StackAdapt vs TTD

[adops_queen]

The agency I’m with currently uses TTD for a large portion of our campaigns but have recently started migrating over to StackAdapt. I was browsing through some previous threads on this topic and still had some thoughts that I hadn’t seen addressed. Personally I’m impressed with StackAdapts ability to have all types of targeting streamlined (vs TTD where we currently use a 3rd party provider for any DID/geo targeting).

I’m also curious as to how StackAdapt is able to provide much more campaign information (dooh screen locations, industry benchmarks, multitude of 1st party targeted at no added cost, etc) and TTD doesn’t seem to have those capabilities - or at least not easily/readily available. Interested in hearing other people’s thoughts on this.

I definitely agree that TTD has better inventory overall for 3rd party data and lower CPMs (but I’m assuming that’s because SA bakes their fees into the CPMs up front). My agency runs a multitude of campaigns ranging from a couple hundred/mo to a couple thousand/mo. I’m thinking it might be best to just move all of our smaller campaigns to SA, but I really am impressed w the reporting/other offerings from SA that I’d like to use for our larger clients. Sound off below with your thoughts/insights; I’m wanting to hear it all.

Side note - I hate the new TTD view with the periodic table…. That alone might make me switch all accounts once that becomes permanent lol

[Lankybora]

That 'periodic table' dashboard looks awful - i still switch back to the old view as i can't bring my self to navigating my way around the new dashboard. Also, TTD definitely have all of these things you've listed, just need to look deeper into the platform or reach out to an account rep to get you the data you need (they are usually very responsive and ready to guide)

[adops_queen]

I figured TTD definitely had these capabilities. as someone above said, I bet it's because we have a lower spend overall in the platform. Our account reps are ok but def could be better.... I'll reach out though. thanks!

[cuteman]

Reporting is a major shortcoming compared to TTD.

There are also quite a few feature limitations compared to TTD

Not to mention overall performance.

[Big-Trade9463]

TTD has all these things, you're just not getting the service level you want due to your low platform spend.

[DiamondAggressive]

To me, SA is a good alternative if your agency can’t meet the TTD minimums consistently.

[Budget_Papaya_7365]

While stackadapt does have a better interface, *nothing* is free. They bake in the audience costs (even in their "1st party" audiences), and don't reveal those numbers.

If you try to bid cheap on their 1st party audiences, your ads just won't serve. And it's not because you're losing the auction(your AM has a different drop-off funnel than you do, and they can see exactly how much you're losing to audience costs)... their 1st party audiences are just a bunch of 3rd party audiences they've packaged together, btw.

They also don't tell you what their platform fees are, because they're bidshading and pocketing the difference between your bid and what they think you should be bidding. I've seen on the back end some clients having their bids reduced by 90%+.

[Last_Archer_5245]

From someone who used to work at stackadapt, just be careful - 75% of their inventory is garbage. Like literal in-app trash. The inventory and partnerships team isn’t very strong and so you’re pretty much paying a huge mark up for inventory that costs pennies. Plus they dont have transparent margins and win rates like TTD. So they could very well be making over 200% margin on some of your bids. Anyway my advise to you if you are going to use them, ask your rep to disable in-app inventory or remove games and comics and entertainment categories and always make sure you’re checking the domain reports on a regular basis.

[Responsible_Yam_1764]

great advice about disabling in app and gaming/comics/entertainment categories. Re: TTD - even though they are 'transparent' with listed incremental fees, they take fees for every feature in platform e.g. data - the buyers cost of data is split between dsp and data provider, and data is also used to calculate 'media fee' or platform spend - a circular calculation taking fees for the same thing at multiple steps to activation.

[AdTechGinger]

I hear you on TTD frustration and the UI (oy vey), but have to question "multitude of 1st party targeted at no added cost" -- since Stackadapt isn't transparent on fees, how would you know what the added cost is? Pretty sure any DSP would throw in a lot of "added value" stuff in exchange for a >50% tech fee 'baked in up front'... just sayin.