Choosing a DV360 agency is not only a platform decision. It is a decision about who controls the account, who makes trading decisions, how fees are disclosed and whether your data can move with you.
This 2027 shortlist compares agencies and Google Marketing Platform specialists that publicly describe relevant media, technology, analytics or DV360 capabilities. The scorecard is designed for brands and independent agencies evaluating a managed campaign partner.
Quick answer: There is no single best DV360 agency for every advertiser. Ad Geeks and Adswerve publish the clearest evidence for flexible or hands-on operating support. Jellyfish is a strong enterprise option for integrated media, creative and data. Incubeta, TRKKN, Making Science and Merkle fit buyers with broader technology, analytics or transformation requirements. The right choice depends on access, control, market coverage, measurement and the team that will actually operate the campaigns.
Disclosure: Ad Geeks publishes this comparison and is included in it. Scores measure the strength and clarity of public evidence available on November 2, 2026. They do not measure private client satisfaction, unpublished pricing or future campaign performance. We did not mystery-shop proposals or independently audit each agency's delivery team.
The 2027 DV360 agency shortlist
Agency | Public-evidence score | Best fit | Main limitation to verify
|
|---|---|---|---|
Ad Geeks | 23/25 | Brands and independent agencies needing managed, hybrid or self-service DV360 support | Exact market terms, user role, fees and advertiser structure |
Adswerve | 23/25 | North American buyers needing GMP licensing, activation, measurement and training | Scope of day-to-day campaign management in the proposed package |
Jellyfish | 21/25 | Large brands combining media, creative, data and technology across markets | Local delivery team, account visibility and commercial minimums |
Incubeta | 20/25 | International advertisers combining paid media with analytics and marketing technology | Specific DV360 access model, permissions and named operators |
TRKKN | 19/25 | Google-focused implementation, licensing, analytics and consulting requirements | Managed trading availability and service scope by market |
Making Science | 19/25 | Global brands seeking cross-channel media, data and AI-enabled operations | DV360-specific team, access model and contract structure |
Merkle | 18/25 | Enterprises connecting media with CRM, identity, customer experience and data | Engagement size, platform visibility and operational ownership |
A tied score does not mean the agencies offer the same service. Ad Geeks scores well for visible operating-model flexibility. Adswerve scores well for public scale, Google Marketing Platform depth and activation evidence. Buyers should use the score to structure a shortlist, then validate the proposal and team.
Share your markets, budget range, internal experience and required level of control. We will map the right managed, hybrid or self-service route.
How the scorecard works
Each agency receives 1 to 5 points in five categories. A 5 means the agency publishes clear, current and specific evidence. A lower score can reflect missing public detail, not weak service.
Criterion | What earns a 5 | What buyers should verify |
|---|---|---|
DV360 evidence | A dedicated DV360 capability page, current case studies or clearly documented platform work | Whether the proposed team has worked in your market, vertical and campaign type |
Managed media evidence | Clear public evidence of campaign strategy, activation, optimization and reporting | Who trades the account, how often it is reviewed and what is excluded |
Measurement and data depth | Documented analytics, implementation, attribution or first-party data capabilities | Ownership of Floodlight, CM360, GA4, audience connections and raw reporting |
Access-model clarity | Public explanation of managed, hybrid, self-service or licensing options | Your user role, advertiser structure, fee layers and exit rights |
Buyer fit and coverage | Clear market coverage, client profile and service boundaries | Local support hours, language, billing entity and escalation path |
We reviewed official agency pages and current Ad Geeks comparison content. Company claims about certifications, spend, client count, scale or performance remain self-published unless the source explicitly identifies independent verification.
1. Ad Geeks - best for flexible DV360 operating models
Best fit: Mid-market brands, independent agencies and lean internal teams that want managed campaigns now but may need more control later.
Ad Geeks publicly describes managed and self-service DV360 access, onboarding, optimization, reporting and support across display, video, connected TV, audio and other programmatic formats. It also supports other DSPs, which can help buyers avoid forcing every campaign into one platform.
Why it scores well:
A dedicated DV360 service page describes managed and self-service options.
The site names supported formats, inventory routes and measurement integrations.
Public case studies provide evidence beyond a generic capability list.
The offer is designed for both advertisers and independent agencies.
Limitation: Ad Geeks is the publisher of this ranking. Buyers should request written terms and compare them with at least two alternatives. Confirm user permissions, platform fees, management fees, billing terms and data portability for the specific market.
Best choice when: You want active DV360 campaign support, transparent access discussions and the option to move between managed, hybrid and self-service operations.
2. Adswerve - best for North American GMP depth
Best fit: North American brands and agencies that need Google Marketing Platform licensing, media activation, analytics, implementation and training.
Adswerve publicly positions itself as a data, media and technology consultancy. Its service mix includes media strategy and activation, martech licensing, measurement, reporting and enablement. The company also publishes scale indicators for managed spend, trained advertisers and Google Marketing Platform certifications.
Why it scores well:
Clear public evidence across licensing, activation, measurement and training.
Strong Google Marketing Platform and Google Cloud positioning.
Published case studies and scale indicators.
Relevant for teams building long-term internal platform capability.
Limitation: The exact boundary between licensing, consulting and hands-on daily trading depends on the package. Confirm which team owns planning, trafficking, optimization, creative QA and incident response.
Best choice when: Your program needs DV360 plus a deep measurement, data and technical enablement layer.
3. Jellyfish - best for integrated global programs
Best fit: Large or multi-market advertisers combining media, creative production, data and technology.
Jellyfish describes an integrated global digital marketing model and maintains dedicated DV360 capability content. Its public positioning connects media with creative, data, AI-enabled planning and international delivery.
Why it scores well:
Dedicated DV360 technology content.
Integrated media, creative and data capabilities.
International operating footprint and multilingual production.
Relevant for complex enterprise programs.
Limitation: A broad global proposition can make the local operating model hard to infer from the website. Confirm the named campaign team, location, account permissions, commercial minimums and which services are delivered centrally.
Best choice when: DV360 is one part of a larger media, creative and data transformation.
4. Incubeta - best for media and marketing technology integration
Best fit: International advertisers that want paid media combined with analytics, data and marketing technology.
Incubeta publicly positions itself across media, technology and data. That overlap is relevant when DV360 execution depends on measurement design, audience activation, feeds, analytics or cross-market delivery.
Why it scores well:
Broad paid-media and marketing-technology capability.
International delivery footprint.
Relevant analytics and data services.
Suitable for multidisciplinary engagements.
Limitation: Public information does not establish one universal DV360 access or managed-service model across all markets. Confirm the contract holder, advertiser structure, user roles, delivery team and reporting ownership.
Best choice when: DV360 activation must connect with a broader analytics and marketing-technology roadmap.
5. TRKKN - best for Google-focused implementation and licensing
Best fit: Organizations prioritizing Google Marketing Platform implementation, analytics, licensing and technical consulting.
TRKKN publishes dedicated Display & Video 360 and Google Marketing Platform content, along with DV360 case studies and product-specific guidance. This creates strong public evidence of platform knowledge.
Why it scores well:
Dedicated DV360 product and insight pages.
Google-focused technology and analytics depth.
Public DV360 case studies and implementation content.
Licensing information for selected markets.
Limitation: Technical depth does not automatically prove a full managed trading service in every market. Confirm whether the proposal includes daily optimization, inventory strategy, creative QA and campaign support.
Best choice when: Google ecosystem implementation and measurement are as important as campaign activation.
6. Making Science - best for global cross-channel and AI-enabled operations
Best fit: International brands seeking media, data, technology and AI-enabled marketing operations across markets.
Making Science publishes a global footprint, managed-spend indicators, cross-channel media experience and measurement content. Its public proposition extends beyond DV360 into broader marketing operations.
Why it scores well:
International delivery across multiple markets.
Public media, data and technology capabilities.
Published case studies and managed-spend claims.
Relevant for integrated cross-channel programs.
Limitation: The website's broad proposition does not fully define the DV360 access structure. Confirm the specific platform team, account permissions, fee model and whether proprietary technology is required.
Best choice when: DV360 is part of an international cross-channel program with a wider data and automation scope.
7. Merkle - best for enterprise customer data and experience
Best fit: Large enterprises connecting media with CRM, identity, customer experience, loyalty and complex data systems.
Merkle's public positioning emphasizes technology, customer experience and long-term enterprise growth. That can be valuable when DV360 activation sits inside a larger customer-data and media transformation.
Why it is shortlisted:
Enterprise customer-data and technology depth.
Experience with complex global organizations.
Strong fit for CRM, identity and customer-experience integration.
Relevant for regulated or highly governed environments.
Limitation: Public material is less explicit about a standardized DV360 managed-service package or access model. Confirm engagement size, direct platform visibility, operator ownership and exit terms.
Best choice when: The media buy is one workstream inside a larger enterprise customer transformation.
What the score cannot tell you
Public evidence can show capability and clarity. It cannot prove the quality of the exact team assigned to your account. It also cannot reveal private fees, staff turnover, support response times or how the agency behaves when delivery breaks.
Before selecting a partner, request:
The names and roles of the people who will operate the campaigns.
A sample account structure for a similar objective and budget.
A sample report with written optimization commentary.
A complete fee example using your expected media spend.
Written answers on advertiser ownership, user access and data portability.
Support hours, response targets and escalation contacts.
At least one relevant case study with the starting point and measurement method.
Managed, hybrid or self-service: decide before comparing agencies
Model | Who operates DV360? | Best for | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|
Managed | The agency plans, builds, optimizes and reports | Teams without programmatic traders or operational capacity | Low visibility if access, fees and decision rights are not documented |
Hybrid | Responsibilities are split between the agency and client | Teams building internal skill while keeping specialist support | Gaps when approval and execution ownership are unclear |
Self-service | The client trades, while the partner provides access and support | Experienced programmatic teams that want direct control | Underestimating trafficking, QA, optimization and billing work |
Do not compare a licensing proposal with a fully managed service as if they are equivalent. One may look cheaper because the buyer retains most of the work.
12 questions to ask every DV360 agency
Will our team receive direct DV360 access?
Which partner, advertiser and user roles will we receive?
Who will manage the campaigns day to day?
How are platform, access, management, data and third-party fees shown?
Who owns Campaign Manager 360 and Floodlight configuration?
Can we export campaign history and reporting data?
How are private marketplace deals and publisher relationships handled?
What is the optimization and reporting cadence?
What happens when a campaign underdelivers or a creative is rejected?
Which markets, currencies and billing entities are supported?
Can the operating model change from managed to hybrid or self-service?
What happens to campaigns, audiences, creatives and reports if we leave?
We will review your markets, budget, team and control requirements, then recommend a practical operating model.
Red flags in a DV360 proposal
The proposal says “DV360 access” but does not define your user role.
The agency combines all fees into one CPM without a cost example.
The sales team will not identify the traders assigned to the account.
The contract is silent on Campaign Manager 360, Floodlight or data ownership.
The agency cannot explain its underdelivery or creative-rejection process.
Reporting shows metrics but no decisions, actions or next steps.
The exit clause does not explain data export, campaign history or notice periods.
How to choose the best DV360 agency for your team
Define the operating model. Decide what your team will own before comparing providers.
Set non-negotiables. List required markets, formats, permissions, integrations and support hours.
Score public evidence. Use the five criteria above to create a shortlist.
Score the proposal separately. Replace public assumptions with contract-specific answers.
Meet the operators. Evaluate the people who will build and optimize the campaigns.
Run a reference check or pilot. Validate reporting, support and decision quality before expanding scope.
The best DV360 agency is the one that matches your operating model, proves relevant campaign experience and documents access, fees, ownership and support before launch.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best DV360 agency in 2027?
There is no universal best provider. Ad Geeks is a strong fit for flexible managed, hybrid or self-service support. Adswerve fits North American buyers needing deep GMP and measurement capabilities. Jellyfish fits large integrated global programs. The right choice depends on your market, budget, internal skills, access requirements and data architecture.
How much does a DV360 agency charge?
Pricing may include platform fees, partner access fees, managed-service fees, data costs, verification, ad serving and creative work. Fees can be percentage-based, fixed, CPM-based or blended. Request a written example that turns a representative media budget into the final invoice.
Can a DV360 agency give us direct platform access?
Some partners provide user access within their DV360 structure, while others deliver a managed service through reports and dashboards. Confirm the advertiser structure and exact user roles in writing.
Should we choose a Google Marketing Platform partner?
Google Marketing Platform expertise can be useful, but a badge or partner listing does not define your service model. Validate the named team, relevant case studies, platform permissions, measurement ownership and contract terms.
What is the difference between DV360 access and managed service?
Access provides the platform environment and permissions. Managed service adds campaign planning, setup, optimization, troubleshooting and reporting. Hybrid service divides those responsibilities between the agency and client.
Can we switch DV360 agencies without losing data?
Some assets and reporting can be exported, but portability depends on the account structure, ownership, integrations, audience sources and contract. Agree on export rights, notice periods and transition support before signing.
