A PPC (pay-per-click) agency plans, buys and optimises advertising that is charged per click or per conversion, mainly on Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising search networks, and increasingly on paid social platforms, Amazon and retail media networks. Its work typically includes keyword and audience research, campaign structure, bid strategy, ad copy and creative testing, landing-page optimisation, conversion tracking and reporting. Most larger agencies now describe themselves as paid media or performance marketing agencies rather than PPC specialists.
This list covers ten agencies with an established paid search and paid media practice, ordered by the headcount each publishes on its own website. It includes large independent groups such as Jellyfish, Tinuiti and Brainlabs, mid-sized agencies such as Croud and Seer Interactive, and smaller specialists such as KlientBoost.
Team size indicates capacity and breadth of channel coverage, not performance on a given account. Smaller agencies are often better suited to modest budgets, and none of the agencies listed publishes standard pricing.
Contents
- What a PPC agency does
- Google Partner and Premier Partner status
- Methodology
- The list
- Comparison table
- How PPC agencies charge
- Frequently asked questions
- See also
What a PPC agency does
Day-to-day PPC management covers search-term and keyword analysis, negative keyword lists, bid strategy selection, budget pacing, ad and asset testing, audience segmentation and shopping feed management for retailers. Increasingly, agencies also manage automated campaign types in which the platform controls placement and bidding, so their work shifts toward conversion data quality, creative inputs and measurement. Agencies such as Tinuiti and Precis promote proprietary platforms (Bliss Point and Alvie) for planning and measurement across channels.
Paid search is often combined with conversion rate optimisation. KlientBoost, for example, sells landing-page design and conversion rate optimisation alongside Google, Microsoft, Meta and LinkedIn advertising management.
Google Partner and Premier Partner status
Google's Partners programme is the most commonly cited credential. To hold Google Partner status, a company must keep an optimisation score of at least 70% in its manager account, spend at least US$10,000 across managed accounts over 90 days, and have at least half of its account strategists certified in Google Ads. Premier Partner status is reserved for the top 3% of participating companies in each country, determined annually. The badge confirms spend volume and certification levels; it does not measure client results directly. Microsoft Advertising runs a comparable partner programme, and Precis, for example, lists itself as a Microsoft Elite Partner.
Methodology
Candidates were agencies whose websites present paid search and paid media management as a core service and that publish verifiable company details such as founding date and office locations. Agencies are ordered by the headcount each states on its own website as of November 2026. Where two agencies publish the same rounded figure (1,000+), they are ordered by the media spend under management each states, and an agency that does not state one follows those that do. Agencies that do not publish a headcount (KlientBoost, Precis and Wpromote) are placed last in alphabetical order.
Headcount figures are self-reported and are not audited; they include staff in all disciplines, not only PPC specialists. Media spend figures are the agencies' own. No client reviews, ratings or award counts were used to rank entries, and no pricing is stated because none of the agencies publishes standard fees.
The list
1
Global integrated digital marketing agency with 30 offices
Best for: Multi-country paid media programmes
Jellyfish describes itself as a global integrated digital marketing business uniting media, content and data, and reports more than 1,600 people across 30 offices in 22 countries. Paid search and paid social sit within that wider media, content and data offer, and the agency holds ISO 27001 and ISO 14001 certification. Its international footprint makes it a candidate for brands running paid campaigns across many countries and languages from one agency. Large integrated agencies generally suit substantial budgets; advertisers with a single-market search account may find a specialist more cost-effective.
- People
- More than 1,600
- Offices
- 30 in 22 countries
- Certifications
- ISO 27001, ISO 14001
Strengths
- Largest published headcount of the agencies listed
- Presence in 22 countries for multi-market campaigns
Limitations
- Integrated model may be more than a search-only advertiser needs
- Pricing is quote-based
2
Employee-owned US performance marketing agency that began as Elite SEM
Best for: Large advertisers spending across search, social and other channels
Tinuiti traces its origins to Elite SEM, a search engine marketing firm founded in New York City in 2004. It states that it manages US$4bn in digital media and has more than 1,000 employee owners. Its timeline records that it became the first independent performance marketing firm to win Microsoft's Global Agency of the Year award and that it received a Google Premier Partner award for international growth; it added social advertising capability through the acquisition of Ampush. Tinuiti describes a Talent Over Geography model of distributed working and markets Bliss Point as its marketing operating system for audience, media and measurement.
- Founded
- 2004 (as Elite SEM)
- Media under management
- US$4bn (company figure)
- People
- More than 1,000 employee owners
Strengths
- Very large media budget under management
- Awards from both Microsoft and Google for search work
Limitations
- Scale suits large advertisers more than small accounts
- Proprietary platform ties reporting to the agency's tools
3
Independent media agency founded in 2012 by a former Google employee
Best for: Mid-sized and large brands wanting a performance media agency
Brainlabs was founded in 2012 by Dan Gilbert, who left Google to start the agency, and it reports growth from two people to more than 1,000 staff across five continents. The agency states that it manages more than US$1.5bn in media spend for over 250 brands and that it is a premier partner of all major advertising platforms. It describes itself as a media agency focused on maximising client revenue, and it cites recognition from Adweek as Breakthrough Agency of the Year.
- Founded
- 2012
- Founder
- Dan Gilbert
- Media spend managed
- More than US$1.5bn (company figure)
- People
- More than 1,000
Strengths
- Founded by a former Google employee, with strong growth since 2012
- Premier partner status across major platforms, by its own account
Limitations
- Less media under management than Tinuiti at similar headcount
- Rapid growth means account teams vary in seniority
4
ND
Las Vegas-based agency co-founded by Neil Patel and Mike Kamo
Best for: Advertisers combining SEO and paid media across many countries
NP Digital was co-founded in 2017 by the marketer Neil Patel and Mike Kamo and is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada. It reports more than 1,000 employees and a presence in 28 countries, including offices across Latin America in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia and Mexico. Paid media is one of its four solution areas, alongside data and analytics, earned media (SEO and content) and creative. The agency benefits from Neil Patel's high public profile in SEO and content marketing; its paid media practice is newer than those of agencies that began in search advertising.
- Founded
- 2017
- Headquarters
- Las Vegas, Nevada, US
- Employees
- More than 1,000
- Countries
- 28
Strengths
- Combines SEO, content and paid media under one roof
- Offices across Latin America and other regions
Limitations
- Brand is built more on SEO and content than on paid search
- Does not publish media spend under management
5
C
London-founded media agency combining in-house staff with a freelance network
Best for: International paid search needing many languages
Croud was founded in 2011 by Ben Knight and Luke Smith and describes itself as an independent global media, creative and data agency. It reports more than 600 in-house digital experts supplemented by an on-demand network of 2,900 marketing specialists, known as Croudies, and has offices in London, Shrewsbury, New York, Atlanta and Dubai. Croud raised £30m of funding in 2019 and took private equity investment from ECI Partners in 2024, the same year it acquired MetaGeni and Vert. The freelance network lets it cover many languages and markets for international paid search, though clients should confirm which work is done by in-house staff.
- Founded
- 2011
- In-house experts
- More than 600
- Freelance network
- 2,900 specialists
- Offices
- London, Shrewsbury, New York, Atlanta, Dubai
Strengths
- Freelance network adds language and market coverage
- Acquisitions added analytics (MetaGeni) and US capacity (Vert)
Limitations
- Mixed in-house and freelance delivery requires clear accountability
- Private equity ownership since 2024 may shape priorities
6
Search-focused agency with early Google and Microsoft partnerships
Best for: Mid-market advertisers wanting a search specialist
Seer Interactive describes a team of more than 250 full-time staff, contractors, part-timers and interns. The agency says it was an original partner in Google's Premier Partners programme and a founding partner of Microsoft Bing advertising. Its early involvement in both programmes reflects a long history in search advertising. Its size suits mid-market and enterprise advertisers that want search specialists rather than a full-service media agency.
- Team
- More than 250 (includes contractors and part-time staff)
- Partner status
- Original Google Premier Partner; founding Microsoft Bing partner
Strengths
- Long history in search with early Google and Microsoft partnerships
- Mid-sized team suited to advertisers wanting search specialists
Limitations
- Smaller paid social and programmatic offering than larger agencies
- Published headcount includes non-full-time staff
7
D
B2B performance marketing agency focused on pipeline
Best for: B2B and SaaS companies measuring paid search by pipeline
Directive has worked with B2B companies since 2013 and reports more than 130 marketing strategists and more than 700 brands served. It lists offices in Orange County, Austin, New York City, Mexico City, London and Toronto. The agency positions its work around qualified pipeline rather than marketing-qualified leads, combining paid media, SEO, creative and revenue operations, and it markets an AI-powered intelligence platform called Stratos that combines CRM and paid-media data. Its focus on B2B makes it less relevant for e-commerce advertisers.
- In business since
- 2013
- Marketing strategists
- More than 130
- Brands served
- More than 700
Strengths
- Specialised in B2B demand generation
- Reporting tied to CRM pipeline rather than clicks
Limitations
- Not suited to consumer e-commerce advertisers
- Smaller team than the large performance agencies
8
PPC and conversion rate optimisation agency with US and UK offices
Best for: Lead-generation advertisers combining PPC with landing-page testing
KlientBoost lists offices in Santa Monica, California, Raleigh, North Carolina, and London. It offers management of Google, Microsoft, Facebook and LinkedIn advertising together with conversion rate optimisation, landing-page design, SEO and email marketing. Pairing ad management with landing-page testing is an approach suited to lead-generation advertisers whose results depend on conversion rates as much as on click costs. It does not publish a headcount or standard pricing on its about page.
- Offices
- Santa Monica, Raleigh, London
- Services
- PPC, CRO, landing pages, SEO, email
Strengths
- Combines ad management with conversion rate optimisation
- Covers search and social platforms
Limitations
- Headcount not published
- Less suited to very large multi-country media budgets
9
P
Tech-led marketing agency established in 2012
Best for: E-commerce and B2B brands wanting a tech-led agency
Precis was founded in 2012 and describes itself as a tech-powered marketing agency working with e-commerce brands, B2B companies and technology platforms. It lists Google Premier Partner, Microsoft Elite Partner, Meta Business Partner, TikTok and LinkedIn marketing partner status, and it uses a proprietary platform, Alvie, for attribution and execution. The agency cites Volvo Cars among its clients and lists Global Search Awards wins in 2020, 2024, 2025 and 2026. It does not publish its headcount.
- Founded
- 2012
- Partner status
- Google Premier Partner; Microsoft Elite Partner
- Platform
- Alvie
Strengths
- Partner status across Google, Microsoft, Meta, TikTok and LinkedIn
- Proprietary attribution platform
Limitations
- Headcount not published
- Does not publish media spend under management
10
Independent US agency operating since 2001
Best for: US brands wanting an independent full-funnel agency
Wpromote has operated since 2001 and describes itself as an independent marketing agency, with offices in Los Angeles and New York. It displays Google Premier Partner status and offers media, creative and data services. Having launched in 2001, it is among the longer-established independent agencies in the United States. Its about page does not state a headcount or media spend, so it is placed in the alphabetical group of this list.
- In business since
- 2001
- Offices
- Los Angeles, New York
- Partner status
- Google Premier Partner
Strengths
- Twenty-five years of search advertising experience
- Independent ownership
Limitations
- Headcount and media spend not published
- US-focused footprint
Frequently asked questions
What does a PPC agency do?
A PPC agency manages advertising that is paid per click or conversion, mainly on Google Ads and Microsoft Advertising, and often on social, Amazon and retail media platforms. Work includes keyword and audience research, campaign structure, bidding, ad copy and creative testing, conversion tracking, landing-page recommendations and regular performance reporting against agreed targets.
What does Google Premier Partner mean?
Premier Partner is the highest tier of Google's Partners programme. A company must first meet Partner requirements, including an optimisation score of at least 70%, US$10,000 of managed spend over 90 days and Google Ads certification for at least half of its strategists, and then rank among the top 3% of participating companies in its country, assessed annually.
How much does a PPC agency cost?
None of the agencies on this list publishes standard prices. Common models are a percentage of monthly ad spend, a fixed retainer, or a hybrid, usually with a minimum monthly fee. Large agencies are generally aimed at advertisers with substantial budgets, while smaller specialists and freelancers serve accounts with lower spend.
Is it better to use a PPC agency or manage ads in-house?
In-house management gives direct control and business knowledge, but requires trained staff and time to keep up with platform changes. Agencies offer specialist experience across many accounts, tools and platform contacts. Many companies use a hybrid, keeping strategy and account ownership in-house while an agency handles execution, testing and reporting.
What should be checked before hiring a PPC agency?
Buyers usually confirm who will own the advertising accounts, how conversions are tracked, which staff will work on the account and their certifications, how the fee is calculated, the minimum contract term and notice period, and what is reported. Platform partner badges confirm certification and spend levels but not results on a specific account.
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