If you’re looking beyond Google Ads for search advertising, there are some strong alternatives that can help you reach people when they’re actively searching but without the high cost or competition of Google. These platforms also give you more control and flexibility.
Here are the top Search Advertising Alternatives:
Microsoft Advertising, earlier known as Bing Ads, is the second biggest search ad platform after Google. It shows your ads on Bing, Yahoo, AOL, and their partner websites. It also supports Shopping Ads, Search Text Ads, and Audience Ads. The best part? You get similar targeting features as Google but at a lower cost-per-click (CPC). Plus, Microsoft Ads are now integrated with ChatGPT-powered search on Bing giving you future-ready reach.
- Best for: Businesses targeting desktop users, English-speaking regions, and shopping campaigns
- Bonus: Less competition and cheaper clicks compared to Google.
Yahoo Gemini (now part of Verizon Media Native) is a hybrid ad platform that combines search advertising with native ads. This means your ads can appear on Yahoo Search and across Yahoo-owned websites like Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News, and more. If you’re running content-led promotions or want visibility in a trusted ecosystem, Gemini is a good alternative.
- Best for: Content marketing, product promotions, and brand visibility
- Strength: Native + Search together gives better storytelling opportunities.
DuckDuckGo is a privacy-focused search engine that doesn’t track users, making it popular among privacy-conscious audiences. Ads on DuckDuckGo are powered by Microsoft Advertising, so if you run Microsoft Ads, your ads automatically show up on DuckDuckGo too. It’s a great platform if you want to reach users who care about privacy but are still actively searching.
- Best for: Brands that want a clean, non-invasive ad approach
- Highlight: No user tracking, which builds more trust with privacy-conscious users
