Glossary/Adtech & Programmatic/Open Auction
Adtech & Programmatic
Open Auction
Programmatic inventory available to any qualified buyer through an exchange.
By Brandon Mina·CEO, BrandPilot AI·Updated November 2026
Appears in Lesson 5 of Programmatic 101
Short answer
An open auction is a programmatic marketplace where ad inventory is available to any qualified buyer through an exchange, with prices set by real-time bidding. It offers broad reach and flexibility without prior negotiation. However, buyers have less control over placements, and publishers have less control over which advertisers appear, compared with private deals.