3.4 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Kargo Curated marketplace with high-impact ad formats across web, app and CTV. | 3.4 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
LiveIntent Ad network monetizing publisher email newsletters through people-based advertising. | 3.5 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Magnite Independent sell-side platform for CTV, video, display, and audio monetization. | 3.6 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
OpenX Privately held sell-side platform for programmatic display, video, and CTV. | 3.6 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
PubMatic Publicly traded sell-side platform running owned cloud infrastructure for publishers. | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Seedtag Contextual advertising ad network for publisher content monetization. | 3.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Sharethrough Sell-side platform offering first-price header bidding for display, video, and native. | 3.5 | Small, Mid-market | ||||
Teads Outstream video and native sell-side platform, merged with Outbrain in 2025. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
TripleLift Sell-side platform specializing in native, video, and CTV ad formats. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Venatus A global advertising growth engine for gaming and entertainment, connecting brands with immersive In the Zone audiences. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Vuukle AI-native engagement and monetization suite for publishers to build community and capture first-party data. | 3.7 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
| Limited 3 | ||||||
2.4 | Small, Mid-market | |||||
Optima Tech Publisher-side ad revenue optimisation, adblock recovery and reporting. | 3.2 | Mid-market | ||||
2.7 | Small, Mid-market | |||||
| Compare | Tool | Score | Best for | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best-in-Class 1 | ||||||
Ezoic AI-powered revenue infrastructure platform optimizing monetization and user experience for digital publishers | 4.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
| Strong Choice 11 | ||||||
Aditude Unified programmatic ad-tech platform for enterprise publishers and modern media companies | 3.9 | Enterprise | ||||
Amazon Publisher Services (APS) Amazon's publisher monetization tools including Transparent Ad Marketplace and UAM. | 4.0 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Freestar A premier ad management and yield optimization platform for high-traffic digital publishers | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Google AdX (via GAM) A unified ad-serving and programmatic exchange platform for maximizing cross-screen digital revenue | 4.0 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Index Exchange Independent omnichannel programmatic exchange for premium publishers to maximize advertising revenue | 4.0 | Enterprise | ||||
Media.net Global contextual advertising leader providing high-yield programmatic and native solutions for publishers | 4.1 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
MonetizeMore AI-driven ad operations platform for maximizing revenue through header bidding and fraud protection | 4.1 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Opti Digital AI-powered ad monetization suite optimizing yield and user experience for premium publishers | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Playwire A comprehensive revenue amplification platform for digital publishers to maximize ad yield through AI and automation. | 3.9 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Publift Programmatic ad tech platform empowering publishers with Fuse technology to maximize revenue through AI-driven optimization. (Acquired by carsales (Car Group Limited) in February 2023; continues to operate and expand under the original Publift brand name.) | 3.9 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Publisher Collective A digital advertising partner providing UX-first monetization and audience intelligence for category publishers. | 3.8 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
| Fair Fit 14 | ||||||
AdPushup AI-powered ad layout optimization and header bidding for mid-market publishers | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Criteo Commerce media and retargeting ad network connecting publishers with retail advertisers. | 3.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Equativ Independent ad tech company offering combined sell-side, ad server, and demand tools. | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
GumGum Omnichannel SSP using audience mindset and contextual intelligence across display, video and CTV. | 3.4 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Kargo Curated marketplace with high-impact ad formats across web, app and CTV. | 3.4 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
LiveIntent Ad network monetizing publisher email newsletters through people-based advertising. | 3.5 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Magnite Independent sell-side platform for CTV, video, display, and audio monetization. | 3.6 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
OpenX Privately held sell-side platform for programmatic display, video, and CTV. | 3.6 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
PubMatic Publicly traded sell-side platform running owned cloud infrastructure for publishers. | 3.7 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Seedtag Contextual advertising ad network for publisher content monetization. | 3.3 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Teads Outstream video and native sell-side platform, merged with Outbrain in 2025. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
TripleLift Sell-side platform specializing in native, video, and CTV ad formats. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Venatus A global advertising growth engine for gaming and entertainment, connecting brands with immersive In the Zone audiences. | 3.5 | Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Vuukle AI-native engagement and monetization suite for publishers to build community and capture first-party data. | 3.7 | Small, Mid-market, Enterprise | ||||
Who uses these tools
735 publishers where we found evidence that at least one of these tools is live. Select a tool to see who runs it.
How we know: we read each publisher's ads.txt file (the public list of companies allowed to sell its ad space), load its homepage and record the vendor scripts it actually runs, and log press releases, vendor case studies and editorial research that name the publisher. Articles that mention a tool never count. A publisher found in two independent sources is confirmed; one source is marked single source.
| Tool | Publishers found | Small | Mid-market | Enterprise | How found |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
672 | 285 | 193 | 194 | Ads.txt + site code | |
463 | 172 | 143 | 148 | Ads.txt | |
450 | 170 | 134 | 146 | Ads.txt | |
420 | 152 | 130 | 138 | Ads.txt | |
387 | 146 | 120 | 121 | Ads.txt | |
347 | 146 | 107 | 94 | Ads.txt + site code + published | |
290 | 117 | 89 | 84 | Ads.txt | |
286 | 106 | 97 | 83 | Ads.txt | |
231 | 91 | 76 | 64 | Ads.txt + site code + published | |
225 | 74 | 85 | 66 | Ads.txt + site code |
ads.txt and site-code checks cover every publisher we track, while press and editorial evidence only finds deployments someone published, so compare tools found the same way. Resold inventory (ads.txt reseller lines) is not counted. 11 publishers are seen in one source only and not yet confirmed by a second.
Publishers using these tools · 735
- 20 MinutenEnterprise · NewsGoogle AdX (via GAM), Index Exchange, Magnite, Media.net, OpenX, PubMatic, Sharethrough, Teads, TripleLift
- ABC27Enterprise · NewsAdPushup, Amazon Publisher Services (APS), Criteo, Google AdX (via GAM), Index Exchange, Magnite, Media.net, OpenX, PubMatic, Sharethrough, TripleLift
- AccuWeatherEnterprise · NewsGoogle AdX (via GAM), Index Exchange, Magnite, OpenX, PubMatic
- Ad AgeEnterprise · BusinessGoogle AdX (via GAM)
- ALTBalajiEnterprise · Arts & EntertainmentGoogle AdSense, Google AdX (via GAM)
- American BankerEnterprise · BusinessGoogle AdX (via GAM), Teads
- American City Business JournalsEnterprise · BusinessCriteo, Google AdX (via GAM), Magnite, OpenX, PubMatic
- ANSAEnterprise · NewsCriteo, Google AdX (via GAM), Index Exchange, Magnite, PubMatic, Seedtag, Sharethrough, Sovrn, Teads, TripleLift
- AOLEnterprise · NewsGoogle AdX (via GAM)
- AxiosEnterprise · NewsGoogle AdX (via GAM), Magnite, OpenX, PubMatic
- BBCEnterprise · NewsGoogle AdX (via GAM), Magnite, OpenX, PubMatic
- BloombergEnterprise · BusinessGoogle AdX (via GAM)
By publisher size
- Small
- 327 (44%)
- Mid-market
- 206 (28%)
- Enterprise
- 202 (27%)
By vertical
- News
- 237 (32%)
- Tech & Computing
- 120 (16%)
- Business
- 80 (11%)
- Arts & Entertainment
- 62 (8%)
- Personal Finance
- 34 (5%)
- Sports
- 29 (4%)
- Other verticals
- 173
What publishers say
1,162 public posts, reviews and articles about 39 of these tools. Updated 2026-10-11.
36% positive · 39% neutral · 25% negative
Praised for
- monetisation164 mentions
- performance63 mentions
- return on investment43 mentions
- account management38 mentions
- ease of use37 mentions
Criticised for
- monetisation102 mentions
- onboarding85 mentions
- performance65 mentions
- support45 mentions
- ease of use44 mentions
Sentiment by tool
Tools with at least 10 mentions, A to Z. Select a tool to read what people actually wrote.
Sources: Reddit 603 · G2 222 · blogs 100 · trade press 90 · YouTube 44 · X 36 · Hacker News 30 · podcasts 25 · Capterra 7 · Bluesky 4 · Product Hunt 1. Summary written by AI from these posts.
Implementation partners
Search all partners by region →4 agencies, consultants and resellers listed in the vendors' own partner directories for 2 of these tools. Certified and preferred partners first.
| Tool | Partner names | Partners |
|---|---|---|
| Criteo | Adcore Inc., Adsmurai S.L. | 2 partners → |
| Index Exchange | Ad Fontes, Culture Hive | 2 partners → |
Popular comparisons
The head-to-heads publishers look at most in this benchmark — ranked by interest, not by score.
Problems publishers raise here
The complaints we hear most about tools in this benchmark, with the publisher evidence behind each.
How we scored this category
Every tool in Ad Networks for Publishers is scored 1 to 5 on the 10 criteria below. The weighted result is the capability score, which makes up 45% of the overall score. Publisher fit (40%) and cost of ownership (15%) make up the rest.
| Criterion | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue yield & RPM uplift | 16% | RPM and fill a publisher can expect, and evidence of uplift against the stack it replaces. |
| Demand access & header bidding | 14% | Prebid and header-bidding support, number of SSPs and bidders, and access to Google AdX demand. |
| Ad quality & brand safety controls | 12% | Malvertising and redirect blocking, creative review, and advertiser category blocks the publisher can set. |
| Publisher control & transparency | 12% | Control over floors, placements and ad density, line-item visibility, and no forced exclusivity. |
| Payment terms & reliability | 10% | Net payment terms, minimum payout thresholds, currencies and a record of paying on time. |
| Page speed & Core Web Vitals impact | 10% | Script weight, lazy loading and layout-shift handling, and measured effect on Core Web Vitals. |
| Reporting & reconciliation | 8% | Report granularity and freshness, API or export access, and how easily numbers reconcile with payouts. |
| Integration & ad-ops workload | 8% | Setup effort, CMS plugins and GAM compatibility, and how much ongoing ad-ops work stays with the publisher. |
| Eligibility & onboarding | 5% | Traffic minimums, approval criteria, supported geographies and time to go live. |
| Consent & privacy readiness | 5% | IAB TCF and GPP support, consent-aware ad serving and cookieless identity options. |
Frequently asked questions
How does Benchmark Grid score ad networks?
Each tool is scored 1 to 5 on 10 criteria. The heaviest are revenue yield & rpm uplift (16%), demand access & header bidding (14%) and ad quality & brand safety controls (12%). The weighted result is the capability score, which makes up 45% of the overall score; publisher fit makes up 40% and cost of ownership 15%. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Which ad networks score highest for small and local publishers?
Among tools built for small and local publishers, the highest scored are Mediavine (4.1/5), Google AdSense (4.1/5) and Google AdX (via GAM) (4.0/5). Scores update as tools are re-reviewed; the table on this page is always current.
Which ad networks score highest for mid-market publishers?
Among tools built for mid-market publishers, the highest scored are Ezoic (4.3/5), Mediavine (4.1/5) and MonetizeMore (4.1/5). Scores update as tools are re-reviewed; the table on this page is always current.
Which ad networks score highest for enterprise publishers?
Among tools built for enterprise publishers, the highest scored are Ezoic (4.3/5), MonetizeMore (4.1/5) and Media.net (4.1/5). Scores update as tools are re-reviewed; the table on this page is always current.
What should I check before choosing a tool from this list?
Start with the criteria that carry the most weight. Revenue yield & RPM uplift: RPM and fill a publisher can expect, and evidence of uplift against the stack it replaces. Demand access & header bidding: Prebid and header-bidding support, number of SSPs and bidders, and access to Google AdX demand. Ad quality & brand safety controls: Malvertising and redirect blocking, creative review, and advertiser category blocks the publisher can set. Then ask each vendor for two publisher references at your size and a written first-year cost including implementation.
Do vendors pay to be listed or ranked?
No. Scores come from our editorial review of each product's documentation, demos and public evidence. Vendors can claim a listing or request a re-review, but nothing they buy changes a score or a position.
Changelog
This benchmark is maintained by the SODP editorial team and updated regularly.
Oct 2026 — Page redesigned: tools grouped by publisher size, criteria and weights shown on the page, and evidence sources named on every tool. No score changed because of the redesign (Editorial team)
Oct 2026 — Re-researched 118 criterion scores (across 37 tools) that had no evidence on file; overall scores: 12 went up, 5 went down. Criteria with no public evidence now say so on the tool page and stay at the neutral 2.5 (Editorial team)
Sep 2026 — Criteria rewritten for 2026: 10 criteria, each with a published definition of what we check (Editorial team)
Sep 2026 — 14 tools added to the benchmark (Editorial team)
Jul 2026 — 3 tools added to the benchmark (Editorial team)
Jul 2026 — Overall score reweighted to 45% capability, 40% publisher fit and 15% cost of ownership (was 40 / 35 / 25) (Editorial team)
May 2026 — Overall score split into three published parts: capability, publisher fit and total cost of ownership (Editorial team)
Apr 2026 — Started tracking which publishers use each tool, from public signals such as ads.txt files and page code (Editorial team)
Mar 2026 — Competitive differentiators, pricing references and publisher-size fit added for every tool (Editorial team)
Mar 2026 — Scoring criteria reviewed and weights set for 2026 publisher priorities (Editorial team)
Mar 2026 — Platform list reviewed against current product offerings (Editorial team)
Mar 2026 — Benchmark published with 22 tools scored (Editorial team)
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