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.
Discover the Best Media Buying Agencies Across the United States
530 Companies - Rankings updated: March 31, 2026
DesignRush vets each media buying agency based on professional qualifications and verified customer feedback to help you choose confidently. Some positions may be sponsored.
United States ×
It's one thing to measure impressions. It's another to make one.
We believe that captivating audiences comes before converting them. We aren't satisfied with impressions and views alone. We believe that the audience must be interested in what happens next. That their participation is what makes the content an experience. [... view Long Story Short Digital, LLC profile ]- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Award-winning, financially-driven performance marketing agency.
Award-winning, financially-driven performance marketing agency. We are the market leader in delivering financial results through marketing, media and design. [... view Markacy profile ]- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Getting Your Story to the Right Audience
D S Simon Media helps clients get their stories on television, through satellite media tours and by producing and distributing video content to the media. We also produce virtual events for fundraising, panel discussions and awards programs. Established in 1986, we have won more than 100 industry awards. Top [... view D S Simon Media profile ]- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Guaranteed National + Regional TV Coverage & Editorial + Results-Driven PR
Whether seeking media coverage for a B2C or B2B product, service, destination, brand or company -- or thought leadership PR for a subject matter expert or business executive -- our agency proffers highly affordable, GUARANTEED editorial and TV coverage on shows that range from nationals on leading networks [... view The Luxe List profile ]- Location
- Coral Springs, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $50/hr
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
Build a lasting brand thats authentically you
We work with prominent individuals and public figures to embrace what sets them apart so that they are ready to gain massive exposure & opportunities in media & entertainment. [... view Soul Evolution Media profile ]- Location
- Superior, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
We Help Our Clients Scale their B2B Marketing
True to our name The B2B Marketing Company, our exclusive focus is on B2B marketing. Our extensive portfolio includes collaborations with industry-leading B2B brands such as Adobe, Microsoft, Penske, John Deere, and many others. What sets us apart from conventional agencies is our distinctive approach we [... view The B2B Marketing Company profile ]- Location
- New York City, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 1 Project Listed
Growth one click at a time.
Webistry drives revenue with data-driven paid media, experimentation, and CRO. [... view Webistry profile ]- 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
Harness the Power of Data and Fuel your Digital Marketing Success
Attention Media leverages data as the cornerstone for achieving exceptional accuracy, engagement, and efficiency in advertising. Through advanced data-driven tools, in-depth analysis, and tailored management, we create campaigns that connect your business directly with your target audience, delivering [... view Attention Media profile ]- Location
- Santa Monica, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed
Maximizing Revenue, One Data-Driven Campaign at a Time.
We Speak Tourist®. We are a full-service marketing agency working exclusively with growth-oriented tour, attraction, adventure and leisure clients to attract more guests and increase ticket revenue. [... view BlackDog Advertising profile ]- Location
- Miami, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
Your Go to Agency for Media Buying
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 [... view Booyah profile ]- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Portfolios Count
- 3 Projects Listed
Marketing for the world we live in, not the world we grew up in.
Dianne Davis Consulting provides digital and traditional media services, content creation and curation, video production, graphic design, website development and hosting, search engine optimization, social media management services and promotional items for small to medium-sized businesses. The business was [... view Dianne Davis profile ]- Location
- Nixa, Missouri
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $125/hr
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
Strategy. Advertising. Marketing.
Octagon Media is a fast-growing advertising agency and marketing firm based in Louisiana that handles a variety of accounts across the nation. We believe in a six-step process that begins with conducting in-depth research and ends with a quantitative analysis to show impactful results. Our firm is a [... view Octagon Media profile ]- Location
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $125/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
#1 Video Production & Social Media Marketing Agency
Creating content for your brand is hard work. We make the video creation process super simple bringing hyper-engaging, eyeball-hungry, premium video content that drives revenue to your doorstep. Turn on a waterfall of new customers for your business with the best branded video content on the planet. [... view INDIRAP profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $250/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
- Portfolios Count
- 1 Project Listed
Pay - For - Performance Ecommerce Marketing
Amplitude Digital is a Los Angelesbased, awardwinning digital marketing agency founded in 2004. The boutique team of approximately 3049 specialists delivers high-growth strategies in PPC, SEO, social media, and web design for e-commerce and fast-growing brands. A Google Premier Partner with multiple Tech [... view Amplitude Digital Inc. profile ]- Location
- Burbank, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $100/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Our Search, Your Engagement
We are a performance-based marketing agency generating leads through innovative traffic strategies and automation. [... view Searchgage Media profile ]- Location
- Sheridan, Wyoming
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $100/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Your Mission, Our Tech: Let's Create Change Together
Magnitude of Change amplifies the messages of changemakers like governments and their adjacent agencies, nonprofits, and purpose-driven brands. We infuse behavior change tactics into programmatic campaigns, allowing us to reach community members at key moments for max reach and ultimately, impact. [... view Magnitude Of Change profile ]- Location
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $45/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
Marketing Leads To Results
Real FiG Advertising + Marketing is an award-winning marketing agency with two offices in Chicago, IL and Denver, CO. As your one-stop shop for all of your marketing needs, we specialize in a wide variety of digital and traditional forms of marketing including website design, search engine optimization, brand [... view Real FiG Advertising + Marketing profile ]- Location
- Denver, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
We're a full-service, independent creative design and advertising agency
iquified Agency is an independent full-service advertising and creative agency headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, with a second office in Sarasota, Florida. The agency offers a broad range of services including branding, marketing, public relations, web development and integrated campaigns, working with [... view Liquified Agency profile ]- Location
- Annapolis, Maryland
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
Broad Vision, Bold Results
Skyline Digital Marketing is an Anderson, SC based agency with 12 industry certifications and a proven track record of delivering solid ROI for our clients. [... view Skyline Digital Marketing profile ]- Location
- Anderson, South Carolina
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
Marketing A Better World
Hive Digital - Marketing a Better World - provides industry leading innovation and digital marketing expertise for companies dedicated to creating a better world. Hive Digital, Inc. is a for-profit Benefit Corporation hyper focused on assisting those people and companies that are dedicated to helping solve [... view Hive Digital, Inc. profile ]- Location
- Holly Springs, North Carolina
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $250/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Marketing that works like magic!
Our team involves marketing and media professionals steeped in branding, packaging, online marketing, media, and business consulting. [... view Magic Marketing Agency profile ]- Location
- Las Vegas, Nevada
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $125/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
We help companies drive revenue.
Illumination Marketing is an award-winning full-service media and marketing company that has helped to drive over $200 million in revenue since 2017. Illumination Marketing specializes in Search Engine Optimization, Pay-Per-Click Marketing, Videography, Website Development, and more! [... view Illumination Marketing profile ]- Location
- Houston, Texas
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $250/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Scientifically Creative. Purposefully Human.
Part creative agency. Part media agency. 100% backed by data. [... view Helen & Gertrude profile ]- Location
- Rochester, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
Transparent, results-focused digital marketing.
Transparent, results-focused digital marketing. Full-service digital advertising agency based in Boston. We believe in making digital marketing accessible. We explain the what and why behind our strategies, keeping clients informed and empowered, ensuring they understand how their investment is working for [... view GoodYou Marketing profile ]- Location
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Empowering Business Growth
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 [... view Power Digital profile ]- Location
- San Diego, California
- Number of Employees
- 250 - 499
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
We are passionate about winning at all stages and objectives.
We create the right strategy with the right marketing mix for the right partners. [... view Myers Marketing Management profile ]- Location
- Tulsa, Oklahoma
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
Insightful Solutions For Remarkable Outcomes
EXL Media guarantees to provide you with a tailored strategy focusing on meeting your needs and delivering tangible results. Our approach is open, collaborative, unified to ensure maximum effectiveness in all aspects of our work together. [... view EXL Media profile ]- Location
- Incline Village, Nevada
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $149/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
Get Ready for Benchmark-Shattering Results
At Marketing Doctor, we are transforming the media planning and buying landscape one client at a time. Our unique strategy of converging traditional and digital platforms is ahead of its time--we create unparalleled synergy across channels while ensuring maximum value for our clients' marketing budgets. We're [... view Marketing Doctor profile ]- Location
- Northampton, Massachusetts
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
Digital and marketing agency of Boston
CommCreative is a marketing agency with a strategic mindset and creative energy that is deeply rooted in digital. We are passionate about crafting stories that truly express the core of our clients and connect with their target audiences. Whether it is B2B or B2C, we believe in stirring up emotions to inspire [... view CommCreative profile ]- Location
- Framingham, Massachusetts
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $199/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $50,000 & Up
Reimagining What Marketing Can Do
PRISM Marketing Communications is a comprehensive creative agency that provides a wide range of strategic services, including advertising, digital marketing, branding and public relations. [... view PRISM Marketing profile ]- Location
- Columbus, Ohio
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $149/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Clarity That Moves.
A full-service marketing agency blending strategy, creativity, and technology to build bold brands, powerful campaigns, and measurable growth for mission-driven organizations. [... view Stirling Brandworks profile ]- Location
- Winchester, Massachusetts
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $199/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
True Strategy Real Growth.
Strativera is a business growth consulting firm helping companies align strategy, operations, and execution to achieve measurable results. We partner with B2B and B2C brands, private equity-backed teams, and growth-stage businesses to deliver scalable revenue systems, optimize operations, and strengthen [... view Strativera profile ]- Location
- Cherry Hill, New Jersey
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $200/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Fast. Flexible. Focused.
We are experienced problem solvers and engaging storytellers, adept at translating business goals into clear marketing objectives and communication strategies that are executed with smart, creative solutions. [... view ClearRiver profile ]- Location
- Midland, Michigan
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Make Art That Doesn't Waste Time
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. [... view Geletka+ profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $175/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $25,000 - $50,000
Marketing More Affordable Than You May Think Possible
Our marketing approach is to identify exact opportunities for getting your business more customers, sales, and revenue. We want to give your products and services the right messaging, design, and media channels at the most efficient price possible. [... view Boston Marketing Co. profile ]- Location
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $50/hr
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
Connecting Brands and Technology.
FINE is a digital agency that helps brands connect with customers through various platforms by offering services in strategy, design, and technology. Their expertise has helped industries such as wine and spirits, hospitality, consumer technology, banking, and finance stand out in a crowded market. [... view FINE profile ]- Location
- Portland, Oregon
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $199/hr
We're Not Big Guys, Just Big Thinkers.
We've never been seduced by a short cut or known a summary we could trust. We study your world until we believe it. There's a reason our branding stays relevant. It isn't luck and its more than talent. [... view Studio Six Branding profile ]- Location
- Longmont, Colorado
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Portfolios Count
- 2 Projects Listed
Ready To Make an Impact Online
Milestone Inc specializes in transforming digital experiences and boosting content visibility - so businesses across industries can acquire more customers and drive engagement and revenue. We take a proven omnichannel approach to get you the best results possible! [... view Milestone Inc profile ]- Location
- San Jose, California
- Number of Employees
- 500 - 999
- Average Hourly Rate
- $199/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
A New Way of Thinking
Let's make your brand stand out! Cooperate Marketing is the perfect partner to help you do just that. We bring unique solutions tailored to exceed all of your expectations - a far cry from generic advertising agencies and stock platforms. With our expertise in through-channel marketing, such as cooperative [... view Cooperate Marketing profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $149/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
Fostering a culture of achievement
With a decade of experience, Level Agency has become an engine for growth-minded brands. We partner with clients to create powerful performance marketing campaigns that maximize their ROI and reach the right consumers at the perfect time. [... view Level Agency profile ]- Location
- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
Engineered Marketing for Your Needs!
Since our establishment in 2013, we have delivered more than 300 successful projects, harnessing the expertise of our team with over 50 years of collective software development experience. [... view Bitmotive, Inc. profile ]- Location
- Tampa, Florida
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $149/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Right Message. Right Place. Real Results.
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 [... view Heron Agency profile ]- Location
- Chicago, Illinois
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $150/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
Grow Your Brand With The Best In Integrated Marketing
Omni-channel marketing partner helping brands build sustainable, long-term success. With over 20 years' experience, our exceptional branding, advertising, digital marketing, reputation management and other services have helped clients thrive in competitive industries. [... view MediaScape Advertising profile ]- Location
- San Diego, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
A Result-Oriented Advertising Firm
Through data-driven marketing strategies, we collaborate with you to achieve your business objectives. Let us assist you in interpreting and directing the information your data provides about your customers and sales. [... view Db&m Media profile ]- Location
- Brea, California
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- $1,000 - $10,000
We are storytellers
South City PR is a nationwide public relations agency established in Charleston, South Carolina. Since its founding in 2013, South City PR has provided experience in public relations for the food, hospitality, cookbook, lifestyle, and boutique hotel industries. We are experts in PR, marketing, branding, and [... view The Murray Road Agency profile ]- Location
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
Engaging in media buying with expertise
We are a team of seasoned marketing strategists, driven by a distinctive skill set that encompasses key areas such as public relations, media communications, content creation, media buying, and social/digital marketing. Our specialized focus lies in the realm of outdoor branding, where we excel at [... view King Eider Communications profile ]- Location
- Little Rock, Arkansas
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
A boutique agency experience any budget can afford
Brassic stands as a boutique digital marketing agency, distinguishing itself by its ability to deliver results for clients and partners across various budgetary considerations. We invite you to communicate your needs, and we will devise strategies to enhance the prosperity of your business. [... view Brassic Media profile ]- Location
- Manchester, Michigan
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $130/hr
Make Your Next Project Hassle-Free. On Time. On Budget. Absolutely.
We specialize in TV & streaming commercials, corporate, promotional and music videos. Serving the NY tri-state area and Hudson Valley region. [... view Absolute Motion Video profile ]- Location
- Mahopac, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Minimal Budget
- Under $1,000
- Digilant is a full-service digital media agency built for the modern marketing era. [... view Digilant profile ]
- Location
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Number of Employees
- 100 - 249
- Average Hourly Rate
- $100/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
We Make Marketing Human.
Robineau Media is a women- and Black-owned full-service digital marketing agency headquartered in Syracuse, New York, with additional presence in New York City. As a HubSpot Solutions Partner, the agency combines strategy, ad tech and data-driven insights to deliver personalized, omni-channel marketing [... view Robineau Media profile ]- Location
- Syracuse, New York
- Number of Employees
- Under 49
- Average Hourly Rate
- $250/hr
- Minimal Budget
- $10,000 - $25,000
Hiring Guide: How to Choose a Leading Media Buying Agencies in the US
What should I look for in a company’s track record or case studies?
As programmatically sold advertising is projected to reach over $400 billion in the US by 2026, evaluating a company’s track record requires a sharper focus on scale, sophistication, and measurable impact.
Case studies should go beyond isolated wins and demonstrate repeatable performance across channels, budgets, and market conditions.
- Quantified results such as ROAS, CPA reduction, revenue lift, or pipeline impact, with specific numbers
- Channel and media mix clarity, including how platforms were selected and sequenced
- Creative and testing strategy, showing how messaging, formats, or audiences were iterated to improve performance
- Scalability evidence, proving results held or improved as spend increased
- Attribution and measurement approach, explaining how success was tracked and validated
- Industry or use-case relevance, especially experience with similar budgets, markets, or buying models
Can a media buying agency manage both creative and media, or do I need additional vendors?
With 50% of connected TV advertising budgets expected to be transacted programmatically in 2025, the line between creative and media execution continues to blur, especially as campaigns increasingly combine CTV, digital, and traditional channels.
Traditional media continues to play a major role in large-scale reach, with more than 125 million TV households in the US and radio reaching 85.6% of American men over 55 each week. As a result, creative alignment becomes especially critical when managing campaigns that span linear TV, CTV, and digital platforms.
Many full-service media buying agencies now manage both creative and media to support this convergence, handling everything from ad development to placement, optimization, and performance measurement.
Others specialize strictly in media execution, requiring brands to bring creative in-house or work with additional vendors. The right model depends on how integrated and fast-moving the campaign needs to be, but as programmatic CTV scales, tighter creative-media coordination is increasingly a competitive advantage.
How do you choose the best agency in the United States for your goals?
1. Define your objectives
Clarify the business outcomes you want from paid media campaigns. Identify target audiences, key channels, budget ranges, timelines, and any internal constraints or dependencies.
2. Shortlist candidates
Identify 3 to 5 agencies with proven experience in your industry and media channels that match your objectives. Review case studies, client rosters, campaign outcomes, and awards to assess past performance.
3. Assess reputation and client feedback
Check independent review platforms, client testimonials, and references to evaluate reliability, service quality, and the ability to meet deadlines, KPIs, and budget commitments. Look for evidence of transparent media reporting and optimization practices.
4. Send a request for proposal (RFP)
Provide a detailed brief including campaign goals, target audiences, deliverables, reporting expectations, and timelines. A clear RFP ensures you receive comparable, actionable proposals from shortlisted agencies.
5. Conduct discovery and capability sessions
Meet with the shortlisted agencies to discuss their media buying approach, targeting strategies, creative-testing processes, programmatic or CTV capabilities, attribution frameworks, and collaboration model. This helps gauge their strategic fit and operational expertise.
6. Select an agency partner
Choose the agency that demonstrates strong strategic alignment, relevant experience, contemporary practices, and the ability to optimize campaigns as your business and market evolve. Ensure they can provide both performance-driven insights and transparent reporting.
If you need help finding a US media buying agency for your brand, visit our Marketplace and send us your project scope. We’ll match you with five providers that best match your criteria for free.
How can you find the best agency on DesignRush that fits your budget and campaign scope?
We’ve curated a list of top media buying agencies on DesignRush across multiple price points, making it easier to find a partner that fits your budget.
| High budget: $50,000+ |
|
| Low budget: $25,000-$50,000 |
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Beyond cost, our agency directory lets you filter by location, industry, client type, verified reviews, team size, and hourly rates, so you can quickly narrow down the agencies best aligned with your needs.
What questions should you ask before hiring a media buying agency in the United States?
Before hiring a company, we recommend asking the following questions to assess expertise, transparency, and campaign fit:
Relevant Background
- What are the most successful media buying campaigns you’ve executed recently? Can you walk us through the brief, targeting strategy, and results?
- Which media channels are your strongest competencies? Is it Meta, TikTok, Google, YouTube, CTV, or programmatic?
- In which industries do you have the deepest experience (e.g., DTC, fintech, sports tech, B2B)
- How do you stay informed about shifting CPMs, algorithm changes, and attribution trends?
Services and Processes
- What is your process for media planning and budget allocation across channels?
- What tools and platforms power your buying (DSPs, attribution tools, analytics dashboards)?
- What does reporting look like: frequency, depth, KPIs, and transparency of media costs?
- How do you handle programmatic fees, platform markups, and pass-through costs?
Related to Your Project
- Based on our goals, what risks or constraints should we be aware of (budget levels, creative volume, data quality, timeline)?
- How many team members will work on our account, and what is their experience with similar media budgets?
- How will you measure and attribute ROI, especially across cross-channel or CTV campaigns?
- What level of involvement is required from our internal team during the engagement?
Why People Trust DesignRush
Rated 4.8 on Google and 4.7 on Trustpilot, DesignRush Agency Directory is a reliable resource for finding media buying agencies in US. We owe this to our executive selection team, which follows a strict screening process when featuring agencies on the platform, assessing key performance indicators, like portfolio, client reviews, and industry reputation.
Learn more about DesignRush Agency Ranking Methodology.
Sources
DesignRush sustains a directory of over 40,000 agencies categorized by service category, location, expertise, and reviews. We build our database in two ways:
- Our dedicated team of agency experts actively searches the web for top-performing companies. We then pull information from their websites, online presence, and client testimonials to verify their status and qualifications prior to listing.
- The agencies listed get notified of their profiles on the website and they can choose to claim it or not, which suggests their availability for more collaborations.
Agencies can also reach out to DesignRush and must go through the verification process prior to being listed.
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
About The Author and Expert Reviewer
Jelena Relić has hundreds of top-ranking articles and a lifestyle & culture magazine she calls The MAN. She gained valuable content and SEO experience working at Digital Circle and Neil Sahota, which she now uses to deliver top-quality B2B content at DesignRush, particularly in the creative industry.
Mariana Delgado is the Head of Marketing at DesignRush, with more than ten years of experience across digital marketing, sales management, search, and video advertising. Since joining DesignRush, she has delivered 3× site-traffic growth and 2× growth in monthly revenue by building scalable, performance-led programs that connect acquisition, content, and brand across channels. Her campaigns have achieved a 5:1 ROAS.
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