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ViVV Marketing Labs
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Independent comparison

Smartly.io Alternative

Cross-channel execution without the $90K contract

ViVV Labs is a tech-enabled autonomous media agency for growth-stage brands running paid media across Meta, Google, and TikTok. It delivers cross-channel budget rebalancing, heuristic bid optimisation, and senior strategist oversight — From $750/£750 per month self-service, up to ~$12K/£12K per month fully managed — scaled to your spend and channels. — without Smartly.io's enterprise minimums or the need to staff a full media operations team.

Last updated 4 June 2026. We review and refresh this comparison every quarter. Next scheduled review: September 2026.

Why do brands look for Smartly.io alternatives?

Smartly.io is a serious enterprise advertising platform. For organisations running $250K+ in annual ad spend with a dedicated in-house media team, it delivers. The problem is that it was built for that market — and everything about it, from the pricing structure to the onboarding process, reflects that.

What does Smartly.io actually cost?

Smartly.io does not publish pricing. Third-party summaries commonly cite a median annual contract around $90,000 and minimum platform fees of roughly $5,000 per month — figures reported in independent alternatives research and procurement datasets. Teams spending below that threshold are often directed toward resellers or not taken on at all.

Beyond the cost, Smartly.io is a software tool — it automates tasks, but it still requires your team to configure the rules, build the templates, interpret the data, and make strategic decisions. For a growth-stage brand without a five-person media operations team, it adds capability but not capacity.

What does ViVV Labs cost?

ViVV Labs offers two tiers, both scaled per client by ad spend and number of channels: self-service starts from $750 per month, and fully managed engagements run up to around $12,000 per month. Pricing is confirmed on application.

What are the three most common reasons brands switch?

  • Enterprise pricing floor

    The ~$90K annual minimum puts Smartly out of reach for most high-growth brands before they even see a demo.

  • Requires internal team overhead

    Smartly is still a tool. Someone has to run it — configuring rules, managing templates, and making strategic calls daily.

  • Social-first, not search-first

    Smartly's core strength is Meta and Pinterest. True cross-channel execution — especially fluid Meta-to-Google rebalancing — is harder to achieve.

How does Smartly.io compare to ViVV Labs?

Key commercial and operational differences for brands evaluating both options.

FactorSmartly.ioViVV Labs
ModelSaaS platform — client operatedTech-enabled agency — fully managed
Target marketEnterprise / Fortune 500High-growth mid-market brands
Pricing~$90K/yr minimum$750/£750 mo self-serve to $12K/£12K mo managed
Internal team requiredYes — media ops, template management, strategic oversightNo — fully managed by ViVV strategists
Optimisation approachRule-based automation, creative templatesHeuristic OS + senior strategist validation
Cross-channel budget rebalancingSocial-focused (Meta, Pinterest)Meta, Google, TikTok, LinkedIn
Human oversightClient team responsible for all decisionsSenior strategists validate at every threshold
OnboardingEnterprise sales process, significant setupCohort intake — quarterly, selective
TransparencyFull visibility into your own rules and dataGlass-box execution — what ran, why, and what it delivered

Start self-service. Scale to fully managed.

ViVV Labs grows with you. Early-stage brands can start self-service from $750/month — using the operating system to run campaigns with light-touch support. As spend and complexity increase, brands move to fully managed engagements (up to around $12K/month) where senior strategists own the strategy and the system handles execution. You're never paying enterprise rates for a stage you haven't reached, and you're never capped when you're ready to scale.

Self-service

From $750/month

Run campaigns on the operating system with light-touch support, scaled to spend and channels.

Fully managed

Up to ~$12K/month

Senior strategists own strategy; the Glass Box Engine handles cross-channel execution.

Where does ViVV take a different approach?

The fundamental difference is not a feature list — it's the model. Smartly.io gives growth brands access to powerful automation tools. ViVV Labs runs the campaigns. That distinction matters most when a brand does not have the internal team, time, or expertise to operate a sophisticated media platform daily.

ViVV's operating system handles real-time bid adjustments and cross-platform budget shifts autonomously. Major strategic moves — significant budget reallocation, creative pivots, new channel onboarding — require senior strategist validation. That combination is what ViVV calls glass-box execution.

ViVV is built to move budgets fluidly between Meta Advantage+ and Google Performance Max based on live conversion signals, targeting blended CPA across the full account rather than optimising within a single platform alone.

Frequently asked questions

How much does Smartly.io cost compared to ViVV Labs?

Smartly.io does not publish pricing; third-party research (including AdsGo's 2026 alternatives roundup, citing Vendr) puts the median annual contract around $90,000, with roughly $5,000/month minimum platform fees. ViVV Labs pricing: ViVV Labs offers two tiers, both scaled per client by ad spend and number of channels: self-service starts from $750 per month, and fully managed engagements run up to around $12,000 per month. Pricing is confirmed on application.

How much does ViVV Labs cost?

ViVV Labs offers two tiers, both scaled per client by ad spend and number of channels: self-service starts from $750 per month, and fully managed engagements run up to around $12,000 per month. Pricing is confirmed on application.

Does Smartly.io require an in-house media team?

Yes. Smartly.io is a client-operated SaaS platform. Your team configures rules, builds templates, interprets data, and makes strategic decisions. ViVV Labs is fully managed: senior strategists set direction and validate major moves while the Glass Box Engine handles day-to-day execution.

Can Smartly.io rebalance budget between Meta and Google?

Smartly.io is strongest on social channels such as Meta and Pinterest. Fluid Meta-to-Google budget rebalancing based on live conversion signals is a core ViVV Labs capability — targeting blended CPA across the full account rather than optimising within a single platform.

Which option is right for you?

ViVV Labs is a strong fit if you…

  • Are a growth-stage brand running paid media across multiple channels
  • Want full execution handled without building an internal media team
  • Need cross-channel coverage across Meta, Google, and TikTok simultaneously
  • Value transparency — knowing what ran, why, and what it cost
  • Want self-service from $750/month as an entry point instead of a $90K+ annual software minimum

Smartly.io is the better fit if you…

  • Have a dedicated in-house media operations team to run the platform
  • Are spending $250K+ annually and need enterprise-grade creative automation
  • Primarily operate on Meta and Pinterest with deep template workflows
  • Need a self-serve tool your team controls end to end

Q3 2026 cohort — applications open now

See if ViVV Labs is the right fit

Cohort intake is selective and quarterly. Apply to speak with the team about your media budget and growth goals.

Apply for cohort access

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