Best Creative Management Platforms 2025

What are creative management platforms?

Creative management platforms (CMPs) are cloud-based software tools that assist users in designing, distributing, automating, and managing the creative process of digital advertising. They allow for the use of a single platform offering a range of different technologies that can be used in the advertising process as well as any creative projects an individual or team may have. They are commonly utilized by marketing, design, and advertising professionals.

CMPs offer users the ability of full collaboration and management within one platform. Users can then start and finish their projects from the same source and digitally transfer the work through these tools to coworkers or clients. If you’re currently using other software systems, most CMPs allow for integration which saves a lot of time transferring information. Because of its versatility and range of features and product options, CMPs are useful for any stage of campaign production.

CMP tools also contain the capability to produce live market data collection & analysis to assist you in any creative projects and give you an advantage over competitors not using these tools. Additionally, the employment of dynamic creative optimization (DCO) allows for more personalized and unique ad content which produces better results. Many of the creative management platform products have features and capabilities that cross-function with other software categories such as customer relationship management and project management tools.

Creative management platform features

Some common features found within most creative management platforms include:

• Marketing calendar
• File Sharing & collaboration
• Targeting & geo-targeting
• Customized reports
• Use, role, & access management
• Workflow capability
• Creative & campaign optimization
• Display functionality

Creative management platforms comparison

Before deciding on a creative management platform, consider the following:

• Free vs paid plans. Many vendors offer a free version that contains unlimited users and interactive platforms which are ideal for businesses just getting started. However, larger and more established organizations and teams may seek more features such as workload charts, custom access roles, and time tracking tools. Depending on your needs and/or what stage your business is in may factor into pricing and which software versions are best suited for you.
• Training. There may be a bit of a learning curve or issues may arise at some point, and some vendors will offer video tutorials to guide you through the process. Ensure that the product you select offers a level of training that fits with your needs and existing knowledge base.
• Research Tools. Not all CMPs have market research tools available. Ensure the platform you select is capable of market research for the target location you are working within and can produce a clear target group for your business.

Pricing Information

Pricing widely varies across products. Some vendors offer a free basic version of their product with unlimited users. For individual use or small firms, these free versions are more than adequate to suit the needs of their business. For paid subscriptions containing more features and advanced research tools, prices typically fall within a range of $9 to $100 per user/month. Most vendors will offer a free trial.