MediaAlpha
Real-time bidding exchange - the fastest route to carrier offers you cannot access directly
Overview
MediaAlpha runs a real-time bidding exchange where carriers bid for each individual lead as it is generated. For publishers this solves the access problem: instead of negotiating with each carrier, you plug into one integration and receive bids from many. The trade-off is that you give up direct relationships and the margin that comes with them.
Strengths
- One integration gives access to many carriers
- Real-time bidding usually beats static CPL floors
- Faster onboarding than direct carrier programmes
Trade-offs
- Bids fluctuate with demand, so revenue is less predictable
- You lose the direct relationship and cannot negotiate
- Quality scoring is strict and opaque
Commission structure
| Model | PPL — per lead (bidding) |
|---|---|
| Published rate | $5–$25 per qualified lead |
| Cookie window | Varies by programme |
| Payment terms | Net 30 |
| Minimum payout | $100 |
| Recurring | No |
| Payout tier | Medium Solid mid-range economics |
Source: dlminds.com · Data checked: 2026-10-28
How to apply for the commission
- Apply as a publisher and describe your traffic source and vertical.
- Complete the integration - typically a ping/post API or a hosted form.
- Set a floor price per lead so you do not sell below your cost of traffic.
- Monitor the bid landscape weekly; it moves with carrier demand and seasonality.
- $100 minimum, Net 30.
The realistic first stop for most new publishers in this category. You will earn less per lead than a negotiated direct deal, but you will be earning in weeks rather than months, and the data you collect tells you which carriers to approach directly later.
Traffic restrictions
US traffic. TCPA-compliant consent language is mandatory on all lead forms.
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