INFLUENCER MARKETING

Top 20 Paid Media Agencies in the UK for 2026 and Beyond

Finding a paid media agency in the UK can be overwhelming.

Companies like you face the challenge of selecting a partner who understands their market and drives tangible results.

The UK digital ad spend is forecast to reach £45 billion by 2026, growing at 10% year-on-year. This surge means your competitors are likely investing heavily in paid advertising to capture market share. In fact, nearly half (48%) of UK companies now outsource their work, marking a 41% increase since the pandemic.

In this guide, you'll find:

• A curated list of top paid media agencies across the UK.
• These agencies' essential services to boost your visibility and sales.
• The experiences of well-known brands that have succeeded with these agencies.

You're in the right place to find your ideal paid media partner.

Continue reading to make an informed decision that will elevate your company's media strategy.

2026 Update in Our Ranking Methodology

Our 2026 list reflects how paid media agencies are operating in today’s market. We verified active agencies in the UK, their current client rosters, awards, and service offerings, to ensure every entry reflects its latest positioning.

Here are key factors we considered:

• Agencies that have changed their focus, rebranded, or no longer maintain the same level of excellence were carefully reassessed.
• Compared to 2025, this update places more weight on AI-powered campaign optimization. Your competitors are likely working with agencies that have figured this out.
• Agencies that showed strong 2025 performance, particularly those winning industry awards and adapting to industry changes, earned stronger placement.

Platforms, ad formats, and consumer behaviors change quickly in this space, and agencies must adapt or risk underperforming. Our updated list helps you cut through the noise by highlighting firms that are equipped to meet modern paid media demands.

TL;DR: Top Paid Media Agencies in the UK

1. inBeat: inBeat stands out as the best overall paid media agency in the UK, specializing in scalable, personalized paid media campaigns powered by UGC and micro-influencers. By producing high-quality UGC ads and partnering with the top 2% of content creators, we offer unmatched visibility and engagement.
2. Impression Digital: A UK-based paid media agency that integrates technology and creativity to optimize paid media campaigns. Known for effective PPC and programmatic advertising strategies, they cater to e-commerce, B2B, and other industries, boasting clients like Marmalade and Topps Tiles.

• 3. Socially Powerful: A global social media and influencer marketing agency that leverages advanced technology for impactful campaigns. They specialize in influencer marketing and social strategy, serving clients like L'Oréal and Toyota across various sectors, including fashion and technology.
• 4. Distinctly: A paid media agency recognized for highly tailored strategies across Google Ads, paid social, and Amazon advertising. They emphasize continuous testing and optimization to help brands improve efficiency and scale campaigns with greater control.
• 4. Bark.London: A marketing agency built for eCommerce brands, combining paid media, creative strategy, and data analysis. Bark.London helps growing brands improve customer acquisition and lifetime value through full-funnel paid media execution.

Benefits of Hiring a Paid Media Agency in the UK

Working with a paid media agency gives you access to expertise and resources that are difficult to build internally. Here's what makes the difference:

Access to Specialized Expertise

Unlike having an internal media team, working with a media agency gives you access to professionals with diverse skill sets. Being able to tap into their expertise ensures your advertised budgets are used efficiently.

AI is disrupting how things work in the industry, and brands do not have the luxury to play catch-up.

Chris Ridley, head of paid media at Evoluted, pointed out that 2025 marked a turning point:

"Everyone is now talking about the different platforms available, like Perplexity, ChatGPT, Gemini, and they just seem to be dominating. AI Overviews have kind of taken over as well."

Paid media agencies in the UK make it their business to stay on top of these shifts at a local level. They know which tools, platforms, ad formats, and targeting strategies work best for different goals, audiences, and industries in the UK. They develop pattern recognition that in-house teams can't match as they manage campaigns full-time across multiple clients.

Significant Cost Savings

In the UK, hiring just a Paid Media Manager costs around £70,000 in base salary. Building a capable internal paid media team requires substantial investment. A full team covering strategy, execution, and analytics easily costs £250,000+ annually before benefits, software licenses, and overhead.

Agencies provide access to this complete team for a fraction of that cost. You get experts in Google Ads, Meta advertising, programmatic, analytics, and creative without recruitment costs, employee benefits, or turnover risk.

Scalability When You Need It

Business demands fluctuate. You might need aggressive campaigns during product launches or seasonal pushes during peak periods.

Agencies scale effort up or down quickly based on your needs without hiring freezes. In fact, about 60% of companies report that external partnerships give them the ability to scale operations as market conditions change, without disrupting internal processes.

This flexibility is valuable when testing new markets in the UK, adapting to industry trends in this region, or responding to unexpected local opportunities.

Faster Results and Continuous Optimization

Agencies already have established processes and proven frameworks. This means they can complete a project faster than an in-house team might.

They also optimize continuously based on performance data. With AI-powered personalization now capable of increasing revenue by up to 40%, agencies help you adapt to market changes and emerging opportunities faster than internal teams.

More Time for Your Business

Managing paid media properly requires constant daily attention, from monitoring performance metrics to analyzing competitors and testing creative variations. Most businesses find that this pulls internal teams away from product development and strategic initiatives.

65% of companies report that outsourcing enables them to concentrate on their primary business activities. When agencies handle campaign execution, you focus on what you do best while specialists manage the complexities of advertising platforms.

A Deep Dive into Each Top Paid Media Agency in the UK

We've analysed the leading paid media agencies in the UK, their results, and what they are known for. If you're looking to turn ad spend into a reliable revenue channel, these agencies deliver measurable results.

1. inBeat

inBeat is a paid media agency dedicated to driving brand awareness and conversions while bringing the CPAs down through targeted social media influencer campaigns and user-generated content.

What sets inBeat apart as the best paid media agency in the UK is our unparalleled focus on scalable, personalized paid media solutions.

How do we achieve that?

By partnering with the top 2% of content creators, we ensure your paid campaigns feature influencers with the highest engagement rates. This access boosts your brand's visibility and enhances audience trust.

We also run programmatic campaigns for precise targeting. By placing influencer-driven creatives across relevant websites and apps in real time, we help brands connect with their audience wherever they’re already active.

For example, inBeat helped Booksy scale a TikTok-first paid media strategy built on influencer-led UGC that spoke directly to real operational pain points for nail techs and barbers, such as no-shows and double bookings.

By working with highly engaged creators native to the category and rapidly iterating creatives, the campaign positioned Booksy as the essential tool for running a successful professional business.

In just three months, the approach drove a 1,700%+ increase in business registrations and a 637% month-over-month lift in app installs, while cutting cost per business registration by 92%.

And as part of the Fieldtrip ecosystem, when our clients need help beyond paid media, we can bring in specialist partners without the coordination nightmare of managing multiple agencies.

Industries: Mobile Applications, CPG and DTC brands, Retail, eCommerce, Agencies, Fashion, Food, B2B

Notable clients: New Balance, Nestle, Deux par Deux, Linktree, Hopper, Nissan, Disney, Hurom

Key services:

• Paid advertising (from A to Z)
• Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok advertising
• User-generated content creation
• Micro-influencer marketing
• Reporting and analytics
• White-label advertising services

Reason to work with inBeat: With a dedicated focus on personalization and scalability, inBeat connects you with the top 2% of content creators. This ensures your advertising campaigns not only reach but resonate deeply with your target audience, enhancing brand trust and visibility.

2. Impression

Impression Digital is a dynamic paid media agency headquartered in the UK.

They specialize in multi-channel digital advertising to enhance brand visibility and engagement.

We like that their approach includes Amazon ads, WhatsApp advertising, and Google shopping, in addition to traditional paid media channels. This makes them a solid option for eCommerce and retail brands looking to improve product visibility.

Impression has also picked up industry recognition, including wins from The UK Search Awards (2025) for Best Large PPC Agency and Global Search Awards (2025).

You'll benefit from their deep expertise in Paid Search and PPC. Plus, their Programmatic Display Advertising service strategically places ads across a wide network, ensuring optimal visibility and engagement with your target audience.

Industries: eCommerce, B2B, SaaS, Fintech, Sustainability

Notable clients: Marmalade, Topps Tiles, Andertons Music Co., Cuckooland, Abigail Ahern

Key services:

• Paid Search (PPC)
• Paid Social
• Google Shopping
• Programmatic Advertising
• Paid Media Consultancy

Reason to work with Impression Digital: Choose Impression Digital for their award-winning approach and proven track record of significantly boosting client performance across diverse industries through customized, data-driven paid media strategies. Their commitment to excellence in digital advertising makes them an ideal partner for achieving outstanding results.

3. Socially Powerful

Socially Powerful is a global social media and influencer marketing agency operating across the UK, U.S., Europe, and Asia.

They use their proprietary technology, ARIA, to measure real-time campaign performance, from engagement and traffic to conversions. The platform also supports influencer selection, helping teams identify creators based on performance data.

Beyond influencer campaigns, Socially Powerful acts as a social media video production agency. The team produces short-form video content built for both paid and organic distribution.

They also focus on social commerce, helping brands turn engagement into revenue through shoppable content and platform-native purchasing features. This makes them a strong option for teams looking to connect social media activity directly to sales.

Besides, Socially Powerful has been recognized as a Creative Award-Winning Agency and a Global Award-Winning Agency. This highlights its strong presence in the creative marketing space.

Industries: Technology, Fashion, Beauty, Sports, Entertainment, eCommerce, Retail, Automotive, Tech

Notable clients: L'Oréal, Toyota, TikTok, Crocs, ASUS, Xiaomi

Key services:

• Influencer Marketing
• Paid Social
• Social Strategy
• Video Production
• Social Media Community Management

Reason to work with Socially Powerful: Opt for Socially Powerful to leverage their proprietary technology and creative strategies that ensure your brand achieves significant, measurable results. Their commitment to innovation and client success makes them an invaluable partner for brands aiming to make a profound impact on social media.

4. Distinctly

Distinctly is an independent UK paid media agency with over 15 years of experience helping brands grow through PPC and paid social campaigns.

Their expertise spans paid search, paid social, and performance max campaigns, with a focus on aligning advertising efforts with business goals rather than chasing metrics like impressions or clicks.

For example, they restructured a Google Ads campaign for a UK furniture client, delivering a 296% increase in conversions with no added media spend and a 74% reduction in cost per acquisition.

We like that they continuously optimize campaigns based on real-time data and aren't afraid to restructure when something isn't working.

Industries: Retail, Legal, Technology, Education, Healthcare, Financial Services

Notable clients: Kenwood, CAMRA, Karidis, Shopify, DAB Radios

Key services:

• Google Ads
• Paid Social Media
• Amazon Ads
• Video Advertising
• PPC Management

Reason to work with Distinctly: Working with Distinctly means engaging with a team that's committed to exceeding your campaign goals with a highly personalized approach and continuous optimization to ensure the best returns on your advertising spend.

5. Bark.London

Bark London is a performance marketing agency that leverages paid media, creative strategies, and data analytics to drive profitable growth for eCommerce businesses.

What makes them different is their in-house data science team. Instead of relying on platform reporting alone, they build custom attribution models and analyze customer lifetime value to help brands make smarter marketing decisions.

In one case, Bark tested Meta's "Incremental Attribution" setting to see if it improved customer acquisition for their client, Pom Pom London. The experiment revealed additional revenue that standard reporting had missed, resulting in up to a 57% improvement in ROAS.

Bark is also a Meta business partner, which means businesses benefit from early access to beta features and advertising credits.

Industries: eCommerce, Retail, Fashion, Home Interior

Notable clients: Free Soul, Dash Water, Craft Gin Club, EO, Getir

Key services:

• Paid Social Media
• Paid Search
• Creative Strategy
• Data Analysis
• Full-Funnel Marketing Strategy

Reason to work with Bark London: Choosing Bark London ensures that your eCommerce brand receives a full-funnel service that drives immediate results and sets the stage for sustainable growth through data-backed marketing strategies.

6. The Social Shepherd

The Social Shepherd is a versatile paid media agency that delivers performance-driven campaigns across social and search platforms.

Recognised as Best Large Social Media Agency (2025) and awarded multiple performance marketing honours, the brand combines creative excellence with measurable paid media results.

Like inBeat, they support end-to-end influencer campaigns and work with creators to deliver narratives that align with each platform's algorithms. However, inBeat emphasizes the importance of nano influencers, given that they have the highest engagement rate at 2.53%.

In addition to their social-first strategy, they manage media buying and run a creative studio that delivers across videography, art direction, and photography.

They also offer bespoke reporting tools which provide clear insights into engagement, conversions, and paid media performance.

Industries: Retail, eCommerce, Technology, Leisure, Fashion & Apparel, Beauty

Notable clients: Uniqlo, easyJet, Love Leggings, Passenger, Menkind, Bio-Oil

Key services:

• Paid Social
• Paid Search
• Creative Strategy
• Analytics & Reporting
• Feed Management

Reason to work with The Social Shepherd: Engage The Social Shepherd for their award-winning approach to paid media that combines data-driven strategies with compelling creative content, ensuring your campaigns perform optimally across all platforms.

7. Clarity Performance (formerly 93x)

Clarity Performance is a London-based B2B PPC agency driving ROI for fast-growing technology and SaaS companies through targeted paid media campaigns. They rebranded from 93x in December 2024 when they joined Clarity Global, a larger integrated agency network with teams across the US, Australia, and Amsterdam.

What makes Clarity Performance different is their exclusive B2B tech focus. Brands also benefit from their emphasis on conversion over simple click and engagement metrics.

With Clarity Performance, your paid campaigns are designed to complement ABM strategies, effectively targeting key accounts for maximum impact. Their strategic use of Google Ads and LinkedIn allows for predictive B2B lead generation, aligning perfectly with your sales goals.

Industries: Technology, SaaS, B2B

Notable clients: Eventsforce, Bankable, Finablr, Open Banking

Key services:

• B2B PPC
• Paid Social Media
• Conversion Rate Optimisation (CRO)
• B2B UX & Web Design
• Content Strategy & Keyword Research

Reason to work with Clarity Performance: Choose Clarity Performance for their deep focus on conversions and strategic campaign design tailored to high-value B2B transactions, ensuring that every pound spent is an investment towards substantial returns.

8. Croud

Croud is a global performance marketing agency headquartered in London, with offices across the UK, US, and Middle East.

What sets Croud apart is their unique hybrid model that combines an in‑house expert team with a global network of over 2,900 digital specialists.

You'll benefit from their data‑driven strategies, which apply precision targeting, audience insights, and ongoing optimization to enhance engagement and ROI across platforms like Google Ads, paid social, programmatic, and search.

For example, Croud’s paid media optimization drove a 216% increase in net profit margin for a consumer brand’s Amazon Retail Media program in just three months.

In another work for IWG, they delivered a 128% uplift in web traffic and 98% boost in conversions while reducing CPC by 13%. This demonstrates the agency’s ability to generate measurable paid media results.

Their paid social campaigns integrate creative execution with analytics to ensure content resonates with target audiences and contributes to lasting customer relationships.

Their analytics and reporting frameworks provide clear visibility into campaign performance, ensuring that every marketing dollar contributes to pipeline progression and revenue growth.

Industries: Technology, Retail, eCommerce, Finance, Travel

Notable clients: Timberland, IWG, Thorne, Skillshare

Key services:

• Programmatic Advertising
• Paid Social Media Management
• Paid Search
• Analytics & Performance Reporting
• Audience Targeting

Reason to work with Croud: Work with Croud to access its global team of specialists who combine deep industry knowledge with proven performance marketing strategies to deliver measurable results and help your business grow across multiple digital channels.

9. Liberty Marketing

Liberty Marketing is a Cardiff-based paid media agency with over 15 years of experience in helping brands grow through PPC, paid social, programmatic campaigns, and consultancy.

They use a flat-rate billing system that prioritizes client interests and results over percentage-based fees.

By partnering with Liberty Marketing, you gain access to strategic campaign management that focuses on quality conversions.

Their approach starts with deep account audits to find wasted spend, then reallocates that budget to better-performing campaigns and channels.

They've also launched Foundation, a beauty-specialist agency within Liberty Marketing, working with brands like Benefit Cosmetics to improve ROI while reducing CPA.

Industries: Retail, Technology, Healthcare, Finance, Education, Insurance

Notable clients: John Lewis, The Co-operative Bank, Cardiff University, Admiral Insurance, NHS

Key services:

• Google Ads Management
• Social Media Advertising
• Remarketing
• Programmatic Advertising
• Display Advertising

Reason to work with Liberty Marketing: Liberty Marketing offers a unique billing structure and a strategic approach to PPC that ensures campaigns are creative and data-driven, maximizing efficiency and ROI.

10. Click Consult

Click Consult is a leading paid media agency with a strong presence in the UK. Founded in 2003, they have delivered successful paid search campaigns for businesses in diverse industries.

They distinguish themselves with a combination of digital marketing services, from paid media to SEO and content marketing. This approach ensures clients receive optimized advertising solutions under one roof.

As a Google Premier Partner with 40+ professionals, they bring scale and platform expertise that smaller agencies can't match. Their expertise spans advanced PPC strategies, programmatic advertising, and conversion rate optimization (CRO).

Plus, the agency has earned industry recognition, including Integrated Search Agency of the Year (Large) at the 2025 UK Agency Awards, which reflects their commitment to excellence.

Industries: Retail, Finance, Healthcare, Education

Notable clients: Truprint, Netflights, Sanofi, Age UK, CV Library

Key services:

• Paid Search (PPC)
• Programmatic Advertising
• Paid Social Media
• Conversion Rate Optimisation
• Display Advertising

Reason to work with Click Consult: Opt for Click Consult to utilize their award-winning campaigns and data-driven strategies, which are designed to deliver measurable improvements in ROI and comprehensive digital growth.

11. Ality

Ality is a paid media agency that focuses on using social advertising to reach and engage target audiences across platforms, including Snapchat, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter).

We appreciate that their services cover PPC search, paid social, display advertising, and even Spotify ads.

That’s important because nearly 11 million people in the UK listen to podcasts every week, with Spotify commanding the largest share of listeners. This means your business can reach audiences even without visual media.

Their integration with different channels ensures a cohesive marketing strategy that enhances your reach and drives meaningful business results.

Industries: Beauty, Retail, Restaurants, B2B, Education, Hospitality

Notable clients: Barry M Cosmetics, Move Space London, Beer & Pub, Urban Exposure PLC

Key services:

• Paid Social Advertising
• PPC
• Display Advertising
• Spotify Advertising
• Content Marketing
• SEO

Reason to work with Ality: Engage with Ality for their comprehensive and integrated approach to paid social media, ensuring your campaigns are creative and innovative and strategically aligned with your broader digital marketing goals.

12. Enjoy Digital

Enjoy Digital is a UK-based paid media agency that focuses on PPC, remarketing, and programmatic advertising to boost client ROI and achieve specific marketing goals.

They follow a meticulous approach to PPC advertising that enhances the quantity and quality of your leads through established partnerships with major platforms like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.

We like that they amplify remarketing strategies that keep your brand top of mind. That way, you retain existing clients while attracting new ones.

The agency also won Best PPC Campaign (Large) at the UK Agency Awards for their work with Hunters estate agents, demonstrating excellence in paid search strategy and real business impact.

Enjoy Digital offers performance‑focused PR services with its paid media efforts. This ensures that your earned visibility supports campaign performance.

Industries: Retail, Financial, Leisure, Education, Food & Beverage, Technology, Professional Services

Notable clients: Northern Trains, Cloud Nine, Age Co, Valspar

Key services:

• PPC
• Remarketing
• Programmatic Display
• Paid Social Advertising
• Paid Media Training

Reason to work with Enjoy Digital: Partner with Enjoy Digital to leverage their robust, results-driven approach, which promises to not only meet but exceed your paid media objectives with strategic, data-backed campaign management.

13. Roar Digital

Roar Digital manages paid media with a focus on Google, Microsoft, and social media platforms. The team has over 40 years of combined experience across diverse industries.

What we like about Roar is how they implemented AI at every phase to increase ROI, including AI-enhanced ad copy.

Partnering with this agency ensures you benefit from their AI-assisted optimization for better leads and conversions.

Roar also excels at segmented remarketing, which helps brands reconnect with visitors who have already engaged, turning their interest into conversions.

Their granular performance reporting ensures you can track results in real time and understand exactly what’s driving growth.

Industries: Retail, Technology, Healthcare, Finance, Education, eCommerce

Notable clients: Samsung, Google, Microsoft, Barclays, NHS

Key services:

• Paid Search Strategy
• Google Ads Management
• Facebook and Instagram Ads
• Microsoft Advertising
• Remarketing

Reason to work with Roar Digital: Roar Digital offers a modern approach to paid media, integrating advanced market intelligence and data-driven strategies that not only reach but engage your target audience, optimizing every aspect of your campaigns for peak performance.

14. Algebra

Algebra Digital is a London‑based performance marketing agency specializing in paid media and social campaign management that helps brands scale their digital advertising.

They offer paid ads for every step of the customer journey, including Google Shopping campaigns and app promotion across marketplaces.

Algebra Digital also manages Microsoft (Bing) Ads, which gives brands access to high-intent search traffic outside Google.

By working with Algebra Digital, you benefit from their targeting and retargeting efforts that precisely engage your desired audience to maximize responsiveness.

In their work with Rolawn, a turf and landscaping supplier, Algebra Digital used carefully segmented targeting to reach high-intent customers, resulting in a 677% increase in conversion rate in a short timeframe.

Industries: eCommerce, Technology, Fashion, Health and Wellness, Food and Beverage

Notable clients: H&M, Tesla, Sony, Nestlé, Adidas

Key services:

• Audience Segmentation
• Creative Campaign Development
• Performance Optimization
• Cross-Platform Social Media Advertising
• Detailed Analytics and Reporting

Reason to work with Algebra Digital: Their innovative approach combines creative content with precise data analysis, providing tailored campaigns that significantly enhance online engagement and conversion rates.

15. MRS Digital

MRS Digital stands out as a leading Google and Microsoft-accredited paid search marketing agency committed to delivering exceptional ROI through smart, data-driven advertising strategies.

They pride themselves on their ability to use data to spend smarter, maximizing your advertising budget for the best possible returns.

You will also gain from their expertly managed Google Shopping services, designed to increase your visibility and sales effectively.

Their commitment to ongoing campaign optimization guarantees that your advertising efforts will continuously improve, adapting to changes and new opportunities.

Industries: Retail, eCommerce, Healthcare, Finance, Education

Notable clients: Grange, Adgen, Campbells, Indigo Silver, Amber Pumpkin, Mulgari

Key services:

• Paid Search Advertising
• Google Shopping Management
• Remarketing Lists for Search Ads (RLSAs)
• Conversion Rate Optimization
• Custom Landing Page Design

Reason to work with MRS Digital: They focus on cost-efficiency and effective ad spending, providing high-quality results and detailed reporting to ensure your campaigns continually evolve and succeed.

16. Semetrical

Semetrical is a London-based paid media agency that delivers tailored omnichannel campaigns for various business sizes.

You'll benefit from their award-winning approach to PPC, which involves in-depth keyword research and audience targeting. This ensures your ads reach the right people at the right time.

Their paid social strategies are tailor-made to engage your target audience effectively across multiple platforms.

We also like their display advertising approach. That’s because they use real-time bidding and transparent inventories to place your ads strategically throughout the customer journey.

Of course, we appreciate that they provide detailed reporting that helps you track the effectiveness of your campaigns and optimize your investment.

Industries: eCommerce, Enterprise, Fashion, International Business, B2B, and Travel

Notable clients: Ticketmaster, Stripe, OnTheMarket, Lexis Nexis

Key services:

• PPC
• Paid Social
• Display Advertising
• Reporting
• Google Shopping
• International PPC

Reason to work with Semetrical: Choosing Semetrical means partnering with a proactive agency committed to transparency and tailored solutions, making them ideal for businesses seeking measurable growth in their digital marketing efforts.

17. Bamboo Nine

Bamboo Nine is a Brighton-based Google Premier Partner that offers a solid list of paid media services.

They increase paid media ROI because they execute good search term analysis and ad optimization strategies. These are all designed to lower costs and increase ad quality.

They are also good at custom scripts and bespoke reporting. We appreciate their strategic ad placement and performance insights, tailored to your specific business needs.

Many of their clients also enjoy better visibility and engagement through their expertly managed Google Shopping campaigns. Additionally, these campaigns can reduce your cost-per-acquisition.

With Bamboo Nine, you also benefit from their multi-channel expertise, which includes Google Display and Remarketing strategies.

Industries: Retail, Finance, Education, Healthcare, Technology

Notable clients: Health Express, University of Sussex, Luxury Flooring, Infinity Motorcycles, Paxton Access

Key services:

• Paid Search (PPC)
• Google Shopping
• Display & Remarketing
• Paid Social
• Performance Max Campaigns

Reason to work with Bamboo Nine: Bamboo Nine offers a dynamic, tailored approach to paid media that prioritizes manual optimization and client-specific strategies, making them ideal for businesses looking for personalized service and measurable results.

18. Found

Found is an award-winning paid media agency based in London, recognised for delivering high‑performance paid media campaigns across search, social, programmatic, and display channels.

What sets Found apart is its ability to combine data-driven insights with advanced technology to ensure their campaigns are precise, impactful, and tailored to your audience. Their proprietary AI tool, Luminr, provides competitor intelligence and market insights, helping you stay ahead of the competition.

You'll also benefit from their ongoing campaign optimization and performance analysis, which continually refine strategies to improve engagement and conversions.

Their work has earned industry recognition, including Best Use of Google Media at the Independent Agency Awards, which highlights their excellence in leveraging paid media to drive tangible results.

Industries: eCommerce, Travel, B2B, Financial & Professional Services, Food & Beverage

Notable clients: ZPG, Premier Inn, Vodafone, The Gym Group, Red Bull

Key services:

• PPC
• Paid Social
• Programmatic Advertising
• Google Shopping
• Influencer Marketing
• Display Advertising

Reason to work with Found: Partner with Found for their comprehensive approach to paid media, which combines advanced analytics, a focus on ROI, and customized strategies tailored to meet unique business needs and goals.

19. Disrupt

Disrupt is a London-based influencer and paid social agency that leverages cultural relevance and extensive data analysis to amplify social media marketing campaigns.

Their strategies extend across Meta, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, and other platforms, designed to reach consumers where they’re most active.

Similar to inBeat, they utilize an approach that combines influencer marketing and paid social strategies to achieve outstanding engagement and conversion rates.

We like that their approach goes beyond running ads. Disrupt also produces story‑led content in‑house, from short‑form video and photography to platform‑specific creative, designed to cut through the noise and capture attention.

Industries: Fashion, Technology, Food & Beverage, Entertainment

Notable clients: WIZZ Air, Estrella Damm, LELO, WÜSTHOF USA, TOMS

Key services:

• Influencer Marketing
• Paid Social Campaigns
• Social Media Management
• Content Production
• Platform-Specific Strategy

Reason to work with Disrupt: Disrupt combines influencer marketing, paid social, and content production under one roof. This ensures your campaigns benefit from story-led, social-first content that is built to perform.

20. ActiveWin

Founded in 2013, ActiveWin is a full-service digital marketing agency based in Manchester.

What sets ActiveWin apart is their comprehensive omnichannel strategy, integrating PPC with SEO, CRM, UX/CRO, web design, and campaign analysis for a holistic digital marketing approach.

With proficiency in running targeted campaigns across major social media platforms, ActiveWin helps you connect with potential customers on channels like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

Additionally, their expertise in native advertising ensures your content is seamlessly integrated into reputable publications. This leads to a less disruptive and more relevant promotional experience for your audience.

Industries: Finance, Medical, Property, Sports Marketing, Online Gambling

Notable clients: Betfred, Arm Candy, GGRecon

Key services:

• Paid Media
• PPC
• SEO
• Web Development
• Affiliate Marketing
• CRM Marketing
• UX & CRO Services
• Customer Support

Reason to work with ActiveWin: ActiveWin's award-winning team delivers digital strategies tailored to your business needs, ensuring impactful results and a tangible ROI. Their extensive experience across various industries makes them a reliable partner for your digital marketing endeavors.

Key Factors in Choosing a Paid Media Agency in the UK

Selecting the right paid media agency requires evaluating several critical factors that directly impact your campaign success and ROI. From our experience partnering with different brands, here’s what matters most.

Transparency and Communication

Look for a paid media partner that provides clear reporting and full visibility into ad spend and outcomes.

It’s no surprise that 62% of marketers say they’ve ended or considered ending a partnership with an agency due to zero transparency. When you can't tell what's working or where money is going, you can't make smart decisions about your budget.

Ask specific questions: How often will we meet? What does your standard report look like?

From our experience, communication quality during the sales process predicts how the relationship will go. If an agency is slow to respond, vague about pricing, or reluctant to share their approach before signing, those patterns will continue after you're locked in.

Strategic Alignment

A strong agency should understand your growth model, your revenue targets, your unit economics, and how paid media fits into that system.

From our experience, the best partnerships happen when agencies can translate business goals into media strategy. That means knowing when to push for aggressive growth, when to protect efficiency, and when to test new markets or products without risking core performance. If an agency only talks about platforms and tactics, they’re thinking too small.

Ask how they connect paid media decisions to broader business goals like pipeline growth, LTV, retention, or market expansion. If they can’t articulate that clearly, they’re probably operating at a tactical level.

Decision-Making Quality Under Uncertainty

Anyone can show you a dashboard. What matters is how an agency makes decisions when the data is messy, incomplete, or contradictory (which is most of the time).

In real campaigns, you’re usually choosing between imperfect options: scale faster and risk efficiency, or protect margins and slow growth; double down on what works, or invest in uncertain experiments. A strong paid media partner should help you navigate these tradeoffs.

From what we’ve seen, the best agencies explain what and why it happened, what it means, and what they would do next if it were their budget. That kind of thinking is far more valuable than any single metric.

Wrapping Up

Choosing the right paid media agency in the UK comes down to finding a partner that understands how your business actually grows and how paid media fits into that picture.

Every agency brings a different perspective, but what sets us apart at inBeat is how we approach performance: we focus on real outcomes, continuous testing, and strategies that evolve as your business does. We run campaigns, sure, but most importantly, we help teams make better decisions with their budgets.

If you’re looking for a paid media partner that thinks long-term and adapts as you scale, we’d love to talk. Get in touch with us at inBeat to see how we can help you grow.

FAQS

What does a paid media agency do?

A paid media agency manages your advertising campaigns across platforms like Google Ads, Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, and social networks. They handle everything from strategy development and audience targeting to creative production, bid management, performance optimization, and reporting. The goal is to maximize your return on ad spend (ROAS) by reaching the right audiences with compelling messages at the right time.

How much does it cost to hire a paid media agency in the UK?

Paid media agency pricing in the UK varies depending on scope, ad spend, and service model. Some agencies charge a monthly retainer, others use flat fees, while some still rely on a percentage of ad spend. Costs typically range from a few thousand pounds per month for smaller accounts to significantly more for enterprise-level campaigns.

How do I choose the best paid media agency for my business?

The best paid media agency depends on your industry, goals, and growth stage. Agencies with proven experience in your sector tend to understand audience behavior, platform nuances, and conversion drivers more effectively.

What is the best paid media agency in the UK?

inBeat stands out as a top paid media agency in the UK for brands seeking scalable campaigns powered by user-generated content and influencer partnerships. The agency focuses on paid social and paid search strategies to increase conversions while keeping acquisition costs under control.

APPENDIX: RESEARCH SOURCES

1. IAB UK & PwC Digital Adspend Report 2026 (published October 2025)

2. Statista Global Digital Advertising Statistics

3. ScaleUpAlly "25 Key Outsourcing Statistics & Facts"

4. Digital Silk Digital Advertising Statistics Report 2025

5. Top 13 Paid Media Agencies In The UK (2026)

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Agencies in the UK

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Agencies in Canada

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Agencies in France

• Marketing Agencies in France
• Social Media Agencies in France
• Paid Media Agencies in France
• Influencer Marketing Agencies in Paris