PubMatic vs Index Exchange

PPubMatic9.1Visit Index Exchange9.0Visit

Higher score P PubMatic #2 in Supply Side Platforms 9.1/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit PubMatic

vs

Index Exchange #3 in Supply Side Platforms 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 2 features Visit Index Exchange

• PubMatic fits best

  Publishers optimizing cross-screen ad yield

• Index Exchange fits best

  Publishers prioritizing exchange and deal reporting

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Side by side

Feature	PPubMatic 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Index Exchange 9.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	9.0
Ranking	#2 in Supply Side Platforms	#3 in Supply Side Platforms
Best for	Publishers optimizing cross-screen ad yield	Publishers prioritizing exchange and deal reporting
Pricing model	Paid	Paid
Starting price	Pricing on request	Pricing on request
Free plan	—	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Email, Docs	Tickets
Integrations	3 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features PubMatic 2/2 · Index Exchange 2/2
Header bidding support	✓	✓
Private marketplace deals	✓	✓
Specs
Inventory channels	CTV/OTT, online video, mobile app, mobile web, desktop web	web, mobile apps, streaming TV (STV) apps
Auction types	real-time bidding (RTB), header bidding, unified auctions, private marketplace and programmatic guaranteed	first-price, fixed-price; private auctions/deals
Ad formats	display/banner, static display, video, outstream video, interstitial, rewarded video, native, rich media	banner, video (instream, outstream, rewarded where supported), native
Reporting detail	Advanced	Advanced
Our review
Pros	OpenWrap supports Prebid-powered header bidding across web and in-app inventory. Supports private marketplace and programmatic-guaranteed deals. Connects monetization across web, mobile, video and CTV/OTT.	Supports direct integrations, Prebid.js and Prebid Server connections. Offers direct, programmatic-guaranteed and marketplace deals. Provides customizable reports, a Reporting API and audit logs.
Cons	Pricing requires contacting sales. Primarily aimed at mid-market and enterprise organizations. Support channels are email and documentation.	Pricing is sales-led rather than self-serve. Inventory quality review is required before publisher onboarding. Available formats depend on integration, and support is ticket-based.
Our verdict	PubMatic is a cloud-based supply-side platform for publishers and buyers managing programmatic digital advertising. It connects web, mobile app, online video and CTV/OTT inventory to real-time auctions, with capabilities spanning header… Read the review →	Index Exchange connects publishers and other media owners with buyers through programmatic auctions and negotiated deals. It is aimed at mid-market and enterprise publishers that want to sell web, mobile app or streaming TV inventory… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• PubMatic — where it wins

  • OpenWrap supports Prebid-powered header bidding across web and in-app inventory.
  • Supports private marketplace and programmatic-guaranteed deals.
  • Connects monetization across web, mobile, video and CTV/OTT.

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing requires contacting sales.
  • Primarily aimed at mid-market and enterprise organizations.
  • Support channels are email and documentation.

• Index Exchange — where it wins

  • Supports direct integrations, Prebid.js and Prebid Server connections.
  • Offers direct, programmatic-guaranteed and marketplace deals.
  • Provides customizable reports, a Reporting API and audit logs.

  Where it doesn't

  • Pricing is sales-led rather than self-serve.
  • Inventory quality review is required before publisher onboarding.
  • Available formats depend on integration, and support is ticket-based.

• PPubMatic9.1/10 · Pricing on request

  A cross-screen SSP combining header bidding, deal management and yield optimization.

  Visit PubMaticFull verdict →
• Index Exchange9.0/10 · Pricing on request

  An established exchange with direct integrations, multiple deal types and detailed reporting.

  Visit Index ExchangeFull verdict →