Magnetic enabled advertisers to target consumers based on their search intent and behavior, combining search data with display advertising for more effective programmatic campaigns.
Last updated Mar 8, 2026 by AI Enrichment
Search retargeting specialist acquired by Criteo
Magnetic was an advertising technology company that operated a programmatic marketing platform focused on search retargeting and audience targeting capabilities. The company developed technology that allowed advertisers to target consumers based on their search behavior across the web, enabling more precise audience segmentation and campaign optimization. Magnetic's platform combined search intent data with display advertising to help brands reach consumers at various stages of the purchase funnel. The company was acquired by Criteo in 2015 for approximately $20 million. Following the acquisition, Magnetic's search retargeting technology and team were integrated into Criteo's performance marketing platform. The acquisition allowed Criteo to expand its capabilities beyond commerce retargeting into search-based audience targeting, enhancing its product offerings for advertisers seeking to leverage search intent data in their programmatic campaigns. Magnetic's technology and brand were eventually absorbed into Criteo's broader platform, and it no longer operates as a distinct entity. The company's legacy lies in its pioneering work in search retargeting technology and its contribution to the evolution of intent-based programmatic advertising solutions.
Technology that enabled advertisers to target users based on their search behavior and intent signals across the web
Tools for creating and targeting custom audience segments based on search data and behavioral signals