10 Best Demand Side Platforms: Which DSP is Right for You?   

In today’s world, picking the right demand-side platform can feel overwhelming. There are so many options, each offering different tools, pricing models, and targeting features.  

But making the wrong choice can be costly. You might waste ad spend, miss your ideal audience, or lose valuable insights that could boost your performance. With global digital ad spending expected to hit $870.85 billion in 2027, every dollar counts more than ever.  

In this article, we’ve reviewed the 10 best DSPs, highlighting what each one does best. We also considered feedback from real users, those who have already tested these platforms. Thus, our guide reflects both feature sets and real-world performance.  

Whether you run a small business, manage performance campaigns, or lead enterprise marketing with AI, this list is for you. You’ll discover the right DSP for your needs to target better, spend smarter, and grow faster. 

How We Evaluate a DSP

When choosing a DSP for your ads, focus on the key features that will make a difference in your campaigns. Here’s what you should consider: 

1. Inventory Access 

The quality and quantity of inventory on a DSP directly affect your ad reach and performance. A DSP with access to premium inventory ensures your ads appear on trusted websites or apps, leading to higher engagement and better campaign results. 

2. Targeting Capabilities 

Advanced targeting helps you reach the right audience. This can significantly improve your campaign results. A DSP with strong targeting tools lets you show personalized ads to the right people at the right time. 

3. Reporting & Analytics 

Good reporting and analytics are key to improving your campaigns. They help you make smart, data-based decisions. You can adjust your strategy in real time and boost overall results. 

4. Budget Flexibility 

Your business might have a fixed budget or flexible spending needs depending on your goals. The DSP you choose should let you control your budget easily. You should be able to set daily, weekly, or monthly limits. It should also allow you to adjust your bidding strategy as needed. 

5. Support & Integration 

Good customer support helps you fix technical or strategy issues quickly. Fast solutions keep your campaigns running smoothly. Integration with other tools makes managing data and work more efficient, especially for complex or large campaigns. 

Top 10 DSPs in 2025: Ranked & Reviewed  

1. StackAdapt: Best Demand Side Platform for Small Businesses 

StackAdapt’s user-friendly and straightforward interface makes it an excellent choice for small to mid-sized businesses. It also offers strong targeting options, making it easy to reach the right audience.    

The platform supports many ads, including: 

• Native ads, display banners, video ads, connected TV; 
• Audio, in-game ads, and digital out-of-home (DOOH) advertising.   

Users especially like how easy it is to get started with StackAdapt. The onboarding process is smooth, and the customer support is reliable. As a result, businesses can quickly launch campaigns and start seeing results.  

Small companies also appreciate that the platform is affordable and flexible, allowing them to run different campaigns without spending too much.   

From a technical standpoint, StackAdapt uses advanced audience targeting. It combines first-party data with third-party data integrations to improve accuracy. It also offers real-time bidding (RTB) on premium inventory sources, which helps ensure efficient ad placements.   

The platform also includes built-in dynamic creative optimization (DCO). This feature automatically customizes ad content based on audience signals. Reporting is detailed and updated in real time, giving advertisers immediate insight into campaign performance.   

Some users mention there is a learning curve when using advanced features. Yet, most find the platform intuitive and easy to use overall. 

2. The Trade Desk: Best Demand Side Platform for Advanced Targeting 

The Trade Desk is a highly rated demand-side platform, known for its advanced targeting capabilities and precision. It’s a top choice for marketers looking for full control and strong performance across large-scale campaigns.  

The platform supports real-time bidding across open exchanges, private marketplaces, and direct deals, giving advertisers flexible and efficient access to premium ad inventory. 

One of The Trade Desk’s key strengths is its AI engine, Koa. Koa analyzes massive amounts of real-time data to optimize bidding and refine targeting. This reduces the need for manual adjustments and leads to better overall performance. Many users highlight the platform’s transparency. You can see where your budget is going and which placements deliver the best results. 

From a technical standpoint, The Trade Desk integrates seamlessly with first-party and third-party data sources. This enables: 

• Accurate audience segmentation; 
• Effective lookalike modeling. 

It also supports cross-device tracking, allowing your ads to follow users across mobile phones, desktops, connected TVs, and more. For advanced users, the platform offers custom algorithm integration and API access to create tailored workflows or analytics tools. 

The platform features real-time reporting that gives advertisers fast, actionable insights. While some users note a learning curve, particularly for those new to programmatic advertising, most agree that the platform becomes intuitive with regular use. 

Customer support is another strong point, offering responsive assistance and clear guidance throughout onboarding and campaign setup. 

3. Basis: Best Demand Side Platform for Performance Marketing 

Basis is a strong choice for performance marketing. It’s an all-in-one platform that makes managing digital campaigns easier and more efficient. It supports many ad formats, including:   

• Display,  video, mobile; 
• Audio, connected TV. 

This helps marketers run unified campaigns and reach their audience wherever they are. 

Many users say Basis makes complex tasks simpler. It helps with budgeting, targeting, and reporting. Customer support also gets good feedback for being fast and helpful. 

From a technical point of view, Basis includes powerful features to improve performance. It offers advanced targeting options, including demographic, behavioral, and contextual targeting, which helps advertisers reach the right audience.  

Real-time reporting and analytics provide instant feedback so users can adjust strategies. Automation tools handle bidding and workflows, saving time and reducing manual work. 

Most users are happy with Basis and its strong features. Yet, some mention a learning curve, especially for beginners. The platform can feel a bit complex initially, but it gets easier with time and use. 

4. AdLib DSP: Best Demand Side Platform for AI-Optimized Campaigns 

AdLib is a DSP built to help advertisers run smarter, more efficient campaigns using automation and AI. What makes AdLib stand out is its AI-powered optimization engine. It automatically adjusts bids, targeting, and creative delivery, resulting in better results without manually tweaking everything. 

AdLib connects with major ad exchanges and SSPs. It gives you access to premium inventory across many formats: 

• Display, native, and video (including OTT/CTV) 
• Audio, mobile, and DOOH (digital out-of-home) 

With cross-channel coverage, you can reach your audience wherever they are. 

Strong targeting options exist. AdLib supports first-party and third-party data and offers advanced segmentation based on behavior, context, and demographics. You can also use lookalike modeling and intent-based targeting to focus on users most likely to convert. 

One of its best features is Dynamic Creative Optimization (DCO). This tool automatically tests creative elements like headlines, visuals, and calls to action. It then shows the top-performing version to each audience segment, improving campaign performance at scale. 

AdLib also offers real-time dashboards for reporting. You can see performance by format, device, and location. Some users wish for more detailed data, but most find the reports easy to use and helpful. You can schedule or export reports for ongoing insights. 

AdLib earns praise for being easy to use and quick to set up. Many users say they launched campaigns quickly, with no steep learning curve. Customer support is responsive and knowledgeable. 

Some advanced users would like more transparency in how AI works. Still, the overall experience is smooth and effective. 

5. illumin: Best Demand Side Platform for Journey-Based Advertising 

illumin is a demand-side platform that helps marketers create smarter, more strategic campaigns. Instead of buying ad impressions, it lets you map, manage, and optimize the customer journey.    

A key feature is the visual journey canvas. This drag-and-drop tool makes planning and seeing the entire customer journey easy. You can build campaigns that react to user behavior over time, not just single interactions. 

illumin offers advanced targeting tools. You can use behavioral, contextual, and demographic data to find the right audience. It also supports retargeting and intent-based targeting, so you can focus on users most likely to convert. 

On the reporting side, Illumin provides real-time dashboards that show campaign performance by format, device, and location. Some users would like more detailed reporting, but most say the insights are helpful for fast decision-making. 

Here’s what users like most: 

• Easy-to-use journey builder for mapping multi-step campaigns; 
• Strong targeting tools that help personalize ads for better results. 

Reviewers often say the platform is simple, but note that advanced features may take some time to learn. Customer support is responsive, and the platform works well with first- and third-party data. 

illumin is a strong choice for marketers who want personalized campaigns, automation, and a clear view of the customer journey. 

6. Viant Technology: Best Demand Side Platform for Omnichannel Targeting 

Viant Technology stands out as a DSP focused on omnichannel advertising. It helps brands reach consumers across multiple devices and platforms in a unified way. This is especially useful for marketers who want to manage campaigns that span desktop, mobile, connected TV (CTV), audio, and even digital out-of-home (DOOH). 

One of Viant’s key strengths is its people-based advertising approach. Instead of relying heavily on cookies, Viant uses real-world identifiers (household data) to target and measure ads more accurately. This helps advertisers maintain strong performance even in a privacy-first world.  

From a technical point of view, Viant offers: 

• Deterministic identity resolution, allowing brands to target real users across devices; 
• Built-in data management platform (DMP) for deeper audience insights. 

Its Ad Cloud platform integrates media planning, buying, and measurement. Users can activate campaigns and track them in real time, adjusting creative or strategy based on performance. 

Reviewers highlight Viant’s strong CTV capabilities and easy cross-channel execution. They also mention helpful customer support and clean reporting dashboards. However, some say that the interface could feel a bit dated, and that onboarding may take time for new users unfamiliar with omnichannel campaign management. 

Still, Viant is a solid, future-ready DSP built for scale for marketers who want accurate cross-device visibility and cookie-free targeting. 

7. Quantcast Platform: Best Demand Side Platform for Data-Driven Campaigns

Quantcast is a DSP designed for marketers who rely heavily on data, speed, and automation to drive performance. It’s especially popular among digital teams looking to optimize real-time campaigns using live audience behavior and AI-powered insights. 

The platform is built around Ara™, Quantcast’s AI and machine learning engine. It analyzes live user data to help you target the right people with the right message, at scale. Ara enables automatic bidding and audience expansion, improving efficiency without sacrificing precision.  

From a technical standpoint, Quantcast offers: 

• Real-time audience insights based on contextual, behavioral, and intent data; 
• Predictive targeting that adapts as user behavior changes; 
• Built-in brand safety and fraud prevention tools. 

Quantcast integrates seamlessly with first and third-party data sources, helping advertisers create accurate audience profiles. Its visual reporting dashboard is easy to navigate and offers detailed campaign metrics across devices and channels. 

Users highlight the platform’s speed and transparency. They appreciate the ability to test creative variations, track real-time performance, and adjust campaigns quickly. Many say Quantcast is especially effective for performance-focused campaigns: lead generation, conversions, and e-commerce. 

Some reviewers mention a learning curve during onboarding, especially when diving into advanced features or custom segmentation. However, most agree that customer support is helpful, and the UI becomes intuitive. 

8. AdRoll: Best Demand Side Platform for Multi-Channel Retargeting 

AdRoll is a top choice for marketers focused on retargeting and customer re-engagement across multiple channels. It benefits e-commerce brands and small to mid-sized businesses looking to convert site visitors into customers. 

One of AdRoll’s biggest strengths is its multi-channel approach. It allows advertisers to run campaigns across display networks, social media, email marketing, native, and video ads. This unified view of the customer journey helps businesses stay top-of-mind and increase conversions across platforms. 

From a technical perspective, AdRoll features: 

• Cross-device tracking, which follows users across mobile, desktop, and tablet; 
• Dynamic product ads that personalize creatives based on user behavior; 
• Automated audience segmentation, pulling data from website visits, CRM tools, or email lists; 
• A/B testing tools for creative and copy variations. 

AdRoll’s AI-powered engine optimizes real-time ad delivery to improve results and reduce wasted spend. It also includes built-in attribution and ROI tracking, helping marketers see which channels drive the most value. 

According to user reviews, advertisers appreciate the easy setup and intuitive dashboard. Many note that AdRoll works well even for non-technical users and that its customer support is responsive and helpful. 

Some users see the best results when they connect AdRoll to their online store (Shopify or WooCommerce). They also say that performance improves over time as the platform learns more about their audience. 

If you’re looking for a user-friendly option that simplifies retargeting, keeps your brand visible across multiple touchpoints, and delivers actionable insights, AdRoll is your platform. 

9. Demandbase One: Best Demand Side Platform for B2B Account-Based Marketing 

Demandbase One is the go-to for B2B marketers who use account-based strategies, unlike most DSPs, which focus on individual users. Demandbase targets full buying committees inside key companies. This makes it perfect for B2B sales, where decisions often involve many people.   

One of its biggest strengths is the way it uses data and AI. Demandbase combines company details (size, industry, and revenue) with intent signals and online behavior. This helps you reach companies that are already interested in what you offer. You don’t just reach the right people, you get them at the right time. 

Another significant advantage is its AI engine. It looks at large account data sets to find companies likely to convert. Then, it adjusts bids and placements automatically to get better results. The platform supports every stage of the customer journey, from awareness to final decision. 

From a technical perspective, Demandbase offers: 

• Real-time dashboards that show account engagement and ROI; 
• Easy integration with CRM and marketing automation tools; 
• Custom audience creation using both first- and third-party data; 
• Cross-device targeting reaches people on desktop, mobile, and connected TV. 

Users say the platform is easy to use, especially for marketers with B2B experience. They like the detailed targeting options and insights into account behavior. However, some mention that the setup process can be complex if you’re new to account-based marketing. A few also say that billing terms could be more flexible. 

Demandbase One is a strong DSP for B2B companies. It helps you focus on high-value accounts, improve targeting, and align marketing with sales. 

 10. Simpli.fi: Best Demand Side Platform for Localized Advertising 

Simpli.fi stands out for advertisers who want to run local, personalized, and multi-channel ad campaigns. It’s powerful in geofencing and location-based targeting, making it ideal for businesses that want to reach customers in specific areas.  

One of Simpli.fi’s key features is its ability to target users based on real-world behavior, like visits to physical locations. This makes it great for retail, automotive, education, or healthcare businesses that rely on foot traffic. You can set up custom geofences around locations like stores, events, or even competitors and then serve ads to people who enter those zones.   

Simpli.fi also supports a wide range of ad formats, including: 

• Display, video, native; 
• Mobile, connected TV (CTV), and audio. 

The platform is easy to use, with a clean interface and flexible service options. You can run campaigns on your own (self-serve), get help from their team (managed service), or integrate it into your tech stack via API. 

From a technical point of view, Simpli.fi runs its data management platform (DMP), which allows for precise, real-time audience targeting. It also includes real-time bidding, detailed reporting, and budget controls. You can create highly customized audiences using behavioral and contextual signals, and adjust campaigns based on performance insights. 

Users say Simpli.fi is intuitive, powerful, and backed by excellent customer support. They like how well it performs for location-based campaigns and appreciate the transparency in reporting. Some mention a bit of a learning curve for advanced features, but most find it manageable. 

If your goal is to run highly targeted local or omnichannel campaigns, Simpli.fi is a smart, reliable DSP that gives you the tools and flexibility you need to succeed. 

FAQ 

Final Thoughts 

Choosing the best demand-side platform is more than picking a tool. It’s about finding a partner who helps you reach the right people at the right time with the right message. 

Whether a small business or an experienced marketer, the right DSP gives you what you need: automation, valuable insights, and control. Thus, it helps you improve your results and grow your campaigns faster. 

Use this list as a starting point. Find the platform that fits your goals and makes every dollar count.