Top 14 Advertising Agencies in NYC for 2026 (Expert Picks)

New York City can rightly be called the undisputed advertising capital of the world. From the iconic billboards of Times Square to the many digital platforms New Yorkers use every day, NYC sets the pace for creativity, strategy, and innovation in global marketing.

That’s why many businesses, big and small, chose to work with advertising agencies in NYC. They bring the brains and the muscles to execute campaigns not just for the city’s own population but really for the entire nation and even markets abroad. 

So it’s hardly surprising that in 2026, the advertising agencies industry in New York is projected to be worth about $18.9 billion. 

In this guide, we have shared 14 leading advertising agencies in New York City that are shaping the future of marketing. Plus, we’ll share the factors to select the best agency for your particular advertising needs and budget.

Our Vetting Methodology

In a media capital like NYC, where advertising agencies range from legacy ad giants to innovation shops powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and data science, there’s no shortage of reliable ad agencies. 

That said, as a digital marketing agency operating in the heart of the industry, we know firsthand that great advertising is the product of strategic discipline, creative excellence, and measurable performance.

Our goal was to identify agencies that don’t just create ads, but influence culture, drive conversions, and build brand love across platforms. And to do that, we evaluated each advertising agency based on the following criteria:

• Strategic capabilities: Strength in brand strategy, digital strategy, and integrated marketing planning.
• Creative excellence: Quality of work across branding, graphic design, video production, visual identities, and campaign storytelling.
• Performance and growth impact: Demonstrated ability to drive conversions, customer acquisition, and measurable ROI through data science and analytics.
• Industry experience: Depth of experience across industries, including global entertainment brands, live entertainment, technology, mobile app development, and consumer products.
• Media and platform expertise: Proficiency in media buying, social media advertising, search engine marketing, and emerging platforms like connected TV.
• Innovation and technology stack: Use of AI, machine learning, CRM data, and advanced marketing tools to optimize performance.
• Client portfolio and reputation: Quality of client partnerships, notable brands, and industry recognition.
• Full-service capabilities vs. specialty services: Ability to deliver integrated services, from brand launch and rebrand initiatives to web development and ongoing performance marketing. However, we also included specialty agencies simply because they’re the best at what they do. 

How to Choose an Advertising Agency in NYC

The sheer volume of options for ad agencies in NYC means you need a clear, strategic approach before committing your budget, brand, and growth trajectory to any agency.

Let’s explore how to evaluate your options strategically:

Clarify Your Business Goals

We find that this is the best place to start when partnering with any external firm. Take a moment to define what success looks like, since it varies widely across NYC brands.

• Are you a new business focused on brand launch and awareness?
• Do you need performance-driven growth and conversions?
• Are you planning a rebrand or revitalizing your visual identities?
• Do you require a specific service, such as paid social media management, creative strategy, or data integration?

An agency’s discipline and expertise should match your primary objective. Some NYC creative agencies specialize in branding and storytelling, while others excel in digital marketing, media buying, and data science-led optimization.

Evaluate Strategic and Creative Fit

New York is filled with creatively-driven people, but creativity without strategy rarely drives results. Review the agency’s website and portfolio to understand:

• Their approach to brand strategy
• The type of campaigns they produce
• Their storytelling across video production, graphic design, and social media
• Whether their work resonates with your target audience

These things can become clear just by going through case studies. And speaking of case studies and work examples, look for agencies that provide details. Remember, the devil is in the details. 

Look for a team that balances creativity with performance insights. The best advertising work is both emotionally compelling and strategically sound.

Assess Performance Capabilities

In a market like New York, where media costs are higher and competition is intense across nearly every vertical, performance execution must be precise and data-driven.

Performance-focused agencies integrate:

• Media buying expertise across platforms like Google, Meta, TikTok, and other digital channels
• Search engine marketing and paid media optimization
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning for audience targeting
• Measurement and attribution to optimize campaigns and improve customer journeys

If measurable growth and ROI matter to you, make sure the agency has strong performance marketing capabilities. This is evident in the KPIs and metrics tied to campaigns. And the specifics depend on the target channel. For instance, the figure below explains the KPIs for social media marketing based on the funnel stage: 

Examine Industry Experience

In New York City, industry depth matters even more because competition is compressed and sector ecosystems are highly concentrated. Agencies that have worked with global entertainment brands, cultural institutions, technology companies, or highly niche corporations like Boeing bring valuable perspectives. This experience can reduce ramp-up time and provide insights into competitive positioning.

While some agencies focus exclusively on certain verticals, others can have a diverse portfolio. For example, at inBeat, we have worked with big CPG brands, mobile apps, and health/wellness startups. 

The important thing is to ensure the agency you choose has experience in your niche. This is all the more critical for regulated industries, like finance, healthcare, and technology. 

Consider Full-Service vs. Specialized Agencies

Some companies prefer full-service agencies that handle everything from branding and digital strategy to video production and media placement. Others prefer specialized ad agencies focused solely on performance marketing or brand storytelling.

There’s no universal answer here. The best choice depends on your internal capabilities and the level of external support you need. 

14 Best Advertising Agencies in NYC

Below you’ll find a diverse selection of NYC advertising agencies that cover a wide range of specialties, strengths, and scales (something for every business) and are great at what they do. 

1. inBeat Agency - Best for Paid Social & Search Ads

• Website: inbeat.agency
• Location: 90 Broad St, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10004, United States
• Core Services: Social media ads, search ads, creator content ads, performance creatives, attribution
• Rating: 4.9/5 (Clutch)

inBeat Agency, which is part of the Fieldtrip marketing ecosystem, offers paid media services, particularly paid social and search. Our USP is creator-led marketing. We combine creator content with digital advertising across search and social platforms. 

Our proprietary approach to performance creative testing relies on sourcing high-affinity influencer content. We then deploy and iterate those assets rapidly across paid social campaigns. This structured testing model has helped many NYC brands lower acquisition costs and increase return on ad spend.

At inBeat, we understand the power of paid social and the relevance of creators and performance creators. We tap our vast network of creators and data-driven hooks to optimize customer acquisition costs (CAC). And we can do it at scale. We consistently manage over $20 million in ad spend for our diverse portfolio of clients. 

For example, for Dashing Diva, we used multi-channel advertising, led by beauty influencers, to reduce CAC by 24% even as the budget increased by 100%. 

And for Nestlé, we implemented a social media-focused acquisition strategy to introduce its drink brand Nuun. 

2. BBDO Worldwide - Best for Iconic, Culture-Defining Campaigns

Website: bbdo.com 

Location: 1285 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, USA

Core Services: Integrated advertising, brand strategy, creative development

Rating: 4.4/5 (G2)

BBDO Worldwide is a century-old New York-based creative powerhouse with a storied legacy in creating culturally impactful work. The agency is well-known for long-term storytelling and strategic platform development that drives enduring brand equity. They focus on video and print ads for TV, billboards, and even digital platforms like YouTube and CTV. 

BBDO’s mantra of ‘Do Big Things’ reflects its focus on creative excellence backed by relentless craft and strategic insight. It has run many high-profile campaigns for global brands such as AT&T, Netflix, Volkswagen, GE, and Ariel. 

BBDO consistently wins at industry showcases such as Cannes Lions and is recognized for combining compelling narratives with strategic planning. The agency’s integrated approach spans brand strategy, creative production, and cross-media execution.

3. McCann Worldgroup - Best for Global Brand Platforms

• Website: mccann.com 
• Location: 622 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10017, United States
• Core Services: Global branding platforms, creative campaigns, integrated marketing
• Rating: 4.6/5 (Google)

McCann Worldgroup is an award-winning NYC agency renowned for building enduring brand platforms that scale worldwide. McCann’s power lies in its integrated brand and creative strategy. They bring cultural insight into advertising that resonates across regions and audiences. 

Although based in NYC, they have a global presence (over 100 countries). It’s a viable choice for brands that want an agency that can orchestrate ads across different regions. 

The agency’s approach is anchored on “Truth Well Told,” a guiding philosophy that ensures messaging stays authentic and relevant. Its core strengths include creative advertising campaigns and integrated strategy execution that unifies storytelling across digital, social, and traditional channels.

4. Ogilvy - Best for Integrated Brand + Experience Marketing

• Website: oglivy.com 
• Location: 636 11th Ave, New York, NY 10036, United States
• Core Services: Advertising & content, brand & design, experience & innovation
• Rating: 3.6/5 (TrustPilot)

Ogilvy combines brand purpose with a customer experience focus. That’s why it’suniquely suited for companies seeking connected campaigns across touchpoints. It’s one of the oldest advertising agencies in NYC, originally founded in London. 

It’s a full-service marketing powerhouse with a fusion of advertising, experience design, PR, and influencer programming. Their teams can create seamless narratives that deepen customer engagement. And a lot of research goes into each campaign. They consider how audiences encounter brands across owned, earned, and paid media. 

The agency also operates a dedicated Ogilvy Consulting arm that supports growth and transformation strategies for enterprise clients.

5. NoGood - Best for Performance Growth & Experimentation

• Website: nogood.io 
• Location: 491 Broadway, New York, NY 10012, United States
• Core Services: Growth marketing, search ads, social ads, lifecycle marketing 
• Rating: 4.6/5 (Google)

NoGood specializes in high-velocity experimentation and performance optimization, particularly for tech startups and growth-stage brands. Like inBeat, they use a metrics-first framework that tests creative, channel, and audience variables in tight cycles to quickly identify scalable growth levers. 

NoGood integrates analytics into every campaign to reduce CAC and improve customer retention. Its approach combines audience segmentation with rapid media testing. Core offerings include paid media, conversion optimization, and data-driven creative testing. 

The agency also has expertise in regulated industries such as healthcare, finance, and tech, which require strict compliance with creatives and brand messaging.

6. Grey - Best for Brand Revitalization and Cross-Channel Creative

• Website: grey.com 
• Location: 3 World Trade Center, New York, NY 10006, United States
• Core Services: Creative branding, integrated advertising, cross-channel work
• Rating: 4.3/5 (Google)

Grey is a New York creative agency known for revitalizing established brands with fresh storytelling platforms. It brings an integrated creative process that aligns brand heritage with modern audience expectations. 

It’s a truly global behemoth of the ad world with offices in 96 countries and headquarters in NYC. Global brands turn to the agency to roll out rebrands with fanfare. It’s worked for some instantly recognizable names like Volvo, PETA, and Corona. 

Grey leverages cultural insight and research to reshape narratives for legacy companies undergoing market shifts. The agency’s output spans TV, digital, and social campaigns to ensure consistent impact and relevance. Grey’s collaborative model engages brand teams in an iterative creative development process.

7. Wieden+Kennedy - Best for Bold, Culture-Shaping Stories

• Website: wk.com 
• Location: 150 Varick St, New York, NY 10013, United States
• Core Services: Creative branding, integrated advertising, cross-channel work

Wieden+Kennedy is an independent agency with a strong New York presence and a reputation for branded work that enters culture, not just the marketplace. They’re the agency behind brands like Nike that often make cultural waves with their ads and are featured during important programming. 

They stand out with their fearless, creative storytelling that defies norms and sparks conversation, a methodology that has produced globally iconic work. If you want highly creative or even unconventional ads for mainstream and social media, W+K has the acumen to deliver exactly that. 

Their projects frequently break through via memorable hooks and cohesive narratives across social, video, and experiential channels.

8. Carvertise - Best for Mobile Out-of-Home Advertising

• Website: carvertise.com 
• Location: Wilmington, DE 
• Core Services: Mobile OOH advertising via rideshare wraps, geofencing + analytics
• Rating: 4.8/5 (Google)

Carvertise turns everyday vehicles into branded OOH billboards. It combines offline street visibility with digital retargeting. It pairs mobile OOH placements with geofencing and device tracking, linking real-world exposure to measurable site traffic and engagement. 

Carvertise specializes in campaigns targeting local audiences across NYC neighborhoods. That’s why it can be a strong choice for event marketing, retail rollouts, and regional brand awareness. Its geo-centric strategy enhances both physical presence and digital impact, offering a unique hybrid between traditional OOH and performance marketing. 

Although it’s not based in NYC, it operates there due to the strong presence of cabs and ride-sharing apps.

9. Outfront Media - Best for High-Impact Transit & Billboard Exposure

• Website: outfront.com
• Location: 90 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016, USA
• Core Services: Outdoor OOH media, digital out-of-home, transit & billboard inventory
• Rating: 4.8/5 (Featured Customers)

Outfront Media is one of the largest OOH media operators in New York City, as it owns premium placements across subway networks, Times Square, and high-traffic billboards. If you are looking for OOH advertisements that actually make an impact, Outfront Media is a good option. 

They provide vertically integrated access to digital and static out-of-home inventory combined with audience measurement tools that help advertisers plan and evaluate impact.

Brands seeking broad urban reach or strategic transit exposure benefit from Outfront’s deep NYC footprint and sophisticated audience insights. The company also supports integrated campaigns by syncing OOH with digital media buys and mobile location analytics.

10. IPNY (IPNY, Inc.) - Best for Strategic Branding Collaboration

• Website: ipnyinc.com 
• Location: 420 Lexington Ave Ste. 1756, New York, NY 10170, United States
• Core Services: Strategic branding, campaign development, media planning
• Rating: 4.8/5 (Clutch)

IPNY is an independent NYC agency known for working closely with leadership teams on focused brand repositioning initiatives. They’re storytellers who can help breathe new life into struggling brand images or even strategic rebrands. 

Its biggest pro is senior-level involvement in every campaign. IPNY works best with mid-sized companies seeking hands-on strategic guidance rather than network-scale structures. Unlike NoGood, McCann, or IPNY, is more focused on awareness and optics. Their services include brand strategy, integrated advertising campaigns, and media planning.

11. Known - Best for Data-Informed Campaign Strategy

• Website: known.is 
• Location: 5 Bryant Park, 22nd & 23rd Floor, NYC, NY, 10018
• Core Services: Data-informed media planning, analytics-driven social and traditional media campaigns, creative testing

Known is a New York-based agency that mixes analytics with creative development. It’s an advertising agency that has worked with companies on both the East and West coasts, including Max, Pluto TV, Microsoft, and Beyond Meat. 

Its proprietary platform, Skeptic, brings automation and optimization that help improve ad ROI via AI and data science. While many advertisers go all out on creative, Known brings the direction of data to turn out that have the potential to get the desired results. Their teams use this platform to inform strategic and creative decisions regarding campaigns. 

Like inBeat, Known also leverages creators on social media to turn out stellar videos for paid campaigns.

12. Yard NYC - Best for Culture-Driven Creative & Design

• Website: https://yardagency.com/
• Location: New York, NY, USA
• Core Services: Design-forward identity, branding, creative development, influencer strategy
• Rating: 4.8/5 (Featured Customers)

Yard is a boutique New York agency with a strong focus on visual identities and cultural resonance. The agency crafts campaigns rooted in cultural understanding and visual craft by marrying art-driven design with strategic messaging. 

Yard works closely with fashion, lifestyle, and arts-oriented brands seeking distinctive storytelling that feels native to trend conversations. Services include identity strategy, creative campaign development, and integrating NYC’s cultural energy and nuance.

Also, it’s an independent creative agency with a smaller, more nimble team. It doesn’t have the traditional corporate-style agency setup, which may be something certain brands appreciate.

13. CB/I - Best for Growth-Focused Ecommerce Advertising

• Website: cbidigital.com 
• Location: 85 Broad Street, 17th floor, New York, NY 10004, United States
• Core Services:  Paid media strategy, ad optimization, PPC, analytics
• Rating: 5.0/5 (Clutch)

CB/I Digital primarily serves growing commerce brands looking to increase sales and revenue through digital ads. They run highly optimized PPC campaigns and social ads. We like how they lean heavily on performance data to fine-tune campaigns. 

The “Playmaker” optimization engine helps ads outperform benchmarks. It improves bidding, creative, and targeting using data. This means ad dollars create the most value for ecommerce brands, many of which typically operate on low margins. 

Similar to our client roster, their portfolio also features many accessory, beauty, and apparel brands.

14. Boucher + Co. - Best for Analytics-Led Advertising

• Website: boucherco.com
• Location: 121 West 27th Street, Suite 1004, New York, NY 10001 United States
• Core Services: Paid media strategy, digital analytics, performance marketing, media buying
• Rating: 4.8/5 (Google)

Boucher + Co. is a NYC-based digital advertising agency that offers a wide range of services. They emphasize transparency in media buying and analytics. You get detailed reporting that ties campaign performance directly to ROI metrics. 

The agency may be a viable choice for mid-market companies looking for measurable digital growth. They’ve been in business for over 15 years, and their team of marketers collectively brings decades of experience. Their clients are lesser-known, niche companies, but the testimonials show they achieve the results they promise. 

Benefits of Working with an Advertising Agency in NYC

Ad spending in the US crossed $300 billion in 2024 and will continue to rise. At the same time, it’s estimated that 60% of digital ad spend is wasted. 

Partnering with an advertising agency in New York City can help you get actual results from the money they spend on ads. For something as crucial as advertising, delegating the responsibility to the best in the industry simply makes sense. 

But if you need more reasons, here are the real advantages of partnering with an advertising agency (particularly the ones in NYC): 

1. Access to World-Class Talent

New York City attracts some of the world's best advertising talent. And it’s been like that for decades (just watch Mad Men). 

This means you get the best minds in marketing and advertising working for your brand. And on top of that, there are agencies for virtually every facet and function in advertising. You have agencies providing creative strategists, data scientists, graphic design experts, video production specialists, and performance marketers.

Also, the density of creatively-driven people in NYC means your campaign is shaped by professionals who have worked across industries. 

2. Cultural Influence and Trend Leadership

New York doesn’t just follow trends, it sets them. Campaigns launched here can and do influence culture far beyond the city’s five boroughs. Whether it's social media storytelling on TikTok, bold visual identities in Times Square, or integrated media campaigns tied to arts, attractions, and tickets for live entertainment, NYC agencies understand how to create work that resonates.

Being embedded in such a dynamic environment allows advertising agencies to tap into real-time insights, emerging consumer behaviors, and shifting audience expectations.

3. Full-Service and Integrated Capabilities

Many NYC advertising agencies operate as full-service partners. They offer brand strategy, digital strategy, creative development, content creation, media buying, marketing analytics, and campaign optimization. 

This is favorable, particularly for large brands that may need help across different advertising functions. They have all the services integrated and in one place for a unified view and easy accountability. 

In fact, data shows that integrated marketing can increase ROI by 31%. It also ensures that your campaigns are cohesive across platforms.

4. Data and Performance Expertise

This is an important one because most agencies only excel at running campaigns. However, many NYC agencies also offer data-driven performance marketing innovation. Many leverage advanced data science techniques and AI to optimize media spend and customer targeting.

With media inflation on the rise for both digital and out-of-home advertising, data becomes the differentiator between optimized spend and waste. 

Instead of simply launching ads, a performance advertising agency can refine campaigns using real-time insights to drive growth, increase conversions, and strengthen customer engagement.

How Much Does an Advertising Agency Cost in NYC?

The cost of hiring an advertising agency in New York City varies widely depending on scope, services, and the complexity of your campaign. In general, NYC agencies are pricier simply because operating costs for them are higher than national averages. 

That said, it’s home to global ad giants, boutique creative agencies, and innovation shops. So, reputation can also impact the price you pay for services. 

Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect.

1. Hourly Rates

Many advertising agencies in New York bill on an hourly basis, for consulting, brand strategy, digital strategy, or specialized services like search engine marketing and paid social.

• Mid-sized agencies: $150-$250 per hour
• Top-tier or full-service agencies: $250-$500+ per hour
• Specialized consultants (brand strategy, media buying experts, etc.): Can exceed $500 per hour

2. Monthly Retainers

For ongoing marketing and advertising support, most companies opt for a monthly retainer model. This is common for enterprise brands needing continuous media buying, social media management, or performance marketing optimization.

• Small to mid-sized businesses: $5,000-$15,000 per month
• Growth-stage brands: $15,000-$50,000 per month
• Enterprise clients and global entertainment brands: $50,000+ per month

Retainers usually include a dedicated team, campaign management, strategic oversight, reporting, and creative execution on different channels. 

3. Project-Based Pricing

If you’re planning a specific advertising campaign, you could choose to work with an agency on a per-project basis.

Examples:

• Brand strategy & visual identities: $25,000-$150,000+
• Integrated advertising campaign: $50,000-$500,000+
• Mobile app development with marketing support: Can exceed $250,000

The range depends on scope, timeline, deliverables, and whether the agency is acting as a full-service marketing agency or focusing on a specific discipline.

Don’t forget media spend budgets: Keep in mind that agency fees are separate from your media spend. If you're investing in ads across social media, search engine marketing, or programmatic platforms, you’ll also need to budget for paid media. 

What Type of Advertising Performs the Best in New York?

In a city as dynamic and diverse as New York City, no single advertising format dominates every business’s goals. It all depends on factors like your business niche, target audience, budget, and competition. 

NYC marketers, agencies, and brand strategists increasingly mix creativity with data-driven insights to reach audiences across platforms and physical spaces. Let’s talk specifics: 

Digital and Social Media Advertising

Digital advertising remains a cornerstone of performance for many New York brands. With billions of daily searches and audiences spending extensive time on social platforms, search advertising, paid social campaigns like TikTok video ads, and programmatic display ads offer targeted reach with measurable results. 

And it’s where the majority of your audience may be. For instance, TikTok has a significant young user base in NYC (18-24 years). 

Also, digital strategies allow you to optimize campaigns based on real-time performance data, audience behavior, and platform insights. This makes them effective for audience segmentation and conversion-focused goals.

Out-of-Home (OOH) and Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH)

When it comes to local awareness and broad visibility, out-of-home advertising, particularly digital out-of-home (DOOH), performs exceptionally well in NYC. After all, with places like Times Square and Union Square, Fifth Avenue, and a massive transit system, NYC provides ample outdoor advertising opportunities. 

DOOH’s flexible, LED-driven formats in high-traffic areas provide massive reach and high recall, helping brands stand out amid the city’s visual energy. One study shows that consumers view DOOH ads more favorably than many traditional ad formats.

OOH ads are still relevant and can do well in a place like NYC. But for brands with a limited budget, digital ads would be the more cost-effective choice. 

Integrated and Omnichannel Campaigns

The most effective advertising in New York isn’t about choosing a single channel; it’s about integration. Top agencies combine social media, digital advertising, retail media networks, video production, and OOH assets into coordinated campaigns that meet audiences wherever they are. 

Retail media, for example, has seen rapid growth as brands merge online ads with point-of-purchase influence. Many NYC marketers lean into this trend for higher ROI.

Build a Performance-First Advertising Engine with inBeat

If you’re looking for an advertising agency in NYC that drives measurable performance through paid social and search, inBeat Agency is built for that mandate. We help brands turn digital advertising into a structured, scalable growth engine.

Whether the goal is product sales, subscription growth, or market expansion, we leverage creator-led content, cross-channel amplification across social and search, and disciplined performance optimization to move the needle where it matters.

Our campaigns consistently generate strong return on ad spend while maintaining efficient customer acquisition costs, even in competitive markets like New York. We scale what works and eliminate what does not.

Ready to build advertising that performs? Get in touch with us to map out your growth strategy.

FAQs

Why is New York City considered the advertising capital of the world?

New York City is home to many of the world’s most influential advertising agencies, ad giants, and global media networks. The city attracts top-tier marketers, creative people, and major brands across industries. Its concentration of talent, culture, and media infrastructure makes it a global hub for strategy, innovation, and high-impact campaigns.

What services do advertising agencies in NYC typically offer?

Most advertising agencies in New York provide full-service solutions, including brand strategy, digital marketing, media buying, social media advertising, video production, and graphic design. Many also offer search engine marketing, data integration, web development, and performance optimization as add-ons. The best agencies combine creativity with data science to drive measurable growth and conversions.

How long does it take to see results from an advertising campaign?

Timelines depend on the type of campaign and goals. Performance-driven digital marketing campaigns can start generating insights and conversions within weeks, while branding or rebrand initiatives may take several months to show full impact. A strong strategic foundation and ongoing optimization are important for accelerating results.

What advertising services does inBeat Agency offer?

inBeat Agency specializes in performance-focused advertising and creator-driven marketing. Our services include paid media management, social media advertising, influencer marketing, performance creative production, and data-backed campaign optimization. We combine brand strategy with measurable performance to drive customer acquisition and scalable growth for our clients.

Should I choose a full-service agency or a specialized ad agency?

If you need integrated support across branding, strategy, media buying, and creative production, a full-service marketing agency may be the best fit. However, if your goal is highly focused performance marketing or a specific discipline like search engine marketing, a specialized agency can deliver deep expertise.