Issuu
Issuu is a digital publishing platform that transforms your static PDF documents into interactive flipbooks, social media assets, and mobile-optimized articles to enhance your online content distribution.
Outbrain
Outbrain is a native advertising platform that helps you reach engaged audiences across premium publisher sites through personalized content recommendations that drive measurable marketing results and brand growth.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Issuu | Outbrain |
|---|---|---|
| Website | issuu.com | outbrain.com |
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Subscription |
| Starting Price | Free | Custom Pricing |
| FREE Trial | ✓ 14 days free trial | ✘ No free trial |
| Free Plan | ✓ Has free plan | ✘ No free plan |
| Product Demo | ✘ No product demo | ✓ Request demo here |
| Deployment | ||
| Integrations | ||
| Target Users | ||
| Target Industries | ||
| Customer Count | 0 | 0 |
| Founded Year | 2006 | 2006 |
| Headquarters | Palo Alto, USA | New York, USA |
Overview
Issuu
Issuu helps you transform static PDF documents into immersive digital experiences. You can upload your brochures, magazines, or catalogs and instantly convert them into interactive flipbooks that look professional on any screen. Beyond simple hosting, the platform allows you to extract specific elements from your publications to create high-quality social media posts and mobile-optimized articles, ensuring your content reaches your audience wherever they are browsing.
You can also enhance your digital publications by embedding videos and shopping links directly into the pages, turning a standard document into a lead-generation tool. Whether you are a solo creator or part of a large marketing team, the platform provides the analytics you need to track reader engagement and optimize your distribution strategy across web and social channels.
Outbrain
Outbrain helps you get your content in front of the right people by placing it on the world's most respected news and entertainment sites. Instead of intrusive banners, your ads appear as recommended articles or videos that match the interests of the person reading. You can target specific audiences based on their habits and preferences, ensuring your budget goes toward users most likely to engage with your brand.
The platform gives you full control over your campaigns through a self-service dashboard where you can set budgets, test different headlines, and track conversions in real-time. Whether you want to increase brand awareness or drive direct sales, you can optimize your creative assets using automated tools that identify which versions perform best with your target demographic.
Overview
Issuu Features
- Digital Flipbooks Convert your flat PDFs into interactive, page-turning digital publications that provide a premium reading experience on any device.
- Social Media Assets Generate eye-catching GIFs and social stories from your existing content to promote your publications across Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
- Embedded Videos Bring your pages to life by embedding YouTube or Vimeo videos directly into your digital flipbooks to engage your readers longer.
- Mobile-Optimized Articles Automatically strip text and images from your layouts to create scrollable, mobile-friendly articles that are easy to read on smartphones.
- Fullscreen Sharing Present your content in a dedicated, distraction-free fullscreen reader that puts your brand front and center without competitor ads.
- Digital Sales Sell single issues or subscriptions of your digital magazines directly to your readers without paying any commission fees to the platform.
Outbrain Features
- Interest Targeting. Reach your ideal customers by targeting them based on their verified reading habits and long-term content interests.
- Conversion Bid Strategy. Automate your bidding process to focus on the specific actions that matter most to your business goals.
- Smartads Gallery. Create engaging ad formats like carousels and interactive polls that encourage users to interact with your brand.
- Lookalike Audiences. Find new potential customers who share similar behaviors and characteristics with your existing high-value website visitors.
- Automated A/B Testing. Test multiple headlines and images simultaneously to discover which combinations drive the highest click-through rates.
- Premium Publisher Network. Place your content on high-authority sites like CNN and MSN to build trust and credibility with your audience.
Pricing Comparison
Issuu Pricing
- Upload documents up to 50MB
- Up to 50 pages per document
- Mobile-optimized articles
- Embed on your website
- Shareable social stories
- Everything in Basic, plus:
- Unlimited uploads
- Documents up to 100MB
- Up to 500 pages per document
- Fullscreen sharing
- No third-party ads
Outbrain Pricing
Pros & Cons
Issuu
Pros
- Professional flipbook aesthetic improves document presentation
- Easy conversion from PDF to digital formats
- Strong SEO benefits for hosted digital publications
- Seamless embedding options for WordPress and websites
Cons
- Free version includes distracting third-party advertisements
- Mobile optimization requires manual tweaking for best results
- Customer support response times can be slow
Outbrain
Pros
- Access to high-quality traffic from reputable news websites
- Intuitive dashboard makes campaign setup quick and easy
- Granular targeting options for specific audience segments
- Effective at driving lower costs per acquisition
Cons
- Strict content guidelines can lead to ad rejections
- Minimum daily spend requirements may limit small budgets
- Reporting data can sometimes experience slight delays