YouTube Ads
YouTube Ads is a video advertising platform that places promotional content on YouTube's website and app, as well as on partner sites within the Google Display Network (GDN).
Last updated Oct 5, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team
AI-drafted from public sources6 sources cited
At a glance
- Employees
- 10000+
- Funding
- N/A
- Revenue
- $30B+ annually (YouTube advertising revenue)
- Stock
- GOOGL
About
Dominant global leader in video advertising, offering unmatched scale and audience reach across desktop, mobile, and connected TV
YouTube Ads is a video advertising platform that places promotional content on YouTube's website and app, as well as on partner sites within the Google Display Network (GDN). Because YouTube is part of Google, advertisers benefit from Google's user data, including viewers' search histories and YouTube viewing habits, which can be used to narrowly focus ad campaigns. The platform provides marketers with detailed analytics, allowing them to track campaign performance and make adjustments as needed. Three core video ad formats are offered, providing different positioning and length options, including TrueView ads, which are skippable after five seconds; Bumper ads, which are non-skippable and six seconds or less; and Sponsored ads, which are text-based placements appearing in search results. Advertisers pay for ads that are actually viewed, and can measure effectiveness through engagement metrics such as likes, watch time, shares, comments, and brand awareness. The cost of running and maintaining a campaign is considered reasonable, with most businesses starting at a daily budget of at least $10. Source 1: mailchimp.com — YouTube Ads for Beginners Source 2: vendasta.com — What is YouTube Advertising? Definition & Benefits Source 3: localiq.com — Starter Guide to YouTube Advertising Costs in 2026
Business model
Marketplace
Target market
Enterprise, Mid-Market, SMB
What they offer
Skippable In-Stream Ads
Video ads that play before, during, or after YouTube videos and can be skipped after 5 seconds; advertisers pay only when viewers watch 30 seconds or interact.
Non-Skippable In-Stream Ads
Up to 15-second video ads that viewers must watch before their content plays, ideal for guaranteed full-message delivery.
Bumper Ads
Six-second non-skippable video ads designed for broad reach and brand awareness, sold on a CPM basis.
YouTube Masthead
Premium placement at the top of the YouTube homepage, offering massive reach for high-impact brand moments, available on CPD or CPM basis.
Video Action Campaigns
Performance-focused campaigns that drive conversions using automated bidding and placement across YouTube and Google video partners.
Connected TV Ads
Video ads served to audiences watching YouTube on television screens, tapping into the growing CTV audience.
YouTube Select
Premium inventory packages giving advertisers access to top-performing YouTube content and creators in specific categories.
Brand Lift Measurement
First-party measurement tool that quantifies the impact of YouTube campaigns on brand awareness, ad recall, consideration, and purchase intent.
Video Reach Campaigns
Campaigns that use Google AI to serve the most efficient mix of ad formats to maximize unique reach within a given budget.
Demand Gen Campaigns
AI-powered campaigns that serve visually rich ads across YouTube, YouTube Shorts, Discover, and Gmail to drive consideration and conversions.
Key features
Use cases
Customer segments
Tech & specs
Technology stack
Security & compliance
Deployment
API
Yes
- 2005 · Founded