Top 7 Paid Media Agencies in New York (2026)
The top 7 paid media agencies in New York for 2026, ranked by Growth Partner Confidence Score with cited public evidence for every pick.
Updated July 27, 2026 · Compiled and reviewed by Growth Partner Index Editorial Desk
This shortlist ranks the 7 highest-scoring paid media agencies working in New York, drawn from the 478 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
Brainlabs is a growth marketing agency based in New York, NY working with Retail & Ecommerce and Financial Services brands. Publishes 5 case studies with named clients and measurable outcomes, including Jo Malone London, Clinique, Henkel. Rated 5 from 1 reviews on clutch.co.
Full profileVisit websiteNot disclosed
- 3
Amsive is a growth marketing agency based in New York, NY working with Healthcare and Medicare Advantage brands. Publishes 5 case studies with named clients and measurable outcomes, including Emergient / Vermont Blue Advantage, Commerce Bank, University of Tennessee (Vols Online). Rated 4.8 from 3 reviews on clutch.co.
Full profileVisit website$10k–$50k/mo
- 4
Tinuiti is a growth marketing agency based in New York, NY working with Apparel and B2B brands. Publishes 4 case studies with named clients and measurable outcomes, including Blue Apron, DSW, OLLY (OLLY Body). Rated 5 from 1 reviews on clutch.co.
Full profileVisit websiteNot disclosed
- 5
Ladder is a growth marketing agency based in New York, NY working with Consumer apps and Femtech / health devices brands. Publishes 2 case studies with named clients and measurable outcomes, including Inne, Qmee. Rated 4.4 from 14 reviews on clutch.co.
Full profileVisit websiteNot disclosed
- 6
Kepler Group is a growth marketing agency based in New York, NY working with Sports & Entertainment and Fashion & Apparel brands. Publishes 2 case studies with named clients and measurable outcomes, including Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix, DoorDash (DoorDash for Work).
Full profileVisit websiteNot disclosed
- 7
Direct Agents is a growth marketing agency based in New York, NY working with eCommerce and Media brands. Publishes 2 case studies with named clients and measurable outcomes, including Carhartt, BritBox (BBC). Rated 5 from 3 reviews on clutch.co.
Full profileVisit websiteNot disclosed
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. Brainlabs (74/100) 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.