Yesterday, DSP StackAdapt raised a massive $235 million, pushing its total funding past the $500 million mark.
Following the announcement, we turned to Reddit to get a sense of how end users perceive the platform. We reviewed three threads’ worth of public comments about StackAdapt from the past year. You can check out those discussions here:
Here are a few key themes that emerged—some positive, some more mixed.
More Accessible for Small Budgets
The good: Many users appreciate that StackAdapt is a strong option for smaller advertisers or those who don’t meet the minimum spending requirements of larger DSPs.
“StackAdapt works well for smaller budgets, and I’ve found their customer service to be good. They also allow for smaller first-party CRM lists than TTD.”
(u/escopaul)
“To me, SA is a good alternative if your agency can’t meet the TTD minimums consistently.”
(u/DiamondAggressive)
“I have my own trading desk. My take is similar—it’s a DSP for small clients, agencies.”
(u/angadgrover91)
Users generally see StackAdapt as a strong entry-level DSP but not yet a go-to choice for larger agencies or brands. However, the company’s positioning around and investment in AI could help expand its appeal.
Lack of Transparency in Fees and Costs
The more mixed: One of the biggest criticisms of StackAdapt on Reddit is its pricing opacity. Some users feel other DSPs are more upfront about their costs.
“StackAdapt’s fees are fun because they just don’t tell you what they are.”
(u/MaximumTemperature25)
“They also don’t tell you what their platform fees are because they’re bid shading and pocketing the difference between your bid and what they think you should be bidding.”
(u/Budget_Papaya_7365)
Basically, what customers are paying for isn’t always clear. However, for every frustrated Redditor, there are StackAdapt users who genuinely love the platform:
They also have a five-star rating on G2—worth checking out.
Other discussions in the Reddit threads above touched on inventory quality and sales—worth exploring in the threads linked above.
Why This Matters
StackAdapt’s $235 million raise is a big moment for indie DSPs, proving there’s strong investor confidence here. The platform is also widely recognized for being accessible to smaller advertisers and agencies who may not meet the minimums of larger DSPs. However, user feedback on Reddit highlights areas for improvement, like fee transparency.
Still, the funding and growth indicate that StackAdapt is doing just fine. More than fine, actually. As it invests in AI and scales globally, how it addresses this feedback could be key to its continued growth and position in market with larger clients.
Experts React
Here are a few notable reactions to StackAdapt’s funding:
Our Take
AdTech is hot right now. Investments, M&A—it’s fascinating to see so much movement over the last two months. What will tomorrow look like?
