StackAdapt is a Toronto-based software company focusing on programmatic advertising.
It started back in 2014 when Ildar Shar, Vitaly Pecherskiy, and Yang Han wanted to change how brands connect with consumers using data science, machine learning, and automation. Now, the company has grown to over 1,300 employees across 19 global markets.
In this StackAdapt review, I’m going to share why it stands out.
StackAdapt’s mission is to give marketers an intelligent, performance-driven, and automated platform. It’s one of the fastest-growing ad buying platforms out there.
Their clients range from agencies to in-house marketing teams looking for advanced multi-channel solutions.
A big moment for StackAdapt came in February 2025 when they raised $235 million USD from Teachers’ Venture Growth.
That brought their total funding to more than $500 million USD. This cash helps them push global expansion and improve their AI-driven marketing tools.
They keep focusing on innovation and user experience, which is why many consider them a leader in digital advertising.
| StackAdapt – Quick Overview | |
|---|---|
| What It Does | An AI-powered programmatic advertising platform that helps you plan, execute, and optimize multi-channel digital campaigns across display, native, video, audio, and connected TV. |
| Best For | • Mid-sized to larger businesses • Agencies and in-house marketing teams • Anyone wanting hands-on, multi-channel campaign management with advanced targeting and analytics |
| Key Products | StackAdapt Programmatic Platform (multi-channel campaign management, AI optimization, creative studio, reporting & analytics) |
| Pricing | Quote-based pricing with no setup fees • Typical minimum spend: $1,000-$5,000/month • Self-serve model charged by ad spend • Custom enterprise pricing available • Personalized demos available (no free trial) |
| Standout Features | • Manage native, display, video, audio, and connected TV ads from one dashboard • AI-powered bid and budget optimization • Privacy-friendly contextual and audience targeting • Built-in creative studio to design and iterate on ads • Real-time granular analytics and reporting |
| Integrations | Google Analytics, HubSpot, LiveRamp, and other popular data, analytics, and martech platforms |
| Get Started | Start Free Trial → |
StackAdapt Solutions
StackAdapt offers an AI-powered marketing platform.
It helps you buy programmatic ads across multiple channels efficiently.
1. Flagship Product: StackAdapt Programmatic Platform
This platform centralizes planning, executing, and optimizing campaigns.
You can run ads across display, native, video, connected TV, and audio channels all from one place.
It comes with self-serve campaign setup and real-time bidding. Plus, you get advanced audience targeting, AI recommendations, and detailed performance analytics.
It’s designed for digital marketers, agencies, and in-house marketing teams who want more control over their campaigns.
2. Multi-Channel Campaign Management
You can launch and manage ads across different formats like native, display, video, audio, and connected TV.
Everything runs from a single dashboard, which makes juggling multiple channels easier.
3. Advanced Targeting Tools
These include contextual targeting, retargeting, audience segmentation, and location-based targeting.
They help you reach the right people at the right time with precision.
4. Creative Studio
This tool simplifies creating and adapting ad creatives for various channels.
It makes it easier to keep your ads consistent and tailored without extra hassle.
5. Reporting & Analytics
StackAdapt offers real-time dashboards that deliver campaign insights immediately.
You can customize reports to track ROI and understand what’s working in your campaigns.
6. Integration Marketplace
You get access to integrations with leading data, analytics, and marketing technology tools.
This helps automate your workflows and keep all your marketing tools connected.
Integrations
StackAdapt works with platforms like Google Analytics, HubSpot, and LiveRamp.
It also connects with other third-party data and measurement providers.
This integration lets you streamline campaigns and unify all your marketing efforts in one stack.
StackAdapt Features
1. Multi-Channel Campaigns
You can manage native, display, video, audio, and connected TV ads all in one place. This saves you time and helps keep your messaging consistent wherever your audience is.
2. AI-Powered Optimization
The platform uses advanced algorithms to automatically adjust bids, target audiences, and allocate budgets for the best performance. This is especially helpful if you don’t have deep programmatic expertise.
3. Contextual and Audience Targeting
StackAdapt lets you leverage location, device, and behavioral data to reach specific customer segments. Contextual targeting shows your ads in relevant content, boosting engagement without depending entirely on cookies.
4. Creative Studio
You get tools to design, test, and deploy ad creatives right inside the platform. This makes it easier to quickly iterate on messaging and formats, which is key for high-performing campaigns.
5. Granular Analytics and Reporting
Real-time dashboards let you monitor how your campaigns are doing. You can segment performance by channel, device, or audience and measure ROI using customizable reports. This transparency helps you optimize your campaigns effectively.
6. Self-Serve Platform
You get direct control over campaign setup, budgeting, and optimization. The user-friendly interface makes programmatic advertising accessible, even if you’re working with a small team or agency.
7. Integrations and API Access
Open API support allows custom workflows and integrations with analytics, CRM, and marketing automation tools. This flexibility is great when you already have a martech stack in place.
Unique Differentiators
- StackAdapt is known for rolling out new features often, keeping up with changes in digital advertising.
- Its AI recommendation engine stands out by optimizing campaigns in real time using both contextual and behavioral signals.
- The platform puts a strong focus on privacy-friendly solutions, like advanced contextual targeting that doesn’t rely on cookies.
Security & Mobile Access
The platform offers enterprise-grade security, including data encryption and GDPR compliance. You can access it on mobile through a responsive web interface, although there isn’t a dedicated mobile app for campaign management yet.
That’s a quick rundown of the key StackAdapt features that really make a difference.
StackAdapt Pricing Plans
StackAdapt pricing is mostly quote-based and tailored to what you need.
You won’t find a fixed public tier system here, but there are some general pointers from user reviews and competitive comparisons.
There are no setup fees, so you only pay for media spend.
Most clients use the self-serve model, which charges based on your ad spend instead of a flat subscription fee.
If you’re a large brand or agency, you can get custom pricing based on how many user seats you need, campaign volume, and support levels.
StackAdapt also offers personalized demos and onboarding sessions. While there isn’t a free trial or free usage tier, these demos help you get a good handle on the platform before committing.
Compared to platforms like The Trade Desk, StackAdapt is generally easier to get started with and less expensive, especially if your business is on the smaller side.
| Plan | Price & Features |
|---|---|
| Self-Serve Model | Pay based on ad spend • No setup fees • Typical minimum spend $1,000 to $5,000 per month • Access to self-serve platform • Scales with your campaign needs |
| Enterprise / Custom | Custom pricing – contact sales • Tailored to user seats and volume • Dedicated support • Customized service levels • Designed for agencies and large brands |
StackAdapt pricing lets you pay exactly for what you need, so it fits businesses of many sizes.
You can reach out to their team if you want a personalized demo or more custom options.
If you’d like to try it out, click here to learn more about StackAdapt pricing →
StackAdapt Alternatives
Here’s a quick look at some of StackAdapt’s top competitors and how they stack up.
When you’re choosing a platform, it really comes down to what fits your needs and budget best.
Each competitor has their unique strengths that might appeal depending on your priorities.
Let me break down the main differences and what makes StackAdapt stand out in each case.
You might find this helpful when considering StackAdapt alternatives.
Competitors Compared with StackAdapt
| Competitor | Their Strengths | StackAdapt Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| The Trade Desk | Larger enterprise focus, more complex, broader international reach | Less expensive with faster setup, better for SMEs |
| Basis Technologies | Offers DSP plus workflow automation; heavier services offering | Similar or cheaper price with simpler self-serve and AI optimization |
| Google Display & Video 360 | Deep Google ecosystem integration, strong brand presence | More user-friendly with a better privacy focus |
| AdRoll | Focuses on e-commerce and retargeting, built-in cross-channel attribution | Stronger contextual targeting |
| MediaMath | Older platform, strong in data management, complex interface | Easier to use, cheaper with quicker onboarding and fresh UI |
StackAdapt strikes a balance between power and ease of use.
It’s not as enterprise-heavy as The Trade Desk or MediaMath, but often beats them in speed and ease of adoption.
AdRoll and Basis Technologies come close in capabilities, but usually focus on specific verticals like e-commerce or agency workflows.
Google DV360 is strong but has a steeper learning curve and ties you more tightly into Google’s ecosystem.
If you want something straightforward and budget-friendly without sacrificing features, StackAdapt is worth considering.
Who Should Use StackAdapt
StackAdapt works best for mid-sized to larger businesses, agencies, or in-house teams.
It fits those who want to run multi-channel campaigns without a steep learning curve. You’ll like it if you value hands-on campaign management, granular targeting, and advanced analytics.
Typical industries include retail, finance, travel, health, and tech.
You’ll get the most out of StackAdapt if you need unified management across multiple ad channels. These include display, native, video, audio, and connected TV.
It also supports advanced, privacy-friendly targeting to help you reach the right audience.
Plus, you can expect fast and transparent campaign setup and optimization without hassle.
1. Mid-sized to Larger Businesses and Agencies
This group benefits from StackAdapt’s depth and control in campaign management. You can handle multiple ad channels under one roof, making your workflow more efficient.
It’s perfect if you want detailed targeting options and solid analytics to track your results closely.
2. Smaller Businesses with Low Ad Budgets
If your ad budget is very small, StackAdapt’s minimum spending might feel too high.
In that case, you may want to consider more entry-level ad platforms tailored for smaller budgets.
3. Highly Complex, Global Campaigns
For campaigns that need deep customization across many countries, StackAdapt might not be the ideal choice.
Platforms like The Trade Desk could serve you better if you require extreme customization for global campaigns.
Bottom Line
StackAdapt is a leading programmatic ad platform.
I find it powerful yet easy to use, which makes it a favorite for agencies and growing businesses running multi-channel campaigns.
It offers AI-powered optimization and user-friendly self-serve features.
One downside is the lack of public pricing transparency. It also has limited entry-level options for very small advertisers.
StackAdapt shines when you need to scale digital advertising with advanced targeting and analytics support.
I hope this StackAdapt review has helped you see its strengths.
If you want a performance-driven, modern ad stack without complex enterprise headaches, StackAdapt is worth your consideration.
