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Roku Ads Manager vs StackAdapt: what each platform's own pages state
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Roku Ads Manager is described as publisher ad managers; StackAdapt as multi-channel DSPs. Of our 19 checks, both state 0: none. Only Roku Ads Manager states none; only StackAdapt states self-serve buying, managed service option, attribution to visits or sales, enterprise terms or account team and other channels in the same platform. This page compares what each publishes, not how well either performs.
By The Tuning Desk · CTV Ad Finder · Published 2026-10-18
Built only from each platform's own public pages. We opened no accounts, bought no media and held no demos or vendor interviews.
Roku Ads Manager
- 01Self-serve buying Partly
The cost guide describes launching with existing creative, an optional maximum bid and pay-as-it-delivers billing.
Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku
- 02Managed service option Not on the pages we read
- 03No-commitment or no-minimum terms Partly
No upfront payment: "Pay as your campaign delivers". The $500 figure is guidance, not a stated minimum.
Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku
- 04Incrementality or lift testing Not on the pages we read
- 05Attribution to visits or sales Not on the pages we read
- 06Named measurement partners Not on the pages we read
- 07Brand-safety partner named Not on the pages we read
- 08Campaigns in plain language Not on the pages we read
- Stated on the platform's pages
- Partly stated
- Not on the pages we read
StackAdapt
- 01Self-serve buying Stated
Basic and Grow plans are self-serve; Basic signs up with a credit card.
Source: StackAdapt plans and packages
- 02Managed service option Stated
Scale, Accelerate and Enterprise are "Self-Serve or Managed".
Source: StackAdapt plans and packages
- 03No-commitment or no-minimum terms Not on the pages we read
- 04Incrementality or lift testing Partly
Lists Brand Lift and sales lift studies and incremental reach forecasting; holdout testing is not described.
- 05Attribution to visits or sales Stated
"cross-device attribution" to site visits and conversions, plus store visits.
- 06Named measurement partners Not on the pages we read
- 07Brand-safety partner named Not on the pages we read
- 08Campaigns in plain language Not on the pages we read
- Stated on the platform's pages
- Partly stated
- Not on the pages we read
How do Roku Ads Manager and StackAdapt compare on the published facts?
Scroll the table sideways
| Fact | Roku Ads Manager | StackAdapt |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Roku. Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku | Not covered in our sources. Source: StackAdapt plans and packages |
| How you buy | Roku's cost guide (February 25, 2026) walks through starting a campaign with your existing creative, setting an optional maximum bid and paying as the campaign delivers. Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku | Plans: Basic (self-serve, sign up with a credit card), Grow (self-serve), and Scale, Accelerate and Enterprise ("Self-Serve or Managed"). Payment: credit card on Basic, net terms from Grow, custom on Enterprise. Source: StackAdapt plans and packages |
| Entry terms | Guidance, not a stated hard minimum: "get started with existing creative and as little as $500", and $500–$1,000 is enough to get a campaign live for most first-time advertisers, per Roku's guide dated February 25, 2026. Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku | A minimum budget is not stated. The plans FAQ says "Programmatic ad campaigns perform best when they have enough budget". Not published Source: StackAdapt plans and packages |
| Pricing | "CPM pricing model"; "Pricing is dynamic"; no upfront payment: "Pay as your campaign delivers". Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku | No prices are shown on the plans page. The FAQ says "no hidden tech fees". Source: StackAdapt plans and packages |
| Inventory | Inventory beyond Roku is not described on the page we read. Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku | A multi-channel DSP: "CTV, DOOH, display, native, audio, video, and email in one platform". CTV partners shown include Bell Media, Xumo, NBCUniversal, A+E Networks, LG AdSolutions and Philo, and "hundreds of networks". |
| Measurement | Measurement and attribution are not described on the page we read. Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku | Impressions, reach, frequency and VCR; "cross-device attribution" to site visits and conversions; Brand Lift, sales lift and store visits (foot traffic). |
| AI and automation | An "AI video upscaler" for creative. AI optimization is not described on the page we read. Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku | AI optimization is not described on the pages we read. |
Check by check
Scroll the table sideways
| Check | Roku Ads Manager | StackAdapt |
|---|---|---|
| Self-serve buying | Partly | Stated |
| Managed service option | Not on the pages we read | Stated |
| No-commitment or no-minimum terms | Partly | Not on the pages we read |
| Incrementality or lift testing | Not on the pages we read | Partly |
| Attribution to visits or sales | Not on the pages we read | Stated |
| Named measurement partners | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Brand-safety partner named | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Campaigns in plain language | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Outcome or CPA pricing option | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Enterprise terms or account team | Not on the pages we read | Stated |
| Agency licensing or multi-account access | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Netflix listed | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Prime Video listed | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Disney+ or Hulu listed | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Published reach or channel count | Not on the pages we read | Partly |
| Linear TV buying | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Other channels in the same platform | Not on the pages we read | Stated |
| AI or automated optimization | Not on the pages we read | Not on the pages we read |
| Manual bid or delivery controls | Partly | Not on the pages we read |
Roku Ads Manager notes
- Self-serve buying Partly
The cost guide describes launching with existing creative, an optional maximum bid and pay-as-it-delivers billing.
Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku
- No-commitment or no-minimum terms Partly
No upfront payment: "Pay as your campaign delivers". The $500 figure is guidance, not a stated minimum.
Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku
- Manual bid or delivery controls Partly
An optional maximum bid.
Source: Roku Ads: how much does it cost to advertise on Roku
StackAdapt notes
- Self-serve buying Stated
Basic and Grow plans are self-serve; Basic signs up with a credit card.
Source: StackAdapt plans and packages
- Managed service option Stated
Scale, Accelerate and Enterprise are "Self-Serve or Managed".
Source: StackAdapt plans and packages
- Incrementality or lift testing Partly
Lists Brand Lift and sales lift studies and incremental reach forecasting; holdout testing is not described.
- Attribution to visits or sales Stated
"cross-device attribution" to site visits and conversions, plus store visits.
- Enterprise terms or account team Stated
An Enterprise plan with custom payment, and net terms from the Grow plan.
Source: StackAdapt plans and packages
- Published reach or channel count Partly
"hundreds of networks"; no household reach figure on the page we read.
- Other channels in the same platform Stated
"CTV, DOOH, display, native, audio, video, and email in one platform".
Source: StackAdapt plans and packages
Who might shortlist each?
Roku Ads Manager fits if: you want to test on Roku with a small first budget and existing creative.
Look elsewhere if: you need measurement or a wide list of named streaming services described up front.
StackAdapt fits if: you want streaming TV inside a wider programmatic plan, with the option of a managed team.
Look elsewhere if: you want published prices or a streaming-TV-only workflow.
Which limits does each list?
Roku Ads Manager
- LimitMeasurement and attribution are not described on the page we read.
- LimitInventory beyond Roku is not described on the page we read.
- LimitPricing is dynamic, with no fixed CPM published.
StackAdapt
- LimitNo prices or minimum budget on the plans page.
- LimitHoldout testing is not described on the pages we read.
- LimitNamed measurement or brand-safety partners are not on the pages we read.