7 Best AdRoll Alternatives for Retargeting & Ad Campaigns

Why look beyond AdRoll

AdRoll is a recognized platform for e-commerce retargeting and cross-channel advertising, particularly serving small to medium-sized businesses with features like audience segmentation and email marketing automation AdRoll homepage. However, specific use cases or organizational requirements may prompt consideration of alternative solutions. Some businesses might seek platforms with more advanced programmatic advertising capabilities or deeper integration options for custom development, as AdRoll primarily offers a web-based campaign management interface without extensive public API access for its core advertising platform. Large enterprises or those with complex, multi-brand strategies might find greater value in platforms designed for higher ad spend volumes or offering more extensive agency-level tools and support. Additionally, businesses focused on Account-Based Marketing (ABM) might require alternatives that specialize in B2B targeting and engagement beyond AdRoll's broader retargeting focus. Pricing models, specific compliance needs beyond GDPR and CCPA, or a desire for a different user interface and support experience can also be factors in evaluating alternatives.

Top alternatives ranked

1. 1. Criteo — AI-powered commerce media platform for retailers and brands

   Criteo specializes in performance marketing, particularly for e-commerce, offering a Commerce Media Platform that leverages AI to generate personalized ads Criteo official site. Its core strength lies in retargeting and customer acquisition across various channels, including display, native, and social advertising. Criteo focuses on driving sales and optimizing return on ad spend (ROAS) for retailers and brands with extensive product catalogs. The platform's machine learning algorithms analyze vast amounts of commerce data to predict consumer intent and deliver relevant product recommendations. While AdRoll serves a broad range of SMBs, Criteo often caters to larger e-commerce businesses and brands that require sophisticated, data-driven personalization at scale.

   Best for: Large e-commerce retailers, data-driven personalization, high-volume retargeting, sales optimization.

2. 2. RollWorks — Account-Based Marketing (ABM) platform for B2B companies

   RollWorks, a division of NextRoll (AdRoll's parent company), is designed specifically for Account-Based Marketing (ABM) in the B2B sector RollWorks homepage. Unlike AdRoll's broader retargeting focus, RollWorks helps B2B organizations identify target accounts, engage them across multiple channels (ads, email, web), and measure the impact on pipeline and revenue. It integrates with CRM systems to align sales and marketing efforts, providing tools for account scoring, intent data, and personalized messaging. Businesses looking to implement a strategic ABM approach, focusing on specific high-value accounts rather than broad consumer retargeting, will find RollWorks a more tailored solution. Its capabilities extend beyond traditional ad serving to encompass a full ABM lifecycle.

   Best for: B2B Account-Based Marketing (ABM), sales and marketing alignment, target account identification, pipeline generation.

3. 3. Outbrain — Native advertising platform for content discovery and monetization

   Outbrain is a native advertising platform that specializes in content discovery, helping brands and publishers connect with engaged audiences through personalized recommendations Outbrain website. Its network places sponsored content on premium publisher sites, blending seamlessly with editorial feeds. While AdRoll focuses on retargeting users who have already shown interest, Outbrain aims to introduce new audiences to content, products, or services at an earlier stage of the customer journey. It's particularly effective for driving traffic to articles, videos, and other content marketing assets. Businesses looking to expand their reach through content marketing and leverage editorial environments for brand awareness and lead generation may find Outbrain's native ad format a compelling alternative to display-focused retargeting.

   Best for: Content discovery, native advertising, brand awareness, driving traffic to content marketing assets.

4. 4. Wpromote — Integrated digital marketing agency with performance focus

   Wpromote is a full-service digital marketing agency that offers a comprehensive suite of services, including paid media, SEO, social media, and analytics Wpromote official site. While AdRoll provides a self-serve platform, Wpromote offers managed services, leveraging its expertise to develop and execute integrated digital strategies. For businesses that lack internal resources or require specialized strategic guidance across multiple marketing channels, Wpromote provides an agency model solution. This includes managing complex ad campaigns, optimizing landing pages, and providing in-depth reporting and analysis. Companies seeking a partnership with an agency for end-to-end digital marketing, rather than just a software platform, would consider Wpromote as a strong alternative.

   Best for: Full-service digital marketing, integrated campaign management, strategic guidance, businesses seeking agency partnership.

5. 5. Ignite Visibility — Performance marketing agency specializing in SEO and paid media

   Ignite Visibility is a performance marketing agency known for its expertise in search engine optimization (SEO), paid media, social media, and digital PR Ignite Visibility homepage. Similar to Wpromote, it offers managed services for businesses looking for expert execution and strategic oversight of their digital campaigns. Ignite Visibility emphasizes proprietary forecasting and analysis tools to drive measurable results. For companies that need a dedicated team to handle their advertising, SEO, and content strategies, and potentially integrate these efforts more deeply than a platform alone might allow, Ignite Visibility provides a comprehensive agency solution. This can be beneficial for businesses aiming for aggressive growth or those with intricate market landscapes.

   Best for: SEO-driven growth, paid media management, comprehensive digital marketing strategies, businesses needing expert agency support.

6. 6. NP Digital — Global performance marketing agency founded by Neil Patel

   NP Digital is a global performance marketing agency co-founded by Neil Patel, focusing on SEO, content marketing, paid media, and conversion rate optimization (CRO) NP Digital website. The agency is known for its data-driven approach and expertise in driving organic and paid traffic. Like other agencies, NP Digital provides managed services, offering strategic planning and execution across various digital channels. This makes it an alternative for businesses that prefer to outsource their entire digital marketing efforts to a team with a strong track record in performance. While AdRoll offers tools, NP Digital provides a full-service solution, including strategy development, campaign management, and in-depth reporting, particularly appealing to businesses that prioritize measurable ROI and thought leadership in digital marketing.

   Best for: SEO and content marketing expertise, integrated performance marketing, CRO, businesses seeking agency with strong thought leadership.

7. 7. Siege Media — Content marketing and SEO agency for scalable organic growth

   Siege Media specializes in content marketing and SEO, helping businesses achieve scalable organic growth through high-quality content creation and strategic link building Siege Media official site. While AdRoll focuses on paid advertising and retargeting, Siege Media's approach is centered on attracting and engaging audiences through valuable, search-optimized content. For companies looking to build long-term organic authority, reduce reliance on paid channels, and establish themselves as thought leaders, Siege Media offers a distinct alternative. It's particularly suited for businesses that understand the compounding returns of content marketing and seek to invest in owned media assets that drive sustainable traffic and conversions over time.

   Best for: Content marketing strategy, SEO for organic growth, link building, businesses investing in owned media assets.

Side-by-side

How to pick

Selecting an alternative to AdRoll depends heavily on your specific business goals, operational model, and the resources you have available. Consider the following decision-tree approach:

1. Define Your Primary Objective:

• Are you an e-commerce business seeking advanced retargeting and sales optimization? If your focus is on driving direct sales through highly personalized ads using vast commerce data, Criteo might be a more powerful fit due to its AI-driven commerce media platform.
• Are you a B2B company focused on targeting specific high-value accounts? If your strategy involves Account-Based Marketing (ABM) to engage and convert specific businesses, RollWorks is purpose-built for this, offering tools beyond general retargeting.
• Do you want to expand reach through content marketing and native advertising? If your goal is content discovery, building brand awareness through editorial placements, and driving traffic to content, Outbrain specializes in native ad formats.
• Do you need comprehensive, integrated digital marketing strategy and execution? If you require expert guidance across multiple channels (SEO, paid media, social, content) and prefer to outsource management, then a full-service agency like Wpromote, Ignite Visibility, or NP Digital would be more appropriate than a self-serve platform.
• Is your priority long-term organic growth through content and SEO? If your strategy emphasizes building authority, attracting organic traffic, and investing in owned media assets, Siege Media's specialized content marketing and SEO services align better with this goal.

2. Evaluate Your Internal Resources and Expertise:

• Do you have an in-house marketing team capable of managing ad platforms? If yes, platforms like Criteo or RollWorks (which offer both self-serve and managed options) could be viable.
• Do you lack internal marketing specialists or prefer expert management? If you need a dedicated team to strategize, execute, and report on your campaigns, an agency model from Wpromote, Ignite Visibility, NP Digital, or Siege Media would provide the necessary expertise and bandwidth.

3. Consider Your Budget and Pricing Model Preferences:

• Are you comfortable with a subscription model plus ad spend? AdRoll, Criteo, and RollWorks generally follow this model, though Criteo can be more performance-based for larger clients.
• Do you prefer custom retainers or project-based pricing for comprehensive services? Agencies like Wpromote, Ignite Visibility, NP Digital, and Siege Media typically operate on custom retainers, which can be a significant investment but cover a broader scope of work.

4. Assess Integration and Technical Requirements:

• Do you require deep CRM integration or specific B2B data capabilities? RollWorks excels in this area for ABM.
• Are you looking for extensive API access for custom development? While AdRoll has limited public API for its core ad platform, Criteo offers more robust data integration capabilities for its commerce platform. Agencies can also build custom integrations as part of their services.

5. Review Compliance and Data Privacy Needs:

• Ensure any chosen alternative meets your specific regulatory requirements (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and industry standards, especially if operating in sensitive sectors or multiple geographies. All listed alternatives adhere to common privacy standards, but specific regional or industry-specific compliance might require deeper investigation.

By systematically addressing these points, businesses can identify the AdRoll alternative that best aligns with their strategic marketing objectives and operational realities.