7 Best Alternatives to Smartly.io in 2026

Why look beyond Smartly.io

Smartly.io specializes in large-scale social media advertising and creative automation, offering tools for dynamic ad creation and cross-channel performance marketing. While effective for its core use cases, organizations may seek alternatives for several reasons. Some might require broader integration with a wider array of ad platforms beyond social media, or a more granular level of control over programmatic media buying. Others may find Smartly.io's custom enterprise pricing model less suitable for their budget or operational scale, particularly if they are not operating at the highest tiers of ad spend. Additionally, the developer experience, while offering API access for programmatic management, may require direct sales contact for full API capabilities, which could be a barrier for teams prioritizing self-service integration. Companies looking for more comprehensive marketing cloud solutions that extend beyond advertising into CRM, content management, or customer service might also find dedicated platforms more aligned with their holistic business strategy.

Top alternatives ranked

1. 1. Meta Ads (Facebook + Instagram) — Direct platform access for social advertising

   Meta Ads, encompassing both Facebook and Instagram advertising, provides direct access to the largest social media advertising ecosystem. It offers extensive targeting capabilities based on user demographics, interests, and behaviors, along with various ad formats including image, video, carousel, and collection ads. For developers, Meta provides a robust Marketing API (formerly Facebook Ads API) that allows for programmatic creation, management, and optimization of campaigns. SDKs are available for multiple languages, facilitating integration into custom advertising tools and data pipelines. While Smartly.io builds on top of Meta's infrastructure, direct use of Meta Ads offers granular control and eliminates an intermediary layer, which can be beneficial for specific integration needs or cost considerations. It is suitable for businesses of all sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises, looking to execute social media campaigns directly.

   Best for

   • Direct and granular control over Facebook and Instagram advertising.
   • Businesses prioritizing cost-efficiency by managing campaigns in-house.
   • Developers building custom advertising tools and integrations.

   Learn more about Meta Ads capabilities.

2. 2. DV360 — Enterprise programmatic media buying platform

   Display & Video 360 (DV360) is Google's demand-side platform (DSP) designed for large-scale programmatic media buying across various ad exchanges and publishers. It offers advanced targeting, brand safety controls, and cross-channel campaign management, including display, video, audio, and out-of-home inventory. DV360 integrates with Google's broader advertising ecosystem, including Google Ads and Google Analytics, providing a unified view of campaign performance. Unlike Smartly.io, which focuses heavily on social creative automation, DV360 emphasizes media buying efficiency and audience reach across the open web and programmatic channels. Its API allows programmatic access to campaign management, inventory sourcing, and reporting, catering to agencies and large advertisers with complex media strategies. DV360 is an enterprise-grade solution for those requiring extensive control over programmatic ad placements and budget allocation.

   Best for

   • Large enterprises and agencies focused on programmatic media buying.
   • Cross-channel campaign management across display, video, and audio.
   • Advanced audience targeting and brand safety requirements.

   Explore DV360's programmatic features.

3. 3. Skai (formerly Kenshoo) — AI-powered marketing intelligence and automation

   Skai, formerly Kenshoo, provides an omnichannel marketing platform that unifies paid media, search, social, and retail advertising. It leverages AI and machine learning for bid optimization, budget allocation, and creative insights, aiming to improve marketing performance across various channels. Skai offers tools for creative automation, similar to Smartly.io, but extends its capabilities to include search and e-commerce platforms like Amazon. Its platform provides a centralized hub for managing complex campaigns, analyzing performance data, and generating reports. Skai's API supports integration with internal data systems and custom applications, enabling automated workflows and data exchange. It is positioned for large advertisers and agencies seeking a comprehensive solution for managing and optimizing a diverse portfolio of digital advertising campaigns with an emphasis on AI-driven insights.

   Best for

   • Large advertisers and agencies managing omnichannel campaigns.
   • AI-driven bid optimization and budget management.
   • Creative automation across search, social, and retail media.

   Discover Skai's marketing intelligence platform.

4. 4. Marin Software — Cross-channel ad management for enterprises

   Marin Software offers an enterprise marketing software platform designed to manage and optimize paid search, social, and e-commerce advertising campaigns. It provides tools for bid management, audience targeting, campaign automation, and reporting, helping advertisers maximize ROI across multiple channels. Marin's platform emphasizes centralized control and data integration, allowing users to consolidate performance data from various ad platforms for unified analysis. While Smartly.io focuses on creative execution for social, Marin provides a broader suite of tools for managing the entire media buying process across different ad types. Its API facilitates data exchange and custom integrations, enabling enterprises to build tailored solutions. Marin Software is suitable for large enterprises and agencies that require a robust, integrated platform for complex cross-channel ad management and optimization.

   Best for

   • Large enterprises needing unified management of paid search, social, and e-commerce ads.
   • Centralized reporting and analytics across diverse ad platforms.
   • Organizations requiring advanced bid management and automation features.

   Learn more about Marin Software's ad management solutions.

5. 5. Sprinklr — Unified customer experience management platform

   Sprinklr provides a comprehensive unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform that includes social media management, advertising, content marketing, and customer service. While Smartly.io is primarily an advertising platform, Sprinklr offers a broader suite of tools that integrate advertising capabilities within a larger CXM ecosystem. Its advertising module supports campaign creation, optimization, and reporting across social channels, aligning with Smartly.io's core offering but within a more extensive platform. Sprinklr's strength lies in its ability to connect advertising efforts with other customer touchpoints, providing a holistic view of customer interactions. For developers, Sprinklr offers APIs for data integration and custom application development, allowing businesses to extend its functionality. It is ideal for large enterprises seeking to consolidate their social media, marketing, and customer service operations onto a single platform.

   Best for

   • Large enterprises seeking a unified platform for social media, advertising, and CXM.
   • Integrated content management and customer service alongside advertising.
   • Organizations prioritizing a holistic view of customer interactions.

   Explore Sprinklr's Unified-CXM platform.

6. 6. Google Ads — Direct platform access for search and display advertising

   Google Ads is Google's primary advertising platform for search, display, video (YouTube), and app campaigns. It provides direct access to Google's vast advertising network, offering extensive targeting options, various ad formats, and robust analytics. For developers, the Google Ads API allows programmatic management of campaigns, including bid adjustments, ad group creation, and performance reporting. SDKs are available for multiple programming languages, facilitating integration into custom advertising tools. While Smartly.io focuses on social media creative automation, Google Ads is essential for businesses targeting users through search queries and across Google's display network. Using Google Ads directly allows for precise control over campaigns on Google's properties and is a foundational tool for digital advertising, often used in conjunction with social media platforms.

   Best for

   • Direct management of search, display, and YouTube advertising campaigns.
   • Businesses prioritizing organic and paid search visibility.
   • Developers building custom tools for Google's advertising ecosystem.

   Learn more about Google Ads capabilities.

7. 7. Criteo — Retargeting and commerce media platform

   Criteo specializes in performance marketing, particularly in retargeting and commerce media solutions. It leverages a vast dataset of commerce intent data to deliver personalized ads across various channels, including display, social, and app. Criteo's platform focuses on driving sales and maximizing ROAS for retailers and brands by re-engaging users who have shown purchase intent. While Smartly.io offers creative automation for social, Criteo's strength lies in its ability to personalize ad experiences dynamically based on user behavior across a broad network of publishers. Criteo provides APIs for data integration and campaign management, allowing businesses to automate workflows and integrate with their e-commerce platforms. It is particularly well-suited for e-commerce businesses and brands looking to optimize their retargeting strategies and leverage commerce data for advertising effectiveness.

   Best for

   • E-commerce businesses focused on retargeting and personalized ad delivery.
   • Maximizing return on ad spend (ROAS) through commerce intent data.
   • Businesses seeking broad reach across display and commerce media networks.

   Discover Criteo's commerce media platform.

Side-by-side

How to pick

Selecting an alternative to Smartly.io requires evaluating your organization's specific advertising needs, technical capabilities, and strategic goals. Consider the following decision-tree approach:

1. Are you primarily focused on social media advertising and creative automation?

   • If yes, and you seek direct control or wish to bypass an intermediary, consider Meta Ads (Facebook + Instagram). This provides direct access to the platform's extensive features and APIs.
   • If you require advanced AI-driven optimization and omnichannel capabilities beyond just social, including search and e-commerce, Skai (formerly Kenshoo) offers a comprehensive solution for large advertisers.
   • If your needs extend into broader customer experience management, including social listening and customer service, Sprinklr might be a better fit, integrating advertising within a unified CXM platform.

2. Do you need extensive programmatic media buying capabilities across diverse channels (display, video, audio)?

   • If yes, DV360 is designed for large-scale programmatic advertising, offering advanced targeting, brand safety, and cross-channel campaign management across the open web.
   • If you also need to manage paid search and e-commerce ads alongside social, Marin Software provides an integrated platform for centralized control and optimization across these channels.

3. Is search engine advertising a critical component of your strategy?

   • If yes, Google Ads is the foundational platform for search, display, and video advertising on Google's network. It is often used in conjunction with social media platforms for a comprehensive digital advertising strategy.

4. Are you an e-commerce business heavily focused on retargeting and maximizing return on ad spend (ROAS)?

   • If yes, Criteo specializes in performance marketing with a strong emphasis on personalized retargeting and leveraging commerce intent data to drive sales.

5. What is your organization's technical capability and preference for API access?

   • If you have in-house development teams and prefer direct, self-service API integration, platforms like Meta Ads and Google Ads offer well-documented APIs with SDKs.
   • For enterprise solutions like DV360, Skai, Marin Software, and Sprinklr, APIs are available for integration, but full access or support might involve direct engagement with their sales or technical teams.

6. What is your budget and operational scale?

   • Smartly.io and most of its direct alternatives (DV360, Skai, Marin Software, Sprinklr) operate on custom enterprise pricing models, suitable for large advertisers with significant ad spend.
   • Direct platforms like Meta Ads and Google Ads offer more flexible, auction-based pricing models accessible to businesses of all sizes, with costs scaling with ad spend.

By systematically evaluating these factors, organizations can identify an alternative that best aligns with their advertising objectives, technical infrastructure, and long-term marketing strategy.