Brandwave

StackAdapt vs The Trade Desk:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, The Trade Desk had more branded searches than StackAdapt among digital out of home platforms worldwide. The Trade Desk had about 50,500 branded searches, while StackAdapt had 22,400. The Trade Desk made up 55.5% of all digital out of home platform searches we track, and StackAdapt accounted for 24.6%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about digital out of home platforms, StackAdapt appeared in three of the four answers and The Trade Desk in two. StackAdapt was mentioned before The Trade Desk in two out of three answers that named either.

Among digital out of home platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

The Trade Desk, about 2 searches for every 1 for StackAdapt

The Trade Desk 50.5K searchesStackAdapt 22.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

StackAdapt, mentioned in 3 of 4 answers, The Trade Desk in 2

StackAdapt in 3 of 4The Trade Desk in 2 of 4

Who does AI recommend more?

StackAdapt, named ahead of The Trade Desk in 2 of 3 answers

StackAdapt first in 2The Trade Desk first in 1

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Top digital out of home platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and one Google AI Overview, StackAdapt was mentioned in three out of four: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. The Trade Desk was mentioned in two out of four: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in the Google AI Overview. StackAdapt was listed before The Trade Desk in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Vistar Media1st
  2. AdQuick2nd
  3. StackAdapt3rd
  4. Blindspot4th
  5. The Trade Desk5th
  6. Broadsign6th
  7. Adomni7th
  8. Clear Channel Outdoor8th
  9. Hivestack–
  10. Place Exchange–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • Vistar Media4 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • StackAdapt3 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • AdQuick3 of 4Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • The Trade Desk2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Broadsign2 of 4Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Adomni2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Blindspot2 of 4Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Clear Channel Outdoor1 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 1 Google answers
  • Hivestack0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers
  • Place Exchange0 of 4Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 1 Google answers

See every answer about digital out of home platforms

4 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.

Is StackAdapt or The Trade Desk more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for StackAdapt and The Trade Desk by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten digital out of home platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

StackAdapt and The Trade Desk among digital out of home platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for The Trade Desk, StackAdapt. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthThe Trade DeskStackAdaptClear Channel OutdoorVistar MediaBroadsignAdomniAdQuickHivestackPlace ExchangeBlindspot
Oct 202557.3%21%9.3%4.1%2.7%1.2%1.5%1.8%0.94%0.03%
Nov 202556.3%20.7%9.1%4.1%3.3%1.5%1.5%1.8%1.8%0.02%
Dec 202556.2%20.5%9%4%3.3%1.8%2.2%1.8%1.4%0.03%
Jan 202659.1%21.7%7.8%3.5%2.3%1.5%1.5%1.5%0.97%0.02%
Feb 202659.3%17.7%11.7%3.5%2.3%1.5%1.5%1.5%0.96%0.03%
Mar 202663.6%18.9%6.8%3%2.4%1.3%1.6%1.3%0.84%0.03%
Apr 202654.9%24.1%8.7%3.8%3.1%1.4%1.7%1.4%0.94%0.02%
May 202656.4%24.3%7.1%3.9%2.6%1.4%2%1.4%0.95%0.02%
Jun 202656.6%24.2%7.1%3.9%2.6%1.4%2.1%1.4%0.78%0.03%
Jul 202654.4%22.9%8.3%4.5%3.6%1.6%2.4%1.3%0.9%0.04%
Aug 202660.7%22%6.5%3.5%2.4%1.6%1.6%0.98%0.71%0.03%
Sep 202655.5%24.6%7.3%4%3.2%1.8%1.8%1.1%0.79%0.03%

How has the StackAdapt and The Trade Desk comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for digital out of home platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, StackAdapt gained share of searches among digital out of home platforms worldwide, from 22% to 24.6%.

  2. In September 2026, The Trade Desk lost share of searches among digital out of home platforms worldwide, from 60.7% to 55.5%.

How are branded searches counted?

4 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using StackAdapt’s and The Trade Desk’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

StackAdapt

2 branded search terms

  • stackadapt
  • stackadapt dsp

The Trade Desk

2 branded search terms

  • the trade desk
  • the trade desk dsp

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among digital out of home platforms

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