Microsoft Ads Alternatives: Best Ad Platforms for Your Budget and Goals

Microsoft advertising isn't a perfect fit for everyone. Maybe you can’t afford the cost or your campaigns keep getting rejected. It can also be that the traffic you’re receiving isn’t even converting the way it used to. Whatever the reason, a lot of marketers are starting to look beyond Microsoft Ads for better results.

The good news is many alternatives to Microsoft Ads exist, including mainstream platforms like Google and Meta with specialized options like Blockchain-Ads, and Amazon Ads depending on your goals, compliance needs, and budget.”

For example, Blockchain-Ads help advertisers reach crypto, iGaming, CBD, adult, finance, and other sensitive sectors where Microsoft and Google apply strict or ambiguous policies.”

This guide, therefore, seeks to compare Microsoft advertising to other major players and show you the right platforms that are actually worth considering based on your goals, industry, and, of course, budget. 

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Microsoft Ads vs Other Platforms: Feature Comparison Table

Before you consider any platform, let’s have a quick comparison of the top features:

From the comparison above, Microsoft advertising does a remarkable job if you’re targeting B2B or running standard search engines campaigns. However, it limits people because it only focuses on the Bing audience and lacks the variety and depth that many other platforms offer. Here is what each platform is best at:

• Blockchain-Ads: Overall best for the restricted industries (CBD, crypto, adult, gambling).
• Google Ads: Best for broad targeting and complex ad campaigns.
• Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram): Great if you’re selling lifestyle products.
• YouTube Ads: Ideal for brands that want to create ads with strong storytelling and build trust.
• AdRoll: Excellent option for retargeting
• Taboola and Outbrain: Outstanding for content-driven campaigns.
• LinkedIn Ads: LinkedIn and Twitter Ads dominate for B2B, hiring and professional services.
• Amazon Ads: Perfect for selling physical products.

With this information, what’s the best Microsoft advertising alternative? This question actually depends on your goals. If you want better reach and more versatility, you can consider Google Ads. When running a niche or regulated brand, Blockchain-Ads is actually built for that. 

For strong retargeting or cross-platform conversion tracking, you may try AdRoll or Meta. Want to sell to professionals? LinkedIn is worth it if your budget allows. 

Blockchain-Ads

If you’re advertising in restricted industries like CBD, crypto, adult, gambling or any other, Blockchain-Ads might just be your lifeline savior. This platform was built specifically to help industries that keep getting rejected or flagged on mainstream ad networks.

What makes it the best is its simplicity, plus Blockchain-Ads doesn’t just allow sensitive industries, it is optimized for them as well. As for formats, Blockchain-Ads covers all the basics including native, video, display, in-app formats and more. The added advantage you also get is that it offers custom audience targeting, and retargeting optimization options that understand your buyer personas.

They still provide fully managed campaigns if you’re short on bandwidth. For brands tired of shadowbans, then this is a great and reliable Microsoft Ads alternative on the market.

Google Ads

Google Ads is the global audience heavyweight. With Google Ads, you have access to massive reach from Google Search and Display Network to YouTube, Email, and more. Compared to Microsoft Ads, Google delivers far beyond the traffic and offers better targeting precision. It supports most ad formats and integrates deeply with a powerful tool like Google Analytics.

If you want volume, scale and data that actually helps you grow, then Google Ads is the ideal alternative, especially for mainstream products and services that don’t have compliance issues.

Meta Ads (Facebook & Instagram)

Meta Ads give you reach, storytelling and, of course, engagement, all these in one place. For brands who heavily rely on visuals or emotional pull, Facebook and Instagram remain your top ad platforms. Also, if you found Microsoft advertising a little ‘’dry’’, Meta’s creative potential will help your brand feel more refreshing.

Meta Ads is indeed one of the new platforms where behavior-based targeting still works well. You can consider segmenting by interest, demographics, behavior and even retarget video viewers or Instagram post engagers. While strict on compliance, the benefit of engagement and conversion tracking makes Meta Ads a top-tier alternative for most brands. 

YouTube Ads

If your audience are people who consume content through video, and most do, then YouTube Ads might be a better option than Microsoft’s search-focused ad. Owned by Google, YouTube gives you access to one of the most engaged user bases online which is ideal for storytelling, tutorials or brand awareness.

It’s a great alternative, thanks to its blend of targeting and format flexibility. You can run skippable ads, bumper ads or longer video placements, all with the aim of targeting the audience by search history, interest or even specific video placement. So, if you need reach with personality and depth, then YouTube can be a smart switch. 

AdRoll

While Microsoft Ads can help you get clicks, AdRoll will help you convert. AdRoll basically focuses more on retargeting and dynamic product ads, making it perfect, especially if you’re already driving traffic and want to maximize ROI. With AdRoll, you connect across web, social and email, which helps unify your messaging. It supports native and display format and is easy to manage even for small teams. 

Therefore, if you’re dealing with cart abandonment or a long buyer journey, then you might want to upgrade with AdRoll. It is especially helpful for DTC and SaaS brands looking to boost their bottom-of-funnel performance beyond what Microsoft advertising can handle. 

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Taboola

Taboola might be a smarter option than Microsoft’s keyword-based system, especially if your product is content-rich or benefits from storytelling. Being one of the largest native ad platforms, Taboola places your content on high-traffic news and lifestyle websites.

Its strength lies in the contextual and behavioral targeting, putting your message in front of people while they’re actively consuming related content. This works perfectly for awareness ad campaigns, product education and soft sells. 

Although it’s less precise than search or social ads, it makes a great alternative, especially if you’re building a long-term engagement. It is also a top fit if you want to reach an audience beyond traditional ad platforms. 

Outbrain

Similar to Taboola, Outbrain is all about native ads that basically appear on trusted publisher sites. It’s a great Microsoft Ads alternative if you’re looking to drive discovery through content and just sales pages.

With Outbrain, you promote your content on the web’s largest publishers' sites, including TIME, CNN, and thousands more. While its targeting isn’t as smooth as Meta or Google, the format usually encourages high click-throughs and brand exposure. 

If you’re, therefore, using blog posts, search queries, or advertorials to warm up your audience, then Outbrain can indeed amply that reach in a way that Microsoft advertising can’t match. 

LinkedIn Ads

For B2B advertisers, Microsoft Ads kind of works. However, LinkedIn Ads or Twitter ads are laser-focused. LinkedIn ads platform allows you to target users by job title, industry, company size, or seniority. Want to sell software to mid-level IP managers at manufacturing firms? You can actually do that here.

What usually makes LinkedIn a solid upgrade is the business-first environment. People expect to see professional ads and lead generation offers and not memes or flash sales. If you’re selling services, SaaS or anything that requires a decision-maker, then this is where you go to get high-quality leads instead of just traffic. 

Amazon Ads

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If your products live on Amazon, then your ads probably should too. Microsoft advertising might bring traffic to your site. However, Amazon Ads gets you people with a purchase decision right at the checkout. Simply put, Amazon Ads is a closed ecosystem because people are already there to shop.

With product display ads, keyword targeting, and even video placements, Amazon Ads puts you right in front of active shoppers. It’s great for ecommerce brands who don’t want to waste money on low-intent clicks. If conversions are what you care about and you’re selling something physical, then Amazon Ads is a strong alternative on the list. 

What Is Microsoft Ads and Why Look for Alternatives?

Formerly Bing Ads, Microsoft Ads is a pay-per-click (PPC) ad platform that allows businesses to place ads across the Microsoft Search Network. These can be Yahoo, AOL as well as Microsoft-owned properties like MSN, Outlook, and Microsoft Edge. 

It basically works the same as Google Ads. You bid on keywords, write compelling ad copy and hope that you’ll win space in the search results or partner sites. At first, you may think Microsoft advertising is a cost-effective way to reach out to users outside the crowded Google ecosystem.

The CPCs are generally lower. However, the platform has a much smaller audience than its competitors, limited integration and stricter rules around certain industries. You might also experience challenges with limited reporting depth, fewer ad format options and slower support.

That’s why many advertisers start to look for account based marketing alternatives. Platforms that can scale faster, handle more aggressive targeting or allow products Microsoft Ads or Bing Ads tend to flag or reject. 

When did Bing Ads Become Microsoft Advertising?

Bing Ads was officially rebranded as Microsoft Advertising in April 2019. This shift was meant to help expand its expansion beyond just search into audience targeting AI tools and a broader advertising network.

What Are the Limitations of Microsoft Ads?

Microsoft advertising undeniably works fine for basic PPC advertising on search engines. However, most advertisers experience some challenges that force most of them to find alternatives. The following are some of the main pitfalls that frustrate users when using the Bing network:

• Smaller overall market share: It can’t even match Google’s traffic or target audience.
• Fewer ad placement options: Limited ad placement restricts visibility and diversity of where ads can appear compared to competitors.
• Audience size and competition: Although Microsoft Ads targets valuable professionals and high-income or specific audiences, the overall base is smaller, which might not suit all advertisers’ goals. 
• Complexity in advertising campaigns management: Features like performance campaigns require active management and fine-tuning of budget, bid strategies and audience targeting to perform well, which isn’t offered by Microsoft Ads. 
• Ad restriction Strategy: Microsoft Ads has restrictions on the number and type of ads served. This limits the volume and the variety of ads that can be run. 

Who Should Consider Microsoft Ads Alternatives?

If any of the above pitfalls describe you, then considering alternatives could be a smart move. A few of who can consider shifting to alternatives include:

• Finance & tech companies: These need smooth targeting and strong analytics that Microsoft lacks.
• Automotive brands: They require broader reach and visual ad flexibility that Google or Meta offers.
• Cryptocurrency project: These are regularly blocked or restricted on mainstream platforms. 
• iGaming companies: They’re also banned often and are heavily limited on standard PPC advertising networks.
• Other regulated industries: Brands dealing with CBD or supplements run a high risk of suspension. 

How to Choose the Right Alternative to Microsoft Ads

Choosing the right Microsoft Ad alternative is easy. It actually depends on your goals, your industry, your budget and honestly, your patience. Some platforms will waste your money in the first or two weeks on search engines. Others might not even allow you to run your ads because of what you sell. This means you have to be smart about this. Here’s what to actually look for:

• Bigger or relevant audience: You don’t need millions of impressions. Simply, you need people who care. If you’re B2B, LinkedIn might outperform Meta. Meanwhile, if you’re into crypto or gaming, Blockchain-Ads might be your only option that won’t block you.

• Industry fit: You must choose a platform that makes sense to you. If your brand gets flagged on big platforms all the time, find the right one that offers services without restrictions.

• Budget fit: Some platforms look so good until you realize that they’ve used your entire test budget in three days or a week with no conversions. A good alternative should let you start lean, test fast and scale if things work.

• High-performing ad formats: The kind of video you run matters. If you have great visuals, you want display or video formats and not just search text. Some platforms usually offer more flexibility on this than others, especially if you’re after engagement and not just clicks.

• Better ROI or lower CPC: Will the platform give me better ROI or cheaper CPC? If you’re leaving Microsoft Ads because of cost, make sure your next option can actually lower your spend or at least improve your return. 

• Better targeting: Audience quality isn’t just about size. You want tools that allow you to get hyper-specific by behavior, interest, purchase intent, device and location. Not vague demographic filters.

• Ease of use: Nobody has time for platforms with complicated setup and vague dashboards. Prioritize speed and simplicity.

• More robust third-party integrations: Good integration matters more than you may think. You don’t want to export messy spreadsheets every week just to track performance. Your ad platform should sync with your CRM, your email tools and maybe even your product dashboard. 

Does the Microsoft Ads Alternative Have a Bigger or More Relevant Audience?

Sometimes it’s not about the size, it's the quality. Google Ads offer broader reach. However, Blockchain-Ads targets crypto, CBD, adult and other right audience that Microsoft often excludes. If you’re in a niche market, then relevance will beat scale every time.

Is This Alternative Better Suited for My Industry Than Microsoft Ads?

It depends on the industry you are in. For example, Microsoft doesn’t love regulated ‘’gray area’’ industries. So, if you’re in iGaming, supplements or crypto, you’ll find Blockchain-Ads way more friendly. Remember, industry fit isn’t just helpful, it is critical, especially if you want your campaign to survive approval. 

Can I Run Campaigns on This Microsoft Ads Alternative With My Current Budget?

Platforms like Meta or AdRoll allow you to start small and are perfect for testing. But some platforms like LinkedIn will need deeper pockets to get traction. Generally, budget fit isn’t just about spending; it is also more about how fast you can scale if your ads work.

Does the Alternative Support More Versatile or High-Performing Ad Formats?

Microsoft Ads is mostly text and search-based. If you want video, native placement or animated banners, then Meta, YouTube, or Blockchain-Ads will give you more tools to work with and often better engagement rates to match.

Can the Alternative Deliver Better ROI or Lower Cost-Per-Click Than Microsoft Ads?

It’s not uncommon to see CPCs of $8-$15 on Microsoft for competitive industries. Platforms like Taboola or AdRoll can offer cheaper clicks especially with good creatives. Better ROI isn’t always about volume; it is all about spending smarter.

Does the Alternative Offer Better Targeting Options Than Microsoft Ads?

Microsoft’s targeting can feel a little old-fashioned. Meta has behavioral data, LinkedIn nails professional targeting and Blockchain-Ads allows intent-based audience filters tailored for regulated industries. So, better targeting here means you spend less showing your ads to people who don’t care and vice versa.

Is the Microsoft Ads Alternative Easier to Use or Manage?

Not everyone has time to spend on exploring platforms. Some, like AdRoll and Meta, offer smoother dashboards. Blockchain-Ads even gives you fully managed options. Therefore, if ease of use is a feature that matters to you, choose something that doesn’t feel like a puzzle every time you launch a campaign. 

Does the Alternative Come With Stronger Support, Tools, or Integrations?

Support is a big deal, especially when your ads get stuck. Digital advertising like Microsoft support can be slow. Blockchain-Ads offers live onboarding and human review. Google Ads is the best for integration, but AdRoll and Meta also sync with most CRMs and eCommerce tools easily.

Is Moving Beyond Microsoft Ads Worth It?

Yes, especially if you’re in a niche where results depend on smarter precise targeting and better returns. Take Crypto.com as an example. Instead of only relying on platforms like Microsoft Ads, they worked with Blockchain-Ads to reach actual traders through wallet-level advanced targeting.

The result was amazing. They acquired 4,782 new traders in just 30 days, $12.8M in volume and an average lifetime value of $2,970 per user. Their cost-per-acquisition was $19.80 on a $40K/month ad spend. Using on-chain data and competitor-based targeting, they cut through the noise and brought in real and high-intent users. So yes, moving beyond Bing Ads alternatives, currently, Microsoft advertising isn’t just worth it, it can be a smarter decision.