Amazon Publisher Services (APS) vs Index Exchange
Amazon Publisher Services (APS)
Shaping the future of digital advertising
Publishers using it: 56 · incl. ABC27, Business Insider, Daily Mail
Index Exchange
Independent omnichannel programmatic exchange for premium publishers to maximize advertising revenue
Publishers using it: 476 · incl. 20 Minuten, ABC27, AccuWeather
Publishers running both: 54
Last verified Nov 11, 2026
At a glance
- Amazon Publisher Services (APS) scores 4.0/5 and Index Exchange scores 4.0/5 in Benchmark Grid's independent ad networks benchmark, both assessed on the same 10 criteria.
- The widest gaps are consent & privacy readiness (Amazon Publisher Services (APS) 2.8, Index Exchange 4.5) and publisher control & transparency (Amazon Publisher Services (APS) 2.8, Index Exchange 4.0); they are within 0.3 on 4 of 10 criteria.
- Amazon Publisher Services (APS) is built for mid-market and enterprise publishers; Index Exchange for enterprise.
- On total cost of ownership Amazon Publisher Services (APS) scores 3.7 and Index Exchange 3.1 (higher means better value, not a lower price).
- In our tracking 56 publishers use Amazon Publisher Services (APS) and 476 use Index Exchange; 54 run both.
- Scores last verified 11 Nov 2026. Vendors cannot pay for a score or a position.
Where they differ
Amazon Publisher Services (APS) is stronger on payment terms & reliability (3.3 vs 2.3).
Index Exchange is stronger on consent & privacy readiness (4.5 vs 2.8), publisher control & transparency (4.0 vs 2.8) and reporting & reconciliation (4.0 vs 3.0).
Which one fits
Choose Amazon Publisher Services (APS) if…
- You publish at mid-market and enterprise scale.
- You weight payment terms & reliability, eligibility & onboarding and integration & ad-ops workload heavily — Amazon Publisher Services (APS) leads on those in this benchmark.
Choose Index Exchange if…
- You publish at enterprise scale.
- You weight consent & privacy readiness, publisher control & transparency and reporting & reconciliation heavily — Index Exchange leads on those in this benchmark.
Also weighing these
The nearest-scored tools to Amazon Publisher Services (APS) and Index Exchange in this benchmark, listed A to Z.
- 4.1Google AdSenseMonetize website content through automated high-quality ads targeted to your specific digital audienceRead review
- 4.0Google AdX (via GAM)A unified ad-serving and programmatic exchange platform for maximizing cross-screen digital revenueRead review
- 4.1MediavineA full-service ad management platform optimizing revenue through lifestyle-focused programmatic advertisingRead review
- 4.1MonetizeMoreAI-driven ad operations platform for maximizing revenue through header bidding and fraud protectionRead review
All 36 scored tools are in Best Ad Networks for Publishers.
Who uses them
Publishers we have detected running each tool, from ads.txt, site code and published case studies. Agencies, brands and vendors are excluded.
Running both (54): ABC27, Business Insider, Daily Mail, El Tiempo, Fox News, Fox Sports, Global News, iHeartRadio and 46 more
Amazon Publisher Services (APS) only · 2
Head to head
| Criterion | Amazon Publisher Services (APS) | Index Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue yield & RPM uplift16% of capability | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Demand access & header bidding14% of capability | 4.7 | 4.8 |
| Ad quality & brand safety controls12% of capability | 4.2 | 4.2 |
| Publisher control & transparency12% of capability | 2.8 | 4.0 |
| Page speed & Core Web Vitals impact10% of capability | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Payment terms & reliability10% of capability | 3.3 | 2.3 |
| Integration & ad-ops workload8% of capability | 2.8 | 2.2 |
| Reporting & reconciliation8% of capability | 3.0 | 4.0 |
| Consent & privacy readiness5% of capability | 2.8 | 4.5 |
| Eligibility & onboarding5% of capability | 3.0 | 2.4 |
| Capability45% of composite | 3.8 | 3.9 |
| Publisher fit40% of composite | 4.5 | 4.5 |
| Total cost of ownership15% of composite | 3.7 | 3.1 |
Cost of ownership
| Sub-score | Amazon Publisher Services (APS) | Index Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing transparency | 3.0 | 1.6 |
| Entry cost | 4.5 | 1.6 |
| Implementation cost | 2.0 | 2.4 |
| Hidden-fee risk | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| Ongoing cost | 4.5 | 4.8 |
Amazon Publisher Services (APS) pricing
No publisher fee; a 2.5% service fee is charged to bidders.
Index Exchange pricing
Custom revenue-share model based on a percentage of programmatic ad transactions.
What users say
Amazon Publisher Services (APS)
10 positive · 3 neutral · 0 negative
Index Exchange
9 positive · 2 neutral · 5 negative
Mentions we could not tie to a real user, and those flagged as promotional, are excluded. Sentiment is opinion, and is independent of the verified publisher adoptions above.
Amazon Publisher Services (APS) scores 4.0 and Index Exchange scores 4.0 in Benchmark Grid's independent Best Ad Networks for Publishers benchmark (benchmarkgrid.com/vs/amazon-publisher-services/index-exchange, verified Nov 11, 2026)
Common questions
How do Amazon Publisher Services (APS) and Index Exchange differ?
Amazon Publisher Services (APS) is stronger on payment terms & reliability (3.3 vs 2.3). Index Exchange is stronger on consent & privacy readiness (4.5 vs 2.8), publisher control & transparency (4.0 vs 2.8) and reporting & reconciliation (4.0 vs 3.0). Neither is better in the abstract — which one suits you depends on which of those dimensions carries the most weight in your operation.
Which is cheaper, Amazon Publisher Services (APS) or Index Exchange?
On total cost of ownership — pricing transparency, entry cost, implementation, hidden-fee risk and ongoing cost — Amazon Publisher Services (APS) scores 3.7/5 and Index Exchange scores 3.1/5. A higher score means better value, not a lower sticker price.
How are these scores calculated?
Each tool is assessed against its category's published criteria (10 in this benchmark), which make up Capability (45% of the composite), Publisher fit (40%) and Total cost of ownership (15%). Assessment is carried out by SODP's editorial team against a published methodology. Vendors cannot pay for inclusion, scores or positions.
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Both tools are scored in Best Ad Networks for Publishers. See alternatives to Amazon Publisher Services (APS) or alternatives to Index Exchange.
Weighing a third option? Add a tool to this comparison.
Where to next
Related comparisons
Other head-to-heads publishers look at in Best Ad Networks for Publishers.
