Top 10 Paid Media Agencies in New York (2026)
The top 10 paid media agencies in New York for 2026, ranked by Growth Partner Confidence Score with cited public evidence for every pick.
Updated June 16, 2026 · Compiled and reviewed by Growth Partner Index Editorial Desk
This shortlist ranks the 10 highest-scoring paid media agencies working in New York, drawn from the 158 agencies currently in the Growth Partner Index. Ranking is by Growth Partner Confidence Score, which is built from public evidence only.
The agencies below are based in New York, NY. Each entry links to a full profile with the score breakdown, the sources behind it, disclosed budget band, and the services the agency actually staffs for.
Use it as a starting shortlist, not a verdict. A high score means the public evidence is strong; it does not mean the agency is the right fit for your budget, category, or measurement maturity.
The shortlist
Ranked by Growth Partner Confidence Score
- 1
9AM is a performance marketing agency specializing in media buying, creative strategy, and influencer marketing to drive profitable growth for DTC brands.
Full profileVisit website$250k–$1M/mo
- 2
Compound Growth publishes case work spanning paid and CRM with disclosed retention and LTV outcomes.
Full profileVisit website$250k–$1M/mo
- 3
Tinuiti is a large independent performance marketing agency managing $4B in digital media, offering full-funnel services including Amazon, paid search, social, and TV/audio.
Full profileVisit website$10k–$50k/mo
- 4
Aimers is a performance marketing agency specializing in B2B SaaS and tech companies, managing over $30M in ad spend across paid search and social.
Full profileVisit website$10k–$50k/mo
- 5
Darkroom is a technology-driven growth marketing firm focused on growth-stage consumer companies, offering services like paid media, performance creative, and Amazon marketplace management.
Full profileVisit website$250k–$1M/mo
- 6
Goodway Group is an independent media and growth partner that connects digital to store to drive incremental revenue for retail, commerce, and CPG brands.
Full profileVisit website$250k–$1M/mo
- 7
Amsive is a data-led performance marketing agency that enhances ROI through innovative customer acquisition, engagement, and communications solutions, offering a complete suite of strategic marketing services.
Full profileVisit website$50k–$250k/mo
- 8
Kepler Group is a global growth marketing agency that uses advanced data analytics, AI, and proprietary technology to drive performance across media, CRM, and commerce.
Full profileVisit website$50k–$250k/mo
- 9
Ladder is a growth marketing agency that uses proprietary software and data-driven testing to optimize full-funnel marketing ROI for startups and established brands.
Full profileVisit website$1M+/mo
- 10
Founded in 2003, Direct Agents is a full-service digital marketing agency specializing in AI-powered paid media, performance marketing, and customer acquisition strategies.
Full profileVisit website$1M+/mo
How we picked
Agencies qualify for this list by working in paid media and, for location lists, being headquartered in New York. Ranking is by Growth Partner Confidence Score, which is built from public, citable evidence only.
Read the full Growth Partner Confidence Score methodology, or submit a correction if something here is wrong.
Frequently asked questions
- Who is the #1 paid media agency in New York in 2026?
- 9AM ranks #1 among paid media agencies in New York for 2026 with a Growth Partner Confidence Score of 82/100. 9AM is based in New York, NY and is best suited to dtc and ambitious brands seeking profitable growth. Compound Growth (80/100) ranks second.
- How were these agencies selected?
- Every agency on this list is scored against the same seven-pillar Growth Partner Confidence Score: proof of outcomes, category fit, creative-media integration, reputation, operating maturity, buyer fit, and freshness. Scores are built only from public, citable evidence such as case studies, press, and interviews. Placement cannot be purchased, and sponsored listings are labelled and never re-ranked.
- What should I look for when choosing a paid media agency?
- Ask who runs the account by name, ask for one case study that discloses budget and an incremental outcome, and ask what measurement stack they bring. Anyone quoting a ROAS target before seeing your data is guessing. Beyond that, confirm the budget band matches yours and that the senior operator named in the pitch is the person who will actually run the account.
- How much do paid media agencies charge?
- Boutique shops take retainers from roughly $5k–$15k/mo, usually with a $10k–$50k/mo media-spend floor. Mid-market agencies sit around $15k–$40k/mo or 8–15% of spend. Enterprise firms rarely engage below $500k/mo in media. Every profile in this index lists the agency's disclosed budget band so you can filter before the first call.