# StackAdapt vs YouTube Ads: which do AI models recommend for video ads, October 2026

GTM AI Recommendation Index, October 2026 Edition, Video advertising. Six of fourteen models named StackAdapt first on the direct prompt; one named YouTube Ads. Page: https://gtm-ai-index.com/marketing/video-advertising/stackadapt-vs-youtube-ads/

| | First-choice share | Rank | Negative rate | Labels | Models naming it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| StackAdapt | 32% | #1 of 13 | 0% | 36 | 13 of 14 |
| YouTube Ads | 15% | #2 of 13 | 15% | 46 | 14 of 14 |

## The direct prompt, model by model

- Claude Haiku 4.5: stackadapt first (first choices: StackAdapt) (alternatives: LinkedIn Video Ads, MNTN, Vibe.co)
- Perplexity Sonar: stackadapt first (first choices: StackAdapt) (alternatives: AdRoll ABM, LinkedIn Video Ads, The Trade Desk, Vibe.co)
- Mistral Small: stackadapt first (first choices: StackAdapt) (alternatives: Demandbase, YouTube Ads)
- Llama 4 Maverick: stackadapt first (first choices: StackAdapt)
- Qwen 3.7 Flash: stackadapt first (first choices: LinkedIn Video Ads, StackAdapt) (alternatives: Google Ads)
- MiniMax M2.5: stackadapt first (first choices: StackAdapt) (alternatives: AdRoll, Demandbase, Hey Sid)
- Kimi K2: youtube ads first (first choices: LinkedIn Video Ads, YouTube Ads) (alternatives: Hey Sid, StackAdapt)
- GPT-5.4 mini: neither first, one named (first choices: LinkedIn Campaign Manager) (alternatives: YouTube Ads)
- Gemini 3.5 Flash: neither first, one named (first choices: LinkedIn Video Ads) (alternatives: Meta Ads, StackAdapt, Vibe.co, YouTube Ads)
- Grok 4.20: neither first, one named (first choices: LinkedIn Campaign Manager) (alternatives: YouTube Ads)
- DeepSeek V4 Flash: neither first, one named (first choices: LinkedIn Video Ads) (alternatives: StackAdapt, YouTube Ads)
- GLM 4.7 FlashX: neither first, one named (first choices: LinkedIn Video Ads) (alternatives: Demandbase, StackAdapt, YouTube Ads)
- GPT-6 Luna: neither first, one named (first choices: LinkedIn Campaign Manager) (alternatives: StackAdapt, YouTube Ads)
- Muse Glimmer 30B: neither first, one named (first choices: LinkedIn Sponsored Video / LinkedIn Campaign Manager) (alternatives: Google Video, StackAdapt, YouTube Ads)

## What the models said about StackAdapt

- "1. StackAdapt – Best for Programmatic & Multi-Channel Reach ... Designed specifically for advertisers who need programmatic sophistication without enterprise-level complexity or costs." (Qwen 3.7 Flash, direct prompt, first choice)
- "This programmatic advertising platform is highly regarded for mid-market advertisers, offering strong video capabilities and a user-friendly interface." (Mistral Small, direct prompt, first choice)

## What the models said about YouTube Ads

- "major platforms like YouTube and Meta (Facebook/Instagram) have strict advertising policies. Violations can result in harsh penalties, such as ad account suspension." (Mistral Small, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "YouTube has faced brand safety scandals involving obscene comments on videos of children and major brands being shown alongside inappropriate content" (Claude Haiku 4.5, negative prompt, soft negative)
- "if you want broad reach and can support a somewhat higher ongoing test budget; one source suggests $500–1,000/month" (Perplexity Sonar, budget prompt, soft negative)
- "YouTube allows you to set flexible budgets, often starting as low as $1–$5 per day, making it highly accessible for small budgets." (Mistral Small, budget prompt, first choice)
- "Best for: broad reach, intent-driven video, and strong measurement across YouTube, Google TV, and partner inventory." (GPT-5.4 mini, comparative prompt, first choice)
- "Best For: Full-funnel marketing, search-intent audiences, and reaching viewers on both mobile and TV screens." (Qwen 3.7 Flash, comparative prompt, first choice)

Share is the count of first choices across the direct, paraphrase, budget and scale prompts over all fourteen models, for a mid-market B2B company; rank is within the category. Comparisons are drawn for the top eight products in each category. Published under CC BY 4.0; the output is the models' output, and nothing here is a recommendation by the index.