Pixalate’s Publisher Trust Index reveals which publishers are setting the standard for programmatic quality—and shows how ad ops teams can use these benchmarks to boost trust, revenue, and performance across channels.
Media quality is a top concern for advertisers, and publishers are under pressure to prove their value. Between tightening budgets, MFA headaches and the chaos of omnichannel complexity, it’s more important than ever for publishers to define what “premium” really means.
That’s where Pixalate’s monthly USA Publisher Trust Index (PTI) comes in. The PTI highlights which publishers are nailing programmatic quality across web, app and CTV, according to Pixalate.
The PTI grades the publisher ecosystem on signals that can make or break deals today: invalid traffic, ad fraud risk, MFA exposure, brand safety, clutter, viewability and omnichannel reach.
Who’s No. 1 and Why?
Pixalate’s June 2025 rankings shine a spotlight on some standouts in programmatic quality. Here are its picks for the top premium pubs across a few key channels:
- Web:
- Spotify.com claimed the top spot for open programmatic ad traffic quality, a result of steadfast performance on critical metrics like invalid traffic (IVT), brand safety and viewability.
- Mobile Apps:
- Apple App Store: “Tile Family®: Match Puzzle Game” led Pixalate’s rankings in gaming on iOS platforms. This is thanks to maintaining low IVT, delivering highly viewable ad placements and upholding a strong brand safety profile.
- Google Play: “ClevMoney” topped the Android charts in finance; “Words of Wonders: Crossword” took the crown in gaming for mitigating ad fraud risk, avoiding MFA-like characteristics and offering uncluttered experiences that improve ad effectiveness and user satisfaction.
- CTV:
- MLB (Roku), ESPN (Samsung Smart TV), DirecTV (Amazon Fire TV) and Fubo (Apple TV) led among CTV apps, with each boasting low IVT, strong brand safety and high viewability metrics.
What’s separating these champs from the rest? Low fraud exposure, high viewability scores and consistent cross-platform performance. According to Pixalate, these players “excelled across programmatic metrics that impact advertiser ROI and long-term trust.”
Turning PTI Insights Into Action
For ad ops teams dealing with fragmented platforms, rising fraud risks and endless campaign demands, Pixalate’s PTI can serve as a road map for addressing key issues and promoting healthy media and inventory quality.
The metrics that power top performers (think low IVT, minimal clutter and high viewability) protect publisher revenue from makegoods that can occur when ads get served to invalid traffic. These metrics also drive advertiser trust at a time when concerns about open web ad inventory run rampant.
Publishers can think of the PTI as a benchmarking tool: Audit your properties regularly, flag gaps early and implement meaningful fixes across your tech stack.
Pixalate’s rankings also give publishers a glimpse into which metrics really signal quality in today’s marketplace. These are the metrics pubs should highlight to support their sales and strategy, especially when budget scrutiny is high. Demonstrating brand safety, MFA avoidance and consistency across media channels can establish your ad ops team as a strategic revenue driver.