Companies spend up to 15% of their revenue on paid ads, and it’s easy to see why. As competition becomes fiercer each day, organic reach alone is no longer sufficient.
If you want to stay competitive, you’ve got to put your product in front of the right audience (people who are more likely to buy it). But how do you know which ad platform is best for you? That’s what we’ll cover in this guide.
If you’re wondering, “What is the best advertising platform?” you’ve got options. Let’s look at the top 15 places to promote your business, grouped into five categories: social media, video, B2B, e-commerce, and search.
Best Social Media Advertising Platforms
A recent research by Search Engine Journal reveals that people spend an average of two hours and 24 minutes on social media every day. This makes social commerce a new standard for online brands looking to meet customers where they already are.
Here are the top three social networks to advertise on:
Facebook Ads
When it comes to social media popularity, Facebook is second to none. It boasts over three billion monthly users, which explains why it’s dubbed the king of social media. So, regardless of what you’re selling, you’re sure to find your target audience here. And, because Facebook has a really flexible budget, it’s also regarded as one of the best advertising platforms for small businesses.
Key Highlights:
- Massive reach — tap into a vast audience of over three billion monthly active users.
- Advanced customer targeting — find your ideal customers through their demographics, interests, online behavior, and live events.
- Multiple ad types — choose from several ad formats (images, videos, slideshows, carousels, Messenger, and Story).
- Flexible ad placements — automate ad placements with Advantage+ or go manual and select the places you want.
Best For: Affiliate marketers and businesses of all sizes that want to build brand awareness among an audience aged 18-44.
X (Formerly Twitter) Ads
X might not pull a crowd as great as Facebook’s, but it’s actually the sixth most popular social media platform in the world. One cool thing about X is that it has a strong hashtag game. Add a branded (or trending) hashtag to your ad and spark a conversation that gets people talking.
Remember, though: X posts have a 280-character limit for Basic accounts. So, unless you’re ready to go Premium, keep your text short.
Key Highlights:
- Multiple media types — choose from a variety of formats (text, video, carousel, and image ads).
- Targeting options — zoom in on your ideal customers based on demographics, interests, behavior, and the keywords they used recently.
- Timeline Takeover — place your ad at the top of the conversation so it’s the first thing users see when they open the X app.
- Trend Takeover — improve your visibility by displaying your ads beside what’s trending.
Best For: Media companies that thrive on trending topics.
Pinterest Ads
Pinterest is where search meets visual discovery. When people are looking for fitness motivation, fashion inspiration, or something along those lines, Pinterest always comes through. This makes it one of the best ad platforms for businesses to reach users with a high intent to purchase.
Key Highlights:
- Shoppable product pins — turn your product catalog into a visual storefront that shows prices and direct purchase links.
- Native advertising — blend paid ads seamlessly into organic content to improve engagement and boost sales.
- Audience targeting — find your ideal customers by combining the keywords they searched for with their interests.
- Actalike audiences — create Actalike audiences based on their Pinterest behavior (like saving your pins or clicking through to your site).
- Conversion insights — track how long someone takes from seeing your ads to actually buying your product.
Best For: Businesses with visually appealing products, like those in the home decor, fitness, fashion, or beauty industry.
Best Video Advertising Platforms
Videos are eye-catching, so it’s not surprising that video ads increase conversion rates by up to 80%. If you’re looking to stop the scroll with video ads, here are the top three platforms to consider.
YouTube Ads
YouTube is the most popular video platform. So, it comes highly recommended when searching for the best digital advertising platform for video content. YouTube boasts over 2.5 billion monthly active users, which helps you reach your target audience.
But let’s be honest, YouTube video ads can be disruptive, which explains why 76% of users can’t wait to skip them. So, if you opt for skippable ads, aim to hook viewers within the first five seconds.
Key Highlights:
- Pay-per-click (PPC) model — you only pay when someone clicks through to your landing page.
- Targeted advertising — reach audiences based on demographics, topics, online behavior (like Google search history), and live events.
- Different ad types — choose between skippable and non-skippable ads, or display your ads at the top of the YouTube homepage for maximum visibility.
- Ad performance tracking — gain access to Google’s advanced reporting tools and see where you’re crushing it.
Best For: Businesses that want to showcase their products in a visually appealing way and reach a vast audience fast.
Instagram Ads
Recent research reveals that videos on Instagram perform much better than images, driving over 60% of user engagement, which explains why tools like an instagram story downloader are so popular for saving and repurposing high-performing content. This same research reports that Instagram users spend more than 60% of their time watching videos on the app. And when you think about the fact that Instagram has over two billion monthly active users, you’ll start to see just how powerful video ads can be here.
Key Highlights:
- Multiple placements — choose where you want to display your ads (Reels, Story, Explore, or in the main feed).
- Interactive elements — add polls, quizzes, or the Link Sticker to make your ad more engaging.
- Shopping integration — tag products from your catalog so users can buy directly from the Instagram app.
- Advanced targeting options — target users by location, interest, and behavior (you can even target people who follow a specific page).
Best For: Fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands targeting Gen Zers and Millennials.
TikTok Ads
TikTok is where new trends and challenges quickly go viral. But it also offers a great platform to display PPC ads and reach a broad audience of 1.5 billion monthly active users. You can serve TikTok Ads alongside organic videos, making them feel like regular content instead of disruptions.
Bear in mind, though, that TikTok users are fast-scrolling and highly selective. That’s why you need to channel your creative energy into creating a captivating hook.
Key Highlights:
- Different ad placements — choose your desired ad placement, whether in the For You section or in-feed.
- Brand Takeover — make your full-screen ad the first thing users see when they open their apps.
- Automated creative optimization — get a personal assistant that automatically improves your creative assets (focusing on the visual quality and music).
- Creative add-ons — add music, voiceovers, stickers, and video effects to make your ad more engaging.
- Best For: Companies with fun, trendy products designed for younger audiences (ideally Gen Zers).
Best B2B Advertising Platforms
B2B buyers are less impulsive than B2C buyers, so your ads must be precise and informative. If you’re ready to put your B2B products in front of the people who matter, check out the best places to advertise online.
Quora Ads
Ask questions, get answers from subject matter experts. That’s what Quora is known for. But it’s more than just a question-and-answer forum. Quora is also a great place to promote B2B products, and its population of over 400 million monthly active users adds to its allure.
Key Highlights:
- Information-seeking audience — reach decision makers who are actively looking for the solutions you offer.
- Contextual targeting — display your ads on relevant threads and increase your chances of grabbing attention.
- Flexible ad formats — choose between images, text, and videos.
- Promoted answers — turn your Quora responses into ads to reach a larger audience.
Best For: B2B service providers and consultants who want to build credibility through helpful content.
Reddit Ads
While Redditors debate about virtually any topic, you can place your ads right at the heart of these conversations. Reddit Advertising allows you to target highly specific communities (called Subreddits), where users are already talking about the solutions you offer. If you can craft a message that blends naturally into the thread, Reddit can be a powerhouse for gaining trust and driving conversions.
Key Highlights:
- Subreddits — target niche communities that are already interested in the kind of products you offer.
- Promoted posts — create paid advertisements that appear on a Redditor’s feed, just like a regular post.
- Multiple ad formats — select your desired ad format, whether it’s video, image, product, conversation, or carousel ads (or combine different formats).
- Dynamic product ads — automatically create personalized ads that show users the products in your catalog they might be interested in.
Best For: Tech, finance, gaming, and crypto brands with strong niche value.
LinkedIn Ads
LinkedIn is where professionals connect, which makes it a goldmine for B2B marketing. Sure, most of its users are job seekers, but you’ll find a sizable percentage of C-level executives to target with your campaigns. These professionals have their job details on their profiles, which isn’t usually the case with other social networking sites. Such transparency helps you target the right people with precision.
Key Highlights:
- Sponsored messaging — send personalized ads directly into a user’s inbox.
- Sponsored content — display your ads in the LinkedIn feed, as images, videos, carousels, documents, events, or newsletters.
- Shutterstock integration — access millions of high-quality stock images for your ad creatives without additional costs.
- Advanced Audience targeting — target users by job title, experience, industry, and company size.
Best For: B2B companies that want to build brand awareness and reach key decision makers in complex buying cycles.
Best Search Advertising Platforms
When people need answers, they visit a search engine and make a query. The goal is to show up when people search for the services or products you offer. Below are the top three platforms for search ads.
Google Ads
When it comes to search engines, Google remains unbeatable. According to Statcounter, Google boasts an 89.5% market share in 2025. Its large user base helps you reach billions of people all over the world (or at least as far as your budget can stretch).
Once someone searches for your focus keyword, your ad appears at the top of search results, helping you get discovered without breaking a sweat.
Key Highlights:
- Different campaign types — show up in search results, on other websites and apps within the Google Display Network, or on YouTube.
- Advanced analytics and reporting — use Google Analytics to gain insights into user behavior and improve campaign efficiency.
- Workflow automation — automate campaign management with artificial intelligence.
- Automated bid strategy — use Google AI to set bids based on campaign goals and how likely it is to drive conversions.
- Responsive ads — automatically adjust ad format and appearance to fit different ad spaces across the Google Display Network.
- Automated ad suggestions — get AI-generated ad copy based on real-time data and your existing content.
Best For: Businesses of all sizes looking for maximum reach and precise audience targeting.
Microsoft Advertising
Figures from the Statcounter report we referenced earlier show that Microsoft Bing’s market share sits at just 3.95% this year. But this can actually work in your favour. Bing has fewer advertisers compared to Google, which means you’ll likely enjoy lower costs while still reaching millions of potential customers.
Key Highlights:
- Ad placements — display ads in the SERPs or on websites and apps within the Microsoft Audience Network.
- Shopping campaigns — showcase products directly within search results.
- LinkedIn user targeting — target potential customers based on their profile details on LinkedIn.
- A/B testing — experiment with different ad formats and see which delivers the best results.
Best For: Companies and affiliates targeting older people who earn significantly high figures.
DuckDuckGo Ads
DuckDuckGo isn’t as popular as other search engines on this list, and it’s also unpopular among advertisers. However, it’s gaining traction among people who are privacy-conscious, and that’s something most advertisers overlook.
The core principle of DuckDuckGo advertising is to connect users with relevant products without collecting their personal data. So, if your ads rely on contextual targeting instead of personal tracking, DuckDuckGo ads are worth including in your marketing strategy.
Key Highlights:
- Microsoft Ads integration — set up marketing campaigns easily through Microsoft Ads.
- Privacy-focused approach — track users based on keywords, not personal data.
- Lower competition — enjoy lower cost-per-click (CPC) and less bidding pressure.
Best For: Companies that sell products with broad appeal (like food or everyday essentials), or businesses that want to build buzz around a new product.
Best E-commerce Advertising Platforms
If you’re running an ecommerce store, you already know how fierce the competition can get. It’s not enough to just set up an online store and wait for buyers to find you. You’ve got to put these products in front of buyers, and these are the best ecommerce advertising platforms you’ll find:
Amazon Ads
Amazon has evolved into something much more than just a marketplace. It’s a search engine where up to 56% of consumers go when looking for information about a product to buy. Consumers head over to Amazon, type in what they need, compare options, and finally make a purchase. If your product shows up at the top of search results, that’s a win, and Amazon Ads help you achieve just that.
Key Highlights:
- Sponsored products — promote individual items on search listings and product pages.
- Sponsored brands — display your products with a custom headline, logo, and imagery to build brand awareness.
- Multiple ad formats — choose from a variety of ad formats (images, videos, audios, and more).
- Amazon attribution — see how third-party websites and apps contribute to your sales on Amazon.
- Out-of-home advertising — reach people outside of their homes, using billboards, in-store displays, or custom delivery boxes.
Best For: E-commerce brands selling physical products and want to tap into Amazon’s global user base for more visibility.
eBay Ads
eBay is another major player in online retail, especially when it comes to second-hand goods and collectibles. Granted, eBay is not as dominant as Amazon, considering the 34% gap in market share, but it boasts over 130,000 million active shoppers. This makes it another e-commerce platform worth looking into when running ads.
Key Highlights:
- Promoted listings standard — boost your product and only pay a fee when you make a sale.
- Promoted listings advanced — alternatively, you can bid for premium ad placements and pay whenever someone clicks on your listing.
- Promoted stores — create targeted ads that highlight a product category or coupon and drive traffic to your store.
- Off-site ads — display your ads off eBay, reaching people who aren’t currently on the platform but may be interested in your products.
Best For: Ecommerce brands selling used, rare, or antique items.
Google Shopping Ads
Google Shopping Ads are different from the regular ads that show up when someone searches for a specific keyword. Instead of serving up just a headline, a product link, and a text snippet, you’re actually displaying a digital storefront, complete with images, prices, star ratings, and more. It’s a powerful way to reach an audience that’s willing to buy from you.
Key Highlights:
- Targeted traffic — display ads to people who are already interested in your products.
- Easy setup — create and manage campaigns through Google Ads, without the need to retag your website.
- Top rankings — rank at the top of Google Search results, above organic listings and text ads.
- Ad automation — you don’t have to manually upload the products you want to promote (Google automatically collects relevant details from your product feed).
Best For: Ecommerce brands (with physical products) that want to create a strong visual appeal while leveraging Google’s high-volume search traffic.
Choosing the Best Advertising Platform
Choosing the right advertising platform can be tricky. But if you focus on some key criteria, finding the right tool becomes easier and less time-consuming. Let’s take a close look at six factors worth considering.
Buyer Intent
Are your target customers looking to buy a product? Or are they just scrolling through? When you know where your audience is in the buying journey, you can choose the right platform for your marketing campaign. For instance, Google Ads are great for high-intent searches, while social media platforms come in handy if you want to create buzz around your brand.
Budget Flexibility
Some advertising platforms (like TikTok) require you to spend at least $20 per day to see results. Others (like Google Ads, Meta apps, and Microsoft) have no minimum spend. But ad spend isn’t the only factor to consider when it comes to cost. You also need to look at the pricing model and how it fits your budget. Only choose an online advertising platform if it fits your budget and delivers the best returns on every cent you spend.
Audience Demographics
Every platform caters to a specific type of user. For instance, TikTok and Snapchat are popular among Zoomers, while LinkedIn is built for professionals. Also, you’ll find that some platforms are more popular in certain locations than in others. So, match your ad platform to your audience’s demographics, including their age range, location, job, interests, and the kind of content they consume.
Ad Review Speed
Some platforms take longer than others to review and approve an ad. For instance, Meta platforms approve ads within 24 hours, while Amazon might take up to 72 hours. If your ad needs to go live quickly, choose a platform with fast approval.
Ease of Use
Some platforms are more intuitive than others. If you choose a platform that’s easy to use, you can quickly get up to speed, set up your campaign, and start driving results. This saves you hours of watching tutorial videos and scrolling through text to understand how the platform works.
Customer Support
If you run into problems, you want a quick resolution so your campaign can run smoothly. Some platforms allow you to reach out via email or chat with a support agent, while others only provide help resources. If you’re managing your campaigns yourself and are not very familiar with how ads work, choose a platform with a support team you can always count on.
Final Thoughts on the Best Platforms for Online Advertising
Running a successful paid marketing campaign starts with choosing the best advertisement platform. Each platform has its pros and cons, so weigh your options carefully before making a choice.
But here’s the thing: no matter the ad platform you choose, you need to monitor how well your ads are doing. When it comes to ad tracking, RedTrack is your best bet. This all-in-one performance marketing software helps you track cross-channel campaigns. What’s more, it seamlessly integrates with the tools in your tech stack and delivers accurate marketing attribution across all traffic sources.
Ready to optimize your ad spend for better ROI? Try RedTrack free for 14 days.
