Best Google Ads Alternatives Shortlist
Here’s my shortlist of the best Google Ads alternatives:
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Google Ads can be a powerful tool, but it’s not always the best fit for every marketing strategy. Many CMOs face challenges like rising costs, limited targeting for niche B2B audiences, or diminishing returns on ad spend. If you’re struggling to achieve the ROI you expect, it might be time to explore a Google Ads alternative that aligns better with your goals and offers more tailored solutions for your audience.
As a B2B marketing expert, I’ve worked with organizations to optimize their advertising strategies. Overall, my experience has given me insight into ad platforms that can deliver better results for businesses like yours by focusing on the right features and capabilities.
To help you get started in your search, I reviewed a range of tools and platforms that serve as strong Google Ads alternatives. I evaluated their targeting options, pricing structures, and overall effectiveness for B2B marketing. With that in mind, these recommendations are designed to help you find the next software that will elevate your campaigns and maximize your marketing impact.
What Is Google Ads?
Google Ads is a digital marketing software that lets you create online ads to reach potential customers. It's commonly used by marketers, business owners, and advertisers who want to promote their products or services.
The software offers features such as ad targeting, keyword bidding, and performance tracking to help you optimize your campaigns efficiently. Overall, Google Ads provides a strong platform for increasing your brand's visibility and driving sales.
Why Look for a Google Ads Alternative?
While Google Ads is a valuable solution, there are a number of reasons why some users seek out alternative solutions. You might be looking for a Google Ads alternative because…
- The total cost-per-click (CPC) exceeds your budget
- Your targeting options are limited
- Your team needs simpler tools
- You're facing regional restrictions
- The software's scalability isn't meeting demands
If any of these sound like you, you’ve come to the right place. My list contains several options that are better suited for teams facing these challenges and looking for alternative solutions.
Best Google Ads Alternatives Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top Google Ads alternative selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Marin Software Marin Software uses AI for predictive bidding and cross-channel ad performance. | Best for AI-driven solutions | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
2 | Outbrain Outbrain excels in native ads with targeting and performance analytics features. | Best for native advertising | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
3 | Instagram Ads Instagram Ads engages with visuals, diverse formats, and Facebook integration. | Best for visual content | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
4 | Apple Search Ads Apple Search Ads drives app discovery with keyword targeting and creative features. | Best for app discovery | Free demo available | From $0.50/tap | Website |
5 | Amazon Ads Amazon Ads targets shoppers with product ads, behavioral targeting, and analytics. | Best for retail environments | Free store available | From $0.99 per unit sold | Website |
6 | Skai Skai streamlines omnichannel marketing with analytics and predictive capabilities. | Best for omnichannel marketing | Free demo available | From $95,000/year | Website |
7 | Adsterra Adsterra supports diverse ad formats, targeting, analytics, and flexible payments. | Best for diverse ad solutions | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
8 | Meta Ads Meta Ads connects with users via targeting, diverse formats, and detailed analytics. | Best for social reach | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
9 | Spotify Ads Spotify Ads connects with global users through targeted, non-intrusive audio ads. | Best for audio engagement | Free demo available | From $250/campaign | Website |
10 | Microsoft Ads Microsoft Ads targets Bing users with LinkedIn integration and e-commerce features. | Best for reaching Bing users | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website |
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Best Google Ads Alternatives Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best Google Ads alternatives that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer an in-depth look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
Marin Software is a digital marketing platform that caters to advertisers aiming to optimize their online advertising efforts. It's used by marketing teams to manage and improve performance across search, social, and ecommerce channels.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Marin Software focuses on AI-driven solutions to enhance ad performance, offering features like predictive bidding and budget optimization. The platform provides cross-channel reporting, allowing your team to get insights across different advertising outlets. Its customizable dashboards also present data in a way that suits your needs, while advanced analytics help you make data-driven decisions.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include advanced bidding algorithms that adjust bids based on performance data. It also provides budget management tools that ensure your spending aligns with your goals, and customizable reporting dashboards that let you view the metrics most relevant to your team.
Integrations include Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Amazon Advertising, Bing Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Twitter Ads, Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Salesforce, and HubSpot.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Allows detailed performance tracking with custom reports
- Offers advanced bidding strategies for performance improvements
- Supports cross-platform campaign management in one place
Cons:
- Limited creative options for smaller campaigns
- Setup process can be time-consuming and complex
Outbrain is a content discovery platform used by marketers and brands to promote content through native advertising. It helps businesses reach their target audience by displaying content recommendations on premium publisher sites.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Outbrain specializes in native advertising, providing a unique approach to reaching audiences. It offers content recommendations that appear as part of the publisher's site, blending seamlessly with the user experience. Additionally, the software’s advanced targeting options, including interest, behavior, and location, ensure precise audience engagement.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include smart ad recommendations that enhance the visibility of your content, real-time analytics that offer insights into campaign performance, and audience retargeting that helps you reach users who have previously interacted with your content.
Integrations include Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Salesforce, HubSpot, Marketo, Oracle Eloqua, Taboola, Amobee, MediaMath, and AppNexus.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Offers precise content placement targeting options
- Aligns ads with user interests and content
- Drives traffic from premium content publishers
Cons:
- Approval process can be time-consuming
- Requires high-quality content for best performance
Instagram Ads is an advertising platform utilized by brands and marketers to promote content through visually engaging ads on Instagram. It's designed to help businesses connect with a highly engaged audience through creative visual storytelling.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Instagram Ads excels in delivering visually appealing content, making it ideal for brands focusing on imagery and aesthetics. Its ad formats support photos, videos, carousels, and stories, offering your team various ways to engage users. The platform's targeting options also allow you to reach specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. Additionally, Instagram's integration with Facebook enhances audience reach and data insights.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a variety of ad formats, allowing your team to choose the best way to present their content. The platform also supports shoppable posts, making it easy for users to purchase directly from the app. Furthermore, detailed analytics help track engagement and performance, enabling you to refine your advertising strategies.
Integrations include Facebook Ads, Shopify, WooCommerce, HubSpot, Salesforce, Hootsuite, Buffer, Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Google Analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Effective for brand awareness and engagement
- Targets users based on interests and behaviors
- Supports visually engaging ad formats
Cons:
- Limited options for text-heavy advertising
- High competition for user attention
Apple Search Ads is a digital advertising platform designed to promote apps within the App Store. It's primarily used by app developers and marketers who want to increase app visibility and downloads.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Apple Search Ads excels in app discovery by targeting users already searching for apps in the App Store. It offers keyword targeting, allowing your team to reach a highly relevant audience. Additionally, the software’s creative feature sets let you showcase different app features in your ads, enhancing user engagement.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include audience refinement tools, and budget flexibility to control campaign spending. It also provides detailed performance analytics and advanced bidding options, allowing advertisers to optimize for app installs and user acquisition effectively.
Integrations include Apple Analytics, Adjust, AppsFlyer, Branch, Kochava, Singular, Tenjin, Tune, and Tableau.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Helps optimize keywords for better rankings
- Boosts app visibility in search results
- Targets high-intent users searching for apps
Cons:
- Requires a published app to run ads
- Limited to iOS users and App Store
Amazon Ads is an advertising platform designed for brands and sellers to promote their products within the Amazon ecosystem. It's used by retailers and marketers looking to increase product visibility and drive sales on Amazon.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Amazon Ads excels in retail environments, allowing your team to target shoppers already in the buying mindset. The software’s sponsored product ads and display ads help showcase your products directly on Amazon's platform. Additionally, its targeting options let you focus on specific shopping behaviors and preferences.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include sponsored brand ads that let your team create custom headlines and landing pages. The platform also offers video ads to showcase your products in a dynamic way. Furthermore, its detailed reporting tools help track sales and performance metrics.
Integrations include Salesforce, Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, Instagram Ads, Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, Oracle Eloqua, and Marketo.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Provides insights into shopping behaviors and trends
- Integrates directly with Amazon’s retail ecosystem
- Targets shoppers actively searching for products
Cons:
- High competition for visibility in popular categories
- Limited to users within Amazon’s platform
Skai is a digital marketing platform designed for advertisers to manage campaigns across multiple channels. It's used by large marketing teams to optimize performance and gain insights through data-driven strategies.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Skai provides a holistic approach to marketing by focusing on omnichannel capabilities, allowing your team to manage campaigns across search, social, and ecommerce. Its unified dashboard offers an advanced view of all your marketing efforts, while the software’s analytics tools provide actionable insights to improve campaign outcomes.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable reporting tools that let your team tailor reports to meet specific needs. The platform also provides predictive analytics to forecast future trends and opportunities. Additionally, its budget management features help ensure your marketing spend aligns with your goals.
Integrations include Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Amazon Advertising, Instagram Ads, Twitter Ads, Snapchat Ads, Pinterest Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Salesforce, and Adobe Analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Tracks real-time performance for better decision making
- Provides tools for large-scale campaign execution
- Customizes reports to meet business needs
Cons:
- Smaller user base compared to major platforms
- Initial setup process can be time-consuming
Adsterra is an advertising network that connects publishers and advertisers, providing diverse ad formats. It's used by businesses looking to expand their reach through various advertising channels.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Adsterra offers a wide range of ad formats, including display, pop-unders, and native ads, which can cater to different marketing needs. The platform's targeting capabilities help your team reach specific audiences effectively. It also provides real-time analytics, allowing you to monitor campaign performance and make adjustments as needed.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a variety of ad formats that allow your team to choose the best fit for their campaigns. The platform also provides advanced targeting options and fraud detection. Additionally, multiple payment methods ensure ease of transactions for advertisers.
Integrations include Google Analytics, Facebook Ads, Twitter Ads, LinkedIn Ads, Amazon Advertising, Adobe Analytics, HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, and Hootsuite.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports both desktop and mobile advertising
- Targets users across multiple geographic locations
- Offers diverse ad formats for campaigns
Cons:
- Smaller audience reach compared to larger platforms
- Limited options for high-quality ad creatives
Meta Ads is an advertising platform primarily used by businesses to reach diverse audiences on Facebook and Instagram. It's designed for marketers looking to enhance brand visibility and engagement through social media advertising.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Meta Ads offers extensive social reach, allowing your team to connect with users across Facebook and Instagram. The platform's targeting capabilities are sophisticated, enabling you to focus on specific demographics and interests. Its ad formats also support a variety of content ad types, from images to videos, enhancing engagement with your audience.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include etailed performance analytics, A/B testing capabilities, and various ad formats, including video, carousel, and dynamic ads. The platform is also optimized for audience engagement and ROI with features like retargeting and custom audience creation.
Integrations include Shopify, WooCommerce, HubSpot, Salesforce, Mailchimp, Hootsuite, Buffer, Canva, Adobe Creative Cloud, and Google Analytics.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Encourages engagement through interactive ad options
- Tracks performance with detailed analytics tools
- Supports diverse ad formats for creativity
Cons:
- Approval process can delay campaign launches
- Limited organic visibility without paid support
Spotify Ads is an advertising platform that allows businesses to reach audiences through audio ads on the Spotify streaming service. It's used by marketers and brands looking to engage users with audio content in a music and podcast environment.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Spotify Ads offers a unique audio engagement opportunity, reaching users during their listening experiences. It provides targeted advertising based on user demographics and listening habits. The software’s audio ads are non-intrusive and blend naturally into the listening experience, helping your team seamlessly connect with a global audience.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable ad formats that let your team choose between audio, video, and display options. The platform also offers real-time campaign insights, providing valuable data on ad performance.
Integrations include Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Nielsen, Oracle Data Cloud, Moat, IAS, Comscore, DoubleVerify, and Salesforce.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Provides global reach for campaign expansion
- Offers high completion rates for audio ads
- Reaches highly engaged audio-focused audiences
Cons:
- Limited options for visual ad formats
- Requires audio-specific creative content
Microsoft Ads is a digital advertising platform that allows businesses to place ads on the Bing search engine and its partner sites. It's used by marketers and advertisers aiming to reach audiences through Bing’s ad network, offering targeted ad placements and audience insights.
Why it's a good Google Ads alternative: Microsoft Ads excels in reaching Bing users, which can be a valuable audience segment for your team. The platform offers unique targeting options, including LinkedIn profile targeting, which differentiates it from Google Ads. Additionally, the software’s shopping campaign capabilities further enhance its appeal for businesses focusing on ecommerce.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include audience targeting options that let your team reach specific demographics, customizable ad scheduling ensuring your ads appear at optimal times, and detailed performance tracking to monitor and optimize your advertising efforts.
Integrations include Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Power BI, Adobe Analytics, Google Analytics, HubSpot, Salesforce, Marketo, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Offers import tools for Google Ads campaigns
- Integration with LinkedIn for audience targeting
- Access to Bing’s unique user base
Cons:
- Limited advanced creative options for ads
- Requires separate account setup for use
Other Google Ads Alternatives
Here are some additional Google Ads alternatives that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
- Quora Ads
For B2B targeting
- Fluency
For ad management automation
- AdRoll
For retargeting solutions
- Taboola
For content recommendations
- Yelp Ads
For local businesses
- LinkedIn Ads
For professional audiences
- Reddit Ads
For niche communities
Google Ads Alternatives Selection Criteria
When selecting the best Google Ads alternatives to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points such as cost-effectiveness and targeting flexibility. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Create and manage ad campaigns
- Target specific audience segments
- Track ad performance metrics
- Optimize ad spend
- Support multiple ad formats
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Advanced AI-driven analytics
- Cross-channel campaign management
- Dynamic ad personalization
- Customizable reporting dashboards for PPC and CPC
- Integration with non-traditional ad spaces
- Influencer connection for affiliate marketing
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive user interface
- Ease of navigation
- Availability of tutorials
- Customization options
- Speed of system response
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Use of chatbots for guidance
- Access to webinars
- Availability of setup templates
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- Availability of 24/7 support
- Access to live chat
- Response time for inquiries
- Quality of help center resources
- Availability of dedicated account managers
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Pricing transparency
- Range of pricing plans
- Flexibility in contract terms
- Presence of a free trial
- Overall cost relative to features
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Overall satisfaction ratings
- Feedback on feature effectiveness
- Comments on customer support experience
- Insights on usability
- Reports on return on investment
Google Ads Alternatives Key Features
Here are some of the key features of Google Ads that your alternative solution should offer:
- Keyword Targeting: Lets your team target specific and contextual words or phrases, ensuring your ads appear in relevant search results.
- Ad Scheduling: Allows you to choose specific times of day for your advertising options to run, optimizing visibility and engagement.
- Geographic Targeting: Enables you to focus ads on specific locations, reaching audiences and target users based on where they are.
- Demographic Targeting: Helps your team focus on specific age groups, genders, or income levels to reach the right audience.
- Ad Extensions: Provides extra information like phone numbers or links to specific pages, making your ads more informative.
- Conversion Tracking: Monitors the actions users take after interacting with your ads, helping decision-makers measure success.
- Performance Reporting: Offers detailed insights into ad performance, allowing you to make informed decisions based on lead generations and monthly active users.
- Bid Management: Automatically adjusts your bids for maximum impact, helping you stay competitive in auctions.
- Remarketing: Re-engages users through email marketing who have previously interacted with your site, keeping your brand top of mind.
- Responsive Search Ads: Automatically tests different combinations of headlines and descriptions to find what works best either online or through social media platforms.
What’s Next?
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