5 Best Google Ads Alternatives to Drive Business Results

There are many alternatives to Google Ads including Outbrain, Spotify, Reddit Ads, Index Exchange and Microsoft Ads. Many can drive impressive business results; we’ll review five of the best options, each offering unique benefits for your marketing strategy.

PPC advertising platforms alternatives: 

It pays to ​​diversify your PPC advertising strategy. While Google Ads has long been the most visible player, sticking just to Google is not necessarily the best idea for every business. Many alternatives offer compelling benefits, from cost efficiency and niche targeting to innovative ad formats and less competitive environments. 

Exploring these can uncover more opportunities for growth, improve full funnel conversion rates and discover alternative revenue channels. 

We’re unpacking the 5 best Google Ads alternatives proven to drive business results. 

Whether you’re a small startup looking to make a big mark on your industry, a niche business seeking more targeted reach, or an enterprise aiming to diversify your advertising portfolio, these solutions offer valuable opportunities to achieve your business objectives through effective PPC marketing. 

Outbrain Advertising Platform- The #1 Google Ads Alternative

Outbrain is a long-standing player in the digital advertising industry, providing a vast network for native advertising across thousands of premium publishers. 

It is well established as an excellent spending avenue for several reasons, including its partnerships with top-tier publishers such as The Rolling Stones & Fox News, sophisticated algorithms that match content to users who’ve shown interest in similar topics, engagement-driven ad formats, cost efficiency (it operates on a cost-per-click model, so you only pay when someone clicks on your ad), and much more. 

With customizable campaigns and optimization tools, analytics to track the performance of your campaigns in real time, Outbrain has long been regarded as a leader in online advertising. 

And with the launch of Onyx by Outbrain™, it’s taken a step further towards giving advertisers more bang for their buck. 

Thanks to ad saturation, audiences have become more immune to advertising. Banner blindness is a real problem, and this is exactly where Onyx shows remarkable results. How? 

Onyx optimizes ads for user attention, boosting brand impact, and serving as a valuable tool for top-of-funnel brand awareness campaigns, reaching high-quality, broad audiences.

Outbrain targets ads during “high attention moments,” displaying them when readers are most likely to engage. Ads run in safe, fraud-free environments, ensuring brand safety.

Additionally, Onyx can deliver new Video and High-Impact Display ad formats while using AI to predict at which moments viewers will be at their highest point of attention across the whole Onyx environment. As a discerning advertiser, we know you’ll ask, “Can you prove this?” Yes, we can. 

When it comes to display and rich media formats, Onyx is shown to have outperformed AU benchmarks across a variety of devices by 26%, as well as scoring 53% higher than traditional banners for mobile and exceeding rich media formats on mobile by 20%. 

With over 29 million American adults without a high school diploma, the Ad Council and Dollar General Literacy Foundation (DGLF) launched an initiative to increase awareness about free, supportive adult education centers nationwide. 

By directing people to FinishYourDiploma.org, the campaign emphasizes that earning a high school equivalency can unlock various benefits, such as better career opportunities, enhanced self-confidence, and inspiring loved ones to pursue their educational goals.

Microsoft Ads Alternative

Formerly known as Bing Ads, Microsoft Ads presents a convincing case for advertisers looking to spend their marketing budgets elsewhere than Google. 

One of the standout reasons for incorporating this platform into your marketing budget is its access to a unique audience: over one-third (38.46%) of the United States search market is powered by Bing, including searches through Yahoo and other partners and on various devices. 

That’s about 60 million users who aren’t looking for goods and services on Google (or at least, not only on Google). 

Data also shows that ad viewers on the Microsoft Network in the US spend 23% more online when shopping from their desktop computers than average internet searchers – and for advertisers that means strong purchasing power. 

With a competitive cost-per-click rate, availability in 238 countries, and its 71/100 average customer rating in the States (Google currently has a score of 79), it’s a strong contender for your ad spend.

Reddit Ads Alternative

Look, we get it – some advertisers don’t even know that Reddit Ads are a “thing.” And that’s why we had to include it on the list. 

This platform offers a unique opportunity to tap into highly engaged communities across a wide range of interests and topics. 

Reddit boasts over 52 million daily (yes, we said DAILY!) active users and communities covering almost every niche, making it a goldmine for advertisers looking to reach specific audiences. Reddit is also very Gen-Z-focused, with 42% of U.S. adults aged 18 to 24 using the platform.

The unique selling proposition that Reddit offers for advertisers is its targeting, which can be highly precise. 

Advertisers on Reddit report an average engagement rate higher than other social platforms, with users known for their active participation and willingness to engage with content that resonates with their interests. 

This makes it a goldmine for brands looking to build genuine connections with potential customers. This is further reinforced by the fact that Reddit was predicted to reach $520M in advertising revenues in 2023. (We couldn’t confirm it reached this figure, though.) 

r/PPC: For more information from the industry leaders in this space, the subreddit r/PPC is specifically for pay-per-click advertising, which includes Reddit Ads.

Index Exchange Alternative

Another platform you all may not be too familiar with, Index Exchange, is a global advertising marketplace. 

It uses advanced tech to give value to media owners and marketers in their ad spend. What makes it different from any others on this list? 

First, it offers omnichannel ad inventories, from display to video to connected TV (CTV), mobile, and native ads. 

Additionally, it offers a portfolio of addressability solutions (strategies and technologies that enable advertisers to deliver messages to specific audiences based on a range of signals and characteristics) built for privacy-centric advertising. 

This is particularly important given that third-party cookies are heading towards extinction. 

Also, it gives users detailed analytics and allows them to use impression-level reporting and is backed by a team of experts who provide strategic and operational support to ensure campaigns are optimized for maximum ROI. 

Spotify Ads Alternative

Last on our list (though it has just as many selling points as the others) is Spotify advertising.  Spotify comes with many convincing reasons to give it your advertising spend, including extensive reach and personalization. 

The music platform has over 515 million monthly active users. With its deep understanding of their listening habits, you can create highly personalized advertising experiences, ensuring your ads are served to the most relevant audience segments​​. 

It also offers a variety of ad formats, from audio, video, and display ads to podcast ads, sponsored playlists, and immersive homepage takeovers. 

Not sure how to create ads for this medium? Spotify can help with its user-friendly ad creation tool, Spotify Ad Studio. It lets you easily target your desired audience, set budgets, and schedule ads while supporting both programmatic buying and direct purchases. 

When it comes to cost, this is another point in the platform’s favor since it is flexible enough to meet most budgets and goals. 

Exploring Effective Alternatives to Google Ads for Small Businesses

Small businesses today have access to a wide range of advertising platforms but often struggle to scale effectively with limited budgets. 

While Google Ads offers some excellent features, such as local campaigns tailored for small business needs, it’s crucial to consider additional options that can drive impactful results at a lower cost.

Outbrain: Contextual Targeting for Maximum Efficiency

One strong alternative to Google Ads for small businesses is Outbrain. Known for its contextual targeting, Outbrain allows businesses to place ads on high-quality publisher sites, reaching potential customers precisely where and when they are most engaged. 

This approach ensures that even a smaller ad spend can yield bigger results by optimizing placements based on content relevance and user intent.

Reddit: Reaching High-Intent Audiences

Another platform to consider is Reddit, which can be particularly effective for businesses looking to engage with niche communities. 

Advertising on Reddit works well if you already have a strong organic presence and are ready to scale through PPC or paid campaigns. 

By leveraging subreddit communities and targeting users based on interests and questions, small businesses can connect with audiences that have higher intent, leading to better conversion rates.

The Importance of Performance and Optimization

For small businesses, performance is crucial. It’s essential to maximize every dollar invested for high-impact outcomes. 

This means regularly optimizing campaigns and testing multiple advertising channels to determine what delivers the best results. 

Each business is unique, and what works for a competitor may not work for you. The key is to “fail fast” and learn quickly by consistently monitoring and refining your strategy.

Adapting Strategies for Different Business Needs

Given that every small business operates differently, it’s vital to adopt a tailored approach. Consider your industry, audience behavior, and specific goals when experimenting with new platforms. 

Diversifying your ad spend across various channels can help you identify the most effective strategies for your unique business needs.

Test, Learn, and Optimize

Success in digital advertising often comes from continuous testing and learning. Platforms like Outbrain and Reddit provide opportunities to experiment without breaking the bank. 

By carefully analyzing performance metrics and optimizing based on data insights, small businesses can make more informed decisions and achieve greater scalability over time.

Are Alternative Ad Platforms Right for You?

Sticking to one ad platform might be okay if you have specific goals for a specific audience using only that platform. But for any marketer trying to broaden their reach, diversification is key to maximizing engagement. 

We recommend spreading your spend around where appropriate for your audience, budget, and goals. Then, focus on tracking, monitoring, and optimizing as you go.

There’s no single platform or strategy that can promise you the best business results. That’s why, as an advertiser, it’s a good idea to try Google Ads alternatives, see what works.

Best Google Ads Alternatives FAQ:

1. What are the best alternatives to Google Ads for small businesses?

Businesses can consider Microsoft Ads for lower CPCs, Facebook/Instagram Ads for robust audience targeting, Outbrain for native advertising, Reddit Ads for niche communities, and Amazon Ads for product promotion. Testing multiple platforms helps find the best fit for your goals and budget.

2. What is the best PPC advertising platform besides Google Ads?

Outbrain and Teads are strong alternatives to Google Ads for PPC campaigns. Outbrain excels in native advertising, placing engaging content on top-tier publisher sites to boost brand awareness and drive traffic. Teads offers innovative outstream video ads that seamlessly integrate into editorial content, capturing user attention and optimizing ad performance for maximum impact. Both platforms enable small businesses to target audiences contextually, enhancing ad effectiveness and ROI.

3. What are the best free alternatives to Google Ads?

The best free alternatives to Google Ads include SEO (Search Engine Optimization) for organic visibility, social media marketing on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, content marketing through blogs or videos, and email marketing for direct engagement. These methods can effectively drive traffic without a direct advertising cost.

4. What are the best Google Ads alternatives for B2B marketing?

For B2B marketing, Outbrain is a powerful alternative to Google Ads. It enables precise targeting through its native advertising platform, leveraging its vast network of premium publishers. With content discovery tools, Outbrain helps you engage decision-makers with highly relevant, non-intrusive ads that drive awareness and lead generation.

5. How do I choose the best Google Ads alternative for my business?

To choose the best Google Ads alternative, consider your business goals, target audience, and budget. Platforms like Outbrain offer precise targeting for content discovery, while Teads excels at video ads. Test multiple channels, track results, and optimize for the highest ROI based on engagement and conversions.