Demand side platforms (DSP) enable advertisers to buy digital ad placements in real time through automated, impression-level bidding. They allow advertisers to reach and engage target audiences across websites, mobile apps, streaming services, and other digital environments.
DSPs function as centralized hubs for programmatic advertising, used by in-house marketing teams, agencies, and trading desks to plan, run, and optimize campaigns. They support media buying across display, mobile (web and in-app), video, connected TV (CTV), audio, native, and social channels while offering targeting, budgeting, pacing, creative optimization, and performance analytics features.
To access inventory, DSPs integrate with ad exchanges or supply side platforms (SSP) and may also participate in private marketplaces (PMP) for preferred deals. By providing transparency into impressions, clicks, conversions, and return on ad spend (ROAS), DSPs help advertisers optimize performance, allocate budgets more effectively, and maximize ROI.
A key differentiator among DSPs is media ownership. Some platforms own or are affiliated with media companies and sell their own inventory, while others operate independently as neutral buying tools. This distinction allows advertisers to evaluate whether a DSP maintains independence from supply sources or acts as a seller of media.
To qualify for inclusion in the Demand Side Platforms (DSP) category, a product must:
Enable real-time ad buying through integration with ad exchanges or SSPs
Support impression-level bidding in real-time digital ad auctions
Facilitate media buying across multiple digital advertising channels
Offer reporting and analytics that provide visibility into programmatic campaign performance, including impressions, clicks, conversions, and return on ad spend (ROAS)
