15 Essential Media Planning Tools [+ Free Template]

In today's day and age, people are consuming marketing and media in more ways than one. Media planning software is essential for those who want to reach their audiences across several channels, including TV, publications, online, and radio.

If you're ready to get started with media planning, we've rounded up a list of the essential media planning tools, software, and templates to use this year to help grow your audience.

1. HubSpot Media Planning Template [Featured Resource]

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HubSpot's paid media template can help you track your spending on paid media when your messages are going out and how much revenue you're generating from each source.

With this media tool, you'll have access to charts that automatically adjust when you add your spending and ROI information. This resource is free — get your copy now.

What we like: You can use this template to compile monthly data from your media efforts. With this media planning tool, you'll see which paid media channel works best for your company and produces the best results for your bottom line.

Free Paid Media Template

Track and organize your media planning and media buying with this free paid media template.

• Organize your paid media placements
• Easily calculate total spend
• Analyze performance and revenue
• And more!

Download the Free Template Learn more Download the Free Template

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Click this link to access this resource at any time.

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2. Bionic Media Planning Software

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Bionic has some of the best media planning tools. They offer companies flowcharts, IOs and RFPs, trafficking, reporting, and dashboards about clients.

It has an average of 3.1 software updates on a monthly basis, meaning agencies using the software are provided with up-to-date planning tools to run and organize their campaigns.

What we like: Bionic is a cloud-based media planning tool. You can be up and running with this tool in minutes with unlimited training, support, and data backups at no additional cost.

3. Kantar SRDS Media Planning Platform

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The most important tool in media planning is data, and Kantar SRDS offers companies some of the best data-gathering tools. Thanks to their top-notch data-gathering software, you can feel confident promoting your media on all platforms.

What we like: You'll have access to extensive datasets that showcase audience statistics and demographics. This will help you choose the right platforms and messages to target specific audiences.

4. Media Plan HQ

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Media Plan HQ is a great media planning tool that doesn't rely on spreadsheets. A real-time interface tracks dates, placements, and budgets without relying on Excel. The organized interface will make it easy for you to track your marketing ROI and share all the data with your team and stakeholders.

What we like: It's a collaborative tool allowing you to work alongside team members without all the back-and-forth communication in emails.

5. BluHorn

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BluHorn promises companies easy media planning and buying by integrating with Nielsen and Comscore to give you instant access to data insights. Some of the best features that BluHorn offers are a vendor database, data filters, and post-buy.

What we like: BluHorn allows you to use Google Analytics and Facebook for further tracking and seamless digital buying of products. One of the best things about this media planning tool is that you can integrate with Amazon AWS.

6. Mediatool

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Mediatool is a collaborative marketing platform that can help companies plan media to target whoever they want to. You can leverage actionable insights, collaborate with your team members, and develop impactful ad campaigns to make you stand out.

What we like: There are only four steps to using the platform to plan media. It's efficient, easy to understand, and easier to use than other media software.

7. Quantcast

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When you use Quantcast, you'll have insights with data from over 100 million websites. The tool uses AI so users can better predict how their media will influence their target audience. Due to the continuous bombardment of ads for products and services, this feature is essential.

What we like: Quantcast is fantastic for understanding your audience's behavior. It provides real-time insights based on your ads and media to your audience, which can help you better understand them and create ads they'll appreciate.

8. Basis Technologies

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If you're looking for the number one demand-side platform, it's Basis Technologies. Basis Technologies gives you access to 9,000 vendors and over 11,000 publishers and provides them with over 180 data points. You'll also be able to use the messaging tool to help communicate with your team.

What we like: When running multiple ad campaigns, it can feel chaotic. Basis Technologies allows you to integrate all your ads and media in one location across several platforms.

9. Comscore

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Comscore is for transacting, evaluating, and planning media over various platforms. It's best known for providing data for social media, television, and film and allows companies to see measurable metrics to promote their products to their audience.

What we like: You can see the real impact of your media and then optimize your plan throughout different media and screens.

10. Nielsen

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Nielsen is a household name in audience measurement. It's mainly for television metrics, but you can use it for other metrics across platforms. As it analyzes your ads, it provides an all-encompassing view of your audience.

What we like: Nielsen has advanced audience segmentation and competitive intelligence that shows you the total picture of the media landscape. This media planning software can help your brand stand out among your competition.

11. HubSpot Social Media Software

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HubSpot Social Media Software is the best option for those who want to plan media specifically for social media. It allows you to publish any media on Twitter, Instagram, or another social media platform. You can also see how your audience converts from social media to CRM.

What we like: It can be time-consuming to constantly refresh your social media to see how many people have interacted with your ads. This platform will help you save time and effort from continually refreshing your socials.

12. Scarborough from Nielsen

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Scarborough is another name from Nielsen in media planning. It's a media planning tool that helps you get more hyper-focused on audience insights from locals from your area. It's perfect for region-specific ads and promotions.

What we like: You'll be able to profile consumers much more than with standard demographics. You'll see their shopping behaviors, media consumption, and lifestyle. You can further narrow it down by people who watch specific sports or what they stream on devices.

13. MRI-Simmons

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MRI-Simmons gives a company both national and regional focus. This focus can help you learn more about your audiences and target your media more. Clients who use MRI-Simmons include Spotify, Coca-Cola, Dell, and more.

What we like: MRI-Simmons is a powerful segmentation tool that can help you find new audiences and follow trends. Knowing your new audience can help you anticipate their behavior and attitudes and find the best ways to market your products or services to them.

14. SQAD

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This streamlined and intuitive software is ideal for brands, agencies, and advertisers. With SQAD, you can use transaction-based cost data and analytics reporting from marketing giants Comscore and Nielsen to plan and manage all your media strategies.

What we like: This platform covers all media strategies, including digital channels, local networks, and television. The platform is easy to use, allowing you to analyze your audience data efficiently.

15. Monday.com

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Monday.com is an all-encompassing tool that enables you to schedule your media and implement it in the best ways possible for your audience. You can also use the task management features to check off your to-do list.

What we like: It's an affordable media planning tool. Major companies like Hulu, Canva, and NHL use it, to name a few.

Bonus Resource: HubSpot Academy's Paid Media Course

HubSpot Academy's paid media course is a great introduction to media planning software.

It's perfect for all budgets and can allow you to develop paid media strategies and use media through the consumer's journey.

Free Paid Media Template

Track and organize your media planning and media buying with this free paid media template.

• Organize your paid media placements
• Easily calculate total spend
• Analyze performance and revenue
• And more!

Download the Free Template Learn more Download the Free Template

Download Free

All fields are required.

You're all set!

Click this link to access this resource at any time.

Download Now

Planning Your Media Strategy

With today’s saturated media landscape, planning your media strategy becomes essential.

Decide first which platforms you want to use — from traditional advertising to social media. Then find which of the tools above most aligns with your plan.