Our directory of media buying agencies in the US is evaluated using five core ranking criteria and reviewed by a team of 12 industry experts, backed by more than 480 verified client reviews. This methodology provides a clear, credible way to identify the right media buying partner.
Organic rankings are determined by five factors: top services, reviews, portfolio, awards/press, and team expertise. Sponsored listings pay for a placement that appears above organic positions. Sponsorship does not affect star ratings or review content - read more on our methodology page.
GreenRubino is an independent, integrated marketing, advertising, and public relations agency based in Seattle. For nearly 50 years, we have helped organizations solve complex marketing challenges and build momentum that produces measurable business results...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Creative Services
- Graphic Design
- Public Relations
- Branding
- Show more
- Location
- Seattle, Washington
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $195/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000

Outright
Award WinnerRecipient of a Best Design Award for outstanding work.Outright plans and buys media for both consumer brands and nonprofits, working at the intersection of advocacy and commercial marketing. Clients span Marriott, Adidas, McDonald's, and organizations like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Web Design
- Video Production
- Digital Marketing
- Graphic Design
- Show more
- Location
- Washington DC, Washington DC
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $190/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 15 Projects Listed
Winger Marketing is a full-service marketing and public relations agency headquartered in Chicago. Winger Marketing has worked with businesses to create effective integrated marketing and public relations programs and campaigns since 1986. We work seamlessly with internal resources or, in some instances...
Top Services:
- Public Relations
- Content Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Business Consulting
- Email Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $190/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed
Hive Digital - Marketing a Better World - is an award-winning digital marketing agency specializing in SEO, AI search optimization, Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), paid media, and digital strategy...
Top Services:
- SEO
- PPC
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Digital Strategy
- Show more
- Location
- Holly Springs, North Carolina
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $185/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Phase 3 Marketing and Communications is an integrated marketing services company providing solutions from ideation to execution. Our mission is to simplify life for marketers by delivering the most-needed marketing services in-house, under one roof...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Public Relations
- Media Buying
- Web Design
- Digital Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $185/hr
NOVUS is an independent media agency that architects growth with purpose where every media decision is intentional, measurable, and built for impact...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Media Buying
- Social Media Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Advertising
- Show more
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $185/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
TEC Direct Media is a media agency in Chicago. We plan and buy media for artists, brands and agencies so they can generate awareness, acquire new customers and drive sales...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- Video Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $180/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 12 Projects Listed
Katava Marketing is a full-service digital marketing agency helping businesses nationwide grow through strategy, branding, website design, SEO, content development, and paid media management...
Top Services:
- Web Development
- SEO
- Digital Marketing
- PPC
- Managed Services
- Show more
- Location
- Chester, New Jersey
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $180/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 1 Project Listed

Ruckus
Award WinnerRecipient of a Best Design Award for outstanding work.Ruckus is a full-service agency that powers game-changing companies and global influencers with services such as: advertising, digital marketing, branding, video editing, and many more to scale up your business...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Web Design
- Video Production
- Digital Marketing
- Advertising
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
- Portfolios Count
- 4 Projects Listed
S&G is an award-winning content marketing agency that specializes in creating branded content experiences for companies looking to differentiate themselves, become thought leaders, and connect with customers in ways that generate tangible results. With a team of content marketing experts from reputable media...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Public Relations
- Video Production
- Video Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Miami, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
At Celtic, we challenge the ordinary, disrupt expectations, and craft unforgettable marketing strategies. With over 30 years of expertise in B2B industries like agriculture, chemistry, food, manufacturing, and pet, we turn bold ideas into tangible success...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- Creative Services
- Content Marketing
- Digital Services
- Show more
- Location
- Park Ridge, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
- Portfolios Count
- 4 Projects Listed
Part creative agency. Part media agency. 100% backed by data...
Top Services:
- Design Services
- Video Production
- Branding
- Creative Services
- Digital Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Rochester, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
Power Digital is an award-winning, data-driven marketing company that is nationally recognized for its ability to combine the best of art and science. As a full-service firm, Power Digital is hyper-focused on helping brands scale using data and analytics to guide strategy. Leveraging their team of the...
Top Services:
- Digital Services
- Creative Services
- SEO
- Social Media Marketing
- Video Production
- Show more
- Location
- San Diego, California
- Number of Employees
- 250 - 499
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Elasticity demonstrates courage in our everyday interactions in partnering with the challenger brands of the world, stretching boundaries in order to break through the mass of mediocrity all to create solutions that not only solve our clients unique business challenges. We do it in a way that positions brands...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Branding
- Digital Strategy
- Business Consulting
- Advertising
- Show more
- Location
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
Award-winning, financially-driven performance marketing agency. We are the market leader in delivering financial results through marketing, media and design...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- PPC
- CRO
- Media Buying
- Email Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Welcome is a full service agency delivering brand, strategy, social media, digital, marketing, content, technology & development, data solutions - 100% in-house & under one roof. Our award winning teams craft integrated solutions that drive growth, impact & measurable success. You are Welcome...
Top Services:
- Digital Strategy
- CRM Consulting
- Branding
- Creative Services
- Web Design
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
The HOW Agency serves as the digital extension of the 5W network of agencies, representing a comprehensive digital enterprise born from the intersection of discourse and culture. Our mission is to foster brand expansion, wield conversational influence, and, ultimately, deliver measurable growth for our...
Top Services:
- Digital Services
- Digital Marketing
- Media Buying
- Social Media Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
Geletka+ is an full-service, independent, creative-first agency based in Chicago. We help brands move faster and make a bigger impact by cutting unnecessary process and building integrated teams around the work that matters most...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Creative Services
- Product Design
- Package Design
- Mobile App Development
- Show more
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
Forum Communications is a full service strategic marketing agency focused on helping clients find their voice in a crowded marketplace...
Top Services:
- Digital Strategy
- Branding
- Creative Services
- Design Services
- Logo Design
- Show more
- Location
- Gainesville, Georgia
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
The Remarkable is a boutique growth marketing agency pairing fractional CMO strategy with hands-on execution for subscription, PLG, and AI companies. One senior team runs paid media, AI performance creative, conversion optimization, and lifecycle marketing as a single compounding system - every test creates...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- SEO
- AEO
- PPC
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
Sakura Media is a Los Angeles-area AI agency for startups and small businesses. We use AI to plan, create and run advertising and lead generation that would normally take a full team, so smaller companies can compete with bigger budgets. Every campaign gets human review, and everything lives in accounts you...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Creative Services
- Video Production
- Web Development
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Redondo Beach, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
Offering Branding, Digital, And Music Marketing Services. We launch brands and make good companies better. We're a full service advertising agency. Full Service means that well do whatever it takes to get your brand where you want it to be...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Web Design
- Social Media Marketing
- Branding
- Public Relations
- Show more
- Location
- Pasadena, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $170/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
We believe thoughtfully designed customer experiences informed by well-defined brands create moments worth remembering and sharing and those extraordinary moments get, keep and grow more brand lovers for our clients. And as your marketing partner, we'll keep you informed on how those marketing dollars are...
Top Services:
- Creative Services
- Branding
- Video Production
- Advertising
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Chandler, Arizona
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $170/hr
Cohort.digital serves as the media buying arm for other ad agencies, executing paid campaigns on their behalf without replacing the agency relationship. The team also works directly with businesses, either running media planning independently or alongside an in-house marketing staff...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Digital Marketing
- Advertising
- Location
- Topeka, Kansas
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $165/hr
Many banks and credit unions think brand is about great service. The strongest ones know its about an authentic, ownable promise built from the inside out.We help financial brands build competitive advantage by aligning employer brand and market positioning (public-facing brand) to deliver ROI...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Public Relations
- Digital Marketing
- Creative Services
- Direct Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Topeka, Kansas
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $165/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 4 Projects Listed
From Maine to nationwide, marketing without limitations...
Top Services:
- SEO
- Social Media Marketing
- PPC
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Portland, Maine
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $165/hr
Bloom Ads Global Media Group is a full service media strategy, planning and buying agency. We believe in customer and EMPLOYEE first and encourage diversity in thought and creativity. We embrace our inner and outer family with 100% encouragement and foster a supportive environment within the Bloom community...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Media Buying
- Location
- Woodland, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $165/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed
Webistry drives revenue with data-driven paid media, experimentation, and CRO...
Top Services:
- Digital Services
- Web Design
- Web Development
- Creative Services
- UI/UX Design
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $165/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
A strategic and creative partner who provide smarter answers for today's marketing and business challenges...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- Public Relations
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Houston, Texas
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $160/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
We're Envisionit, a full-service digital agency. Our team combines digital marketing expertise with creative design and cutting-edge technology to drive growth and maximize your ROI. Let us help you envision your success!...
Top Services:
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Content Marketing
- Media Buying
- Creative Services
- Show more
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $155/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
We are Kinetic319, a dedicated media agency committed to helping small and mid-sized businesses thrive within their respective industries. With a focus on building fruitful partnerships and prioritizing measurable results, we propel your business forward with precision and dedication...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- eCommerce
- CRO
- Show more
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $155/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Neon Growth manages over $1 billion in media across Meta, Google, TikTok, Reddit, Snapchat, and AppLovin for Fortune 500 and high-growth consumer brands. Media planning runs alongside creative production and measurement under one team, so budget decisions and creative testing inform each other...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Digital Marketing
- eCommerce
- Social Media Marketing
- PPC
- Show more
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 10 Projects Listed

Colormatics
VerifiedVerified by the DesignRush team for authenticity and credibility.Award WinnerRecipient of a Best Design Award for outstanding work.Colormatics is a media buying agency in the US that secures placements across search, paid social, streaming TV and audio, display, native, pre-roll, YouTube, and digital out-of-home. Traditional broadcast TV, cable, radio, billboards, and print run alongside the digital mix under one media plan...
Top Services:
- Video Production
- Creative Services
- Digital Strategy
- Graphic Design
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Spokane, Washington
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 21 Projects Listed
YB Marketing builds Google Ads and paid social campaigns specifically for businesses competing in the Denver and Chicago markets. Community engagement and monitoring run alongside paid campaigns to keep organic and paid efforts working together...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Branding
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Yakima, Washington
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
We're ThinkRaven, a marketing and creative agency. We strategize, make videos, and run ads for consumer brands, at every stage of the buyer's journey, globally and at scale...
Top Services:
- Video Production
- Creative Services
- Video Marketing
- Design Services
- Web Design
- Show more
- Location
- Austin, Texas
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 4 Projects Listed

Amelie Company
VerifiedVerified by the DesignRush team for authenticity and credibility.Creative advertising agency in Denver, CO. We work with brands and initiatives to make a positive impact in Denver, in Colorado and beyond...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Creative Services
- Social Media Marketing
- Media Buying
- Public Relations
- Show more
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed

Mamon11 Agency
VerifiedVerified by the DesignRush team for authenticity and credibility.Mamon11 develops custom enriched-data products and solutions. Products have been focused on Mark-tech, IoT and Retail Site Selection or Store Closings. We deploy software to collect, standardize, mine, optimize, and sync algorithmic solutions to a wide array of source, legacy and end points...
Top Services:
- Big Data Analytics
- AI Development
- Software Development
- IoT
- CRO
- Show more
- Location
- Miami, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
Mindgruve is a San Diego headquartered, full-service digital marketing, commerce, and data-technology agency founded in 2001. With more than 400 strategists, creatives, media planners, data scientists, and engineers across multiple U.S., Latin America, and European offices, the agency delivers integrated...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Digital Marketing
- Branding
- Market Research
- eCommerce Development
- Show more
- Location
- San Diego, California
- Number of Employees
- 50 - 99
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
We're an Inbound Marketing Agency focused on Lead Generation...
Top Services:
- SEO
- Web Development
- Social Media Marketing
- Digital Marketing
- Web Design
- Show more
- Location
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
We Are Starke is a boutique growth marketing and media agency based in Pasadena, California. Founded by brothers Adam and Richard Benjamin in 2014, the agency offers full-funnel digital marketing servicesincluding website design, PPC, paid social, media buying, influencer and podcast advertising, and...
Top Services:
- SEO
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Pasadena, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Tinuiti is the largest independent fullfunnel performance marketing agency in the U.S., managing over $4billion in media spend across search, social, commerce, TV/audio, and affiliate channels. With 1,200+ employees and locations across North America, the agency blends media expertise, data science, and...
Top Services:
- Media Buying
- Digital Marketing
- eCommerce
- Video Marketing
- PPC
- Show more
- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- 1000 & Up
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
CreativeMINT is a boutique, full-service branding agency founded in 2003 and based in the San Francisco Bay Area. With a team of 1150 multidisciplinary professionals, the firm collaborates closely with clients to deliver strategic brand development, naming, identity design, and digital marketing solutions for...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Digital Marketing
- Video Production
- Advertising
- SEO
- Show more
- Location
- Walnut Creek, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 6 Projects Listed
CMDS is a B2B marketing agency in Colts Neck, NJ, helping companies turn complex offerings into clear reasons to buy. Since 2002, our in-house team has built brands, websites and campaigns that attract qualified buyers and support growth...
Top Services:
- Web Design
- Web Development
- Branding
- Creative Services
- Digital Services
- Show more
- Location
- Colts Neck, New Jersey
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
We are a team of spirited and talented individuals who collectively bring over 50 years of experience in advertising, marketing, and media buying. We distinguish between good and great, and it shows in everything we do. We have an unwavering focus on driving real results for our clients. Through powerful...
Top Services:
- Social Media Marketing
- PPC
- Advertising
- SEO
- Digital Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
Noisy Trumpet was established in 2017 as a boutique digital marketing and PR agency with a clear goal: to achieve outstanding results for its clients...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Advertising
- Social Media Marketing
- SEO
- Content Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- San Antonio, Texas
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 10 Projects Listed
We have been in the business of growing our clients’ brands since 1998. As a full-service communications agency, Fraser Communications creates award-winning, integrated advertising and public relations campaigns for our clients...
Top Services:
- Digital Marketing
- Social Media Marketing
- Advertising
- Content Marketing
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Los Angeles, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
Where traditional media buying firms stop at the transaction, we go further, using our deep knowledge of how different advertising platforms perform to guide campaign creative development...
Top Services:
- PPC
- Content Marketing
- SEO
- Media Buying
- Show more
- Location
- Portsmouth, New Hampshire
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Heron is an award-winning entertainment marketing and lifestyle communications agency. Our comprehensive results-driven campaigns are ROI-proven and help garner attention that leads to real bottom line results.Our robust local, national and international campaigns include not only Public Relations and...
Top Services:
- SEO
- Media Buying
- Digital Marketing
- Advertising
- Content Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
The Felice Agency is a full-service branding and marketing company in Phoenix and San Diego known for Madison Avenue quality regardless of your budget...
Top Services:
- Branding
- Digital Marketing
- Video Production
- Web Development
- Public Relations
- Show more
- Location
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 6 Projects Listed
Booyah Advertising, situated in Denver, CO, stands as a digital marketing agency that forms collaborative partnerships with businesses embracing digital avenues to propel their progress. Our core competency lies in the realm of media buying, where we meticulously navigate the digital landscape to amplify your...
Top Services:
- Advertising
- Digital Marketing
- SEO
- Content Marketing
- Email Marketing
- Show more
- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
Media Buying Agencies by City
Media Buying Agencies by State
Why companies trust DesignRush
Every agency is independently vetted before it can be listed or ranked
Some agencies pay for sponsored placement, clearly labeled and held to the same vetting standards.
Media Buying Agency FAQs
What services do media buying agencies in the United States provide?
These types of agencies help brands with:
- Performance-focused digital campaigns: High-demand campaigns across Meta, TikTok, YouTube, Search, and CTV, prioritizing short-form video and measurable, creative-led performance.
- Full-funnel paid media tied to creative-led campaigns: Roughly 60% to 70% of clients bundle creative and media for faster cycles, fewer handoffs, and performance-built creative.
- Programmatic and CTV packages: Growing rapidly, with challenger brands investing $15K to $150K per month for scalable reach, automated targeting, and measurable lift.
- Paid social advertising: Cross-platform campaigns delivering 1% to 2% average conversion rates, with top performers exceeding 3% on Meta and TikTok.
- Audience & competitive analysis: Audience research and competitor benchmarking to guide budget allocation and identify the highest-ROI channels.
- Analytics & performance reporting: Real-time KPI tracking, A/B testing, and optimization across impressions, CPM, CTR, conversions, ROAS, and attribution paths.
How much do media buying services in the US cost?
Most media buying agencies charge between $100 and $150 per hour. They rely on a mix of retainers, spend-based fees, and setup costs, depending on scope and complexity.
These numbers are based on industry research and expert insights from Colormatics:
| Fee Type | Typical Cost Range | Notes |
| Monthly retainer | $1,500 to $10,000 | Based on complexity and channel mix |
| % of media spend | 10% to 20% | Scales with spend and performance scope |
| One-time setup fee | $1,500 to $3,000 | Tracking, pixels, dashboards, QA |
| Hourly rate | $100 to $150+ | Specialized strategy or audits |
Beyond agency fees, overall campaign budgets vary significantly based on scale, channels, and timelines. The table below outlines common budget ranges for different types of media buying engagements.
| Campaign Type | Budget Range | Typical Scope |
| Pilot campaigns | ~$25,000 | 1 to 2 platforms, short run |
| Integrated campaigns | $50,000 to $300,000 | Multi-channel, performance tracking |
| Large/national campaigns | Up to $500,000 | 12 to 24 weeks, heavy media mix |
When can clients expect ROI from paid media campaigns?
ROI timelines vary by channel based on learning cycles, inventory dynamics, and optimization requirements. This table outlines when early performance signals usually appear and when results tend to stabilize.
| Channel | Early Signals | Stable Performance |
| Paid social | 7 to 21 days | 30 to 45 days |
| Google Search | 3 to 10 days (with volume) | 8 to 12 weeks |
| YouTube | 5 to 10 days | 3 to 4 weeks |
| CTV/Programmatic | 4 to 8 weeks | 10 to 12 weeks |
What are the typical timelines for media buying projects from planning to launch?
Project timelines depend on campaign scale, creative complexity, and channel mix. These are typical expectations from strategy and setup through launch and ongoing optimization.
| Campaign Size | Planning & Setup | Build & QA | Optimization Cadence | Total Timeline |
| Small-scale | 1 to 2 weeks | 3 to 5 days | Weekly | 4 to 8 weeks |
| Mid-size | 2 to 3 weeks | 1 week | 2-3× weekly | 8 to 12 weeks |
| Large/Multi-channel | 3 to 5 weeks | 1 to 2 weeks | Daily | 12 weeks to 6 months |
What KPIs should your business track when working with these agencies?
When working with a media buying agency in the US, KPIs should be selected to reflect both media efficiency and business impact, ensuring performance is measured beyond surface-level engagement.
Key KPIs to monitor include:
- Impressions, reach, frequency, and CPM to assess delivery efficiency and audience exposure
- Click-through rate (CTR), cost per click (CPC), engagement rate, and video completion rate to evaluate creative and audience relevance
- Conversion rate, cost per acquisition (CPA), return on ad spend (ROAS), and customer acquisition cost (CAC) to measure profitability and scalability
- Attribution coverage, assisted conversions, and incrementality to understand paid media’s true contribution across channels
- Budget pacing, spend utilization, and testing velocity to gauge operational discipline and optimization effectiveness












































