The Best Ad Servers for Publishers in 2027

Short answer: the best ad servers for publishers in 2027 are AdButler, Kevel and Adnuntius. AdButler ranks first overall with a score of 9.3 out of 10, thanks to its independence from ad exchanges, transparent pricing and hands-on support.

What publishers need from an ad server in 2027

Publisher revenue is spread across more channels than ever: websites, apps, email newsletters, podcasts and sponsored content. An ad server has to manage all of them from one place. The publishers we spoke to care most about four things:

• Control over demand. Publishers want to choose which buyers compete for their inventory.
• Fast trafficking. Small ad ops teams cannot spend hours setting up each campaign.
• Newsletter support. Email is now a core revenue line for many publishers.
• Predictable cost. Pricing that does not jump unexpectedly as traffic grows.

The top three

1. AdButler

AdButler is an independent ad server that handles display, native, video and email newsletter ads in one platform. It includes a white-label self-serve portal for advertisers and a well-documented API. For publishers moving off Google Ad Manager, it offers hands-on migration support.

2. Kevel

Kevel is an API-first platform loved by engineering teams. It is an excellent foundation for custom ad products and sponsored listings, but it expects developer resources.

3. Adnuntius

Adnuntius combines ad serving with a self-serve booking portal and audience tools, and is a strong choice for European news publishers.

How to choose

Start with your channels. If email newsletters matter, confirm the ad server renders ads reliably in every major email client. If you sell directly to local businesses, test how quickly a non-technical salesperson can book a campaign. And always ask for a migration plan before you sign.

See the full 2027 rankings and our scoring methodology for the complete list.