---
title: "Digital ad buying platforms: Which brands are most popular in search?"
description: "Compare platforms for planning, buying, and optimizing programmatic digital advertising. Share of Search among The Trade Desk, StackAdapt, AdRoll, Quantcast and Basis Technologies, the digital ad buying platforms Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time."
canonical: "https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/digital-ad-buying-platforms"
publisher: "Brandwave"
---

# Digital ad buying platforms: Which brands are most popular in search?

Compare platforms for planning, buying, and optimizing programmatic digital advertising. Share of Search among The Trade Desk, StackAdapt, AdRoll, Quantcast and Basis Technologies, the digital ad buying platforms Brandwave compares worldwide, using the same methodology, market, and reporting period. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.

## Key facts

- **Competitive set**: Digital ad buying platforms
- **Market**: Global
- **Brands compared**: 5
- **Month measured**: Aug 2026
- **Highest Share of Search**: The Trade Desk, 63.4%

## Which brand is most popular in search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide?

- In August 2026, The Trade Desk was the most searched among digital ad buying platforms worldwide, with an estimated 62K branded searches and 63.4% estimated Share of Search within this set.
- StackAdapt is in 2nd place, 40.3 percentage points behind at 23.1% Share of Search.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, The Trade Desk’s estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide increased from 56.8% to 63.4%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, StackAdapt’s estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide increased from 21% to 23.1%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, AdRoll’s estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide decreased from 9.5% to 5.9%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Quantcast’s estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide decreased from 7.6% to 5.6%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Basis Technologies’ estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide decreased from 5.1% to 2%.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, The Trade Desk’s estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide peaked at 65.2% in March 2026 and was lowest at 56.8% in October 2025.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, StackAdapt’s estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide peaked at 25.2% in May 2026 and was lowest at 18.9% in February 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, AdRoll’s estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide peaked at 9.7% in November 2025 and was lowest at 5.9% in August 2026.
- Across the 11 months ending August 2026, Quantcast’s estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide peaked at 7.7% in November 2025 and was lowest at 5.6% in August 2026.

## Compare search popularity between leading brands

- [The Trade Desk vs StackAdapt: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/stackadapt-vs-the-trade-desk): 63.4% against 23.1% Share of Search.
- [The Trade Desk vs AdRoll: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adroll-vs-the-trade-desk): 63.4% against 5.9% Share of Search.
- [The Trade Desk vs Quantcast: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/quantcast-vs-the-trade-desk): 63.4% against 5.6% Share of Search.
- [The Trade Desk vs Basis Technologies: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/basis-technologies-vs-the-trade-desk): 63.4% against 2% Share of Search.
- [StackAdapt vs AdRoll: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adroll-vs-stackadapt): 23.1% against 5.9% Share of Search.
- [StackAdapt vs Quantcast: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/quantcast-vs-stackadapt): 23.1% against 5.6% Share of Search.
- [StackAdapt vs Basis Technologies: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/basis-technologies-vs-stackadapt): 23.1% against 2% Share of Search.
- [AdRoll vs Quantcast: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adroll-vs-quantcast): 5.9% against 5.6% Share of Search.
- [AdRoll vs Basis Technologies: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/adroll-vs-basis-technologies): 5.9% against 2% Share of Search.
- [Quantcast vs Basis Technologies: compare search popularity](/demand/global-en/compare/basis-technologies-vs-quantcast): 5.6% against 2% Share of Search.

## How did search popularity change for digital ad buying platforms worldwide in August 2026?

- In August 2026, The Trade Desk gained estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide, from 58% to 63.4%.
- In August 2026, AdRoll lost estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide, from 7.7% to 5.9%.
- In August 2026, Quantcast lost estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide, from 7.3% to 5.6%.
- In August 2026, StackAdapt lost estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide, from 24.5% to 23.1%.
- In August 2026, Basis Technologies lost estimated Share of Search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide, from 2.6% to 2%.

## Share of Search ranking

| Rank | Brand | Share of Search | Estimated monthly branded searches | Change vs prior month | Owned by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | The Trade Desk | 63.4% | 62K | +41.4% | The Trade Desk |
| 2 | StackAdapt | 23.1% | 22.6K | +22.2% | StackAdapt |
| 3 | AdRoll | 5.9% | 5.8K | -0.9% | AdRoll |
| 4 | Quantcast | 5.6% | 5.5K | -0.7% | Quantcast |
| 5 | Basis Technologies | 2% | 2K | +1.0% | Basis Technologies |

## Historical estimated branded-search demand

| Month | Brand | Estimated monthly branded searches | Share of Search | Rank |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Oct 2025 | The Trade Desk | 61.3K | 56.8% | 1 |
| Oct 2025 | StackAdapt | 22.6K | 21% | 2 |
| Oct 2025 | AdRoll | 10.3K | 9.5% | 3 |
| Oct 2025 | Quantcast | 8.2K | 7.6% | 4 |
| Oct 2025 | Basis Technologies | 5.5K | 5.1% | 5 |
| Nov 2025 | The Trade Desk | 50.1K | 57.8% | 1 |
| Nov 2025 | StackAdapt | 18.5K | 21.3% | 2 |
| Nov 2025 | AdRoll | 8.4K | 9.7% | 3 |
| Nov 2025 | Quantcast | 6.7K | 7.7% | 4 |
| Nov 2025 | Basis Technologies | 3K | 3.4% | 5 |
| Dec 2025 | The Trade Desk | 41.4K | 58% | 1 |
| Dec 2025 | StackAdapt | 15.2K | 21.3% | 2 |
| Dec 2025 | AdRoll | 6.8K | 9.6% | 3 |
| Dec 2025 | Quantcast | 5.5K | 7.7% | 4 |
| Dec 2025 | Basis Technologies | 2.5K | 3.5% | 5 |
| Jan 2026 | The Trade Desk | 61.5K | 60.4% | 1 |
| Jan 2026 | StackAdapt | 22.7K | 22.3% | 2 |
| Jan 2026 | AdRoll | 8.4K | 8.2% | 3 |
| Jan 2026 | Quantcast | 6.7K | 6.6% | 4 |
| Jan 2026 | Basis Technologies | 2.5K | 2.4% | 5 |
| Feb 2026 | The Trade Desk | 61.8K | 62.9% | 1 |
| Feb 2026 | StackAdapt | 18.6K | 18.9% | 2 |
| Feb 2026 | AdRoll | 8.6K | 8.7% | 3 |
| Feb 2026 | Quantcast | 6.7K | 6.8% | 4 |
| Feb 2026 | Basis Technologies | 2.5K | 2.5% | 5 |
| Mar 2026 | The Trade Desk | 75.8K | 65.2% | 1 |
| Mar 2026 | StackAdapt | 22.7K | 19.5% | 2 |
| Mar 2026 | AdRoll | 8.6K | 7.4% | 3 |
| Mar 2026 | Quantcast | 6.7K | 5.8% | 4 |
| Mar 2026 | Basis Technologies | 2.5K | 2.2% | 5 |
| Apr 2026 | The Trade Desk | 51.8K | 57.1% | 1 |
| Apr 2026 | StackAdapt | 22.8K | 25.1% | 2 |
| Apr 2026 | AdRoll | 7K | 7.7% | 3 |
| Apr 2026 | Quantcast | 6.7K | 7.4% | 4 |
| Apr 2026 | Basis Technologies | 2.5K | 2.8% | 5 |
| May 2026 | The Trade Desk | 53K | 58.7% | 1 |
| May 2026 | StackAdapt | 22.8K | 25.2% | 2 |
| May 2026 | Quantcast | 6.7K | 7.4% | 3 |
| May 2026 | AdRoll | 5.8K | 6.4% | 4 |
| May 2026 | Basis Technologies | 2K | 2.2% | 5 |
| Jun 2026 | The Trade Desk | 52.6K | 58.8% | 1 |
| Jun 2026 | StackAdapt | 22.6K | 25.2% | 2 |
| Jun 2026 | Quantcast | 6.7K | 7.5% | 3 |
| Jun 2026 | AdRoll | 5.7K | 6.4% | 4 |
| Jun 2026 | Basis Technologies | 2K | 2.2% | 5 |
| Jul 2026 | The Trade Desk | 43.8K | 58% | 1 |
| Jul 2026 | StackAdapt | 18.5K | 24.5% | 2 |
| Jul 2026 | AdRoll | 5.8K | 7.7% | 3 |
| Jul 2026 | Quantcast | 5.5K | 7.3% | 4 |
| Jul 2026 | Basis Technologies | 2K | 2.6% | 5 |
| Aug 2026 | The Trade Desk | 62K | 63.4% | 1 |
| Aug 2026 | StackAdapt | 22.6K | 23.1% | 2 |
| Aug 2026 | AdRoll | 5.8K | 5.9% | 3 |
| Aug 2026 | Quantcast | 5.5K | 5.6% | 4 |
| Aug 2026 | Basis Technologies | 2K | 2% | 5 |
| Sep 2026 | AdRoll | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Basis Technologies | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | Quantcast | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | StackAdapt | — | — | — |
| Sep 2026 | The Trade Desk | — | — | — |

## What is being compared

- **AdRoll**: Measured on the search terms “adroll”, “adroll dsp”, “adroll retargeting”, “adroll reviews” and “adroll.com”, summed into one figure.
- **Basis Technologies**: Measured on the search terms “basis technologies” and “basis.com”, summed into one figure.
- **Quantcast**: Measured on the search terms “quantcast”, “quantcast dsp” and “quantcast.com”, summed into one figure.
- **StackAdapt**: Measured on the search terms “stackadapt”, “stackadapt dsp”, “stackadapt programmatic advertising” and “stackadapt.com”, summed into one figure.
- **The Trade Desk**: Measured on the search terms “the trade desk”, “the trade desk dsp”, “the trade desk programmatic advertising” and “thetradedesk.com”, summed into one figure.

- [AdRoll](/demand/global-en/brands/adroll)
- [Basis Technologies](/demand/global-en/brands/basis-technologies)
- [Quantcast](/demand/global-en/brands/quantcast)
- [StackAdapt](/demand/global-en/brands/stackadapt)
- [The Trade Desk](/demand/global-en/brands/the-trade-desk)

## Methodology

- [How is branded search demand measured?](/demand/methodology): Where the figures come from, what they compare, and how they may be reused.

## Frequently asked questions

### Which brand is most popular in search among digital ad buying platforms worldwide?

In August 2026, The Trade Desk was the most searched among digital ad buying platforms worldwide, with an estimated 62K branded searches and 63.4% estimated Share of Search within this set. Worldwide · English terms: these are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.

## Cite this page

Brandwave. "Digital ad buying platforms: Which brands are most popular in search?". https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/digital-ad-buying-platforms

This page is also available as HTML at https://gobrandwave.com/demand/global-en/categories/digital-ad-buying-platforms. Brandwave publishes an index of its Markdown pages at https://gobrandwave.com/llms.txt.