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Brief
Tapad was acquired by Telenor (Jan 2016) and acquired by Experian (Nov 2020) (see deal)
Tapad

Tapad

AdTech — Cross-Device Identity Resolutiontapad.com

Tapad is a New York City-based adtech firm, now part of Experian, whose core capability is using algorithmic analysis of internet and device data to determine whether multiple devices belong to a single user, enabling cross-device advertising and content delivery.

Last updated Oct 22, 2026 by the ATDb Editorial Team

Founded
2010
HQ
New York City, New York, United States
Parent
Connections
34

AI-drafted from public sources21 sources cited

At a glance

Employees
51-200
Funding
$75M
Revenue
$50M-$100M
14integrations9competitors1corporate family2acquisitions

About

A leading cross-device identity graph provider, now integrated into Experian's data and identity ecosystem, serving enterprise marketers, media companies, and data platforms globally.

Tapad is a New York City-based adtech firm, now part of Experian, whose core capability is using algorithmic analysis of internet and device data to determine whether multiple devices belong to a single user, enabling cross-device advertising and content delivery. Its platform functions as a unified, privacy-safe digital identity resolution solution that connects users across devices and channels without depending on cookies or device IDs. By building what it describes as a robust identity graph, Tapad enables marketers to identify a consumer or related household across multiple devices, supporting use cases that span programmatic targeting, media measurement, attribution, and personalization. Tapad also launched Switchboard, a module within The Tapad Graph designed to bridge emerging cookieless identifiers with traditional digital IDs, providing continuity for advertisers as third-party cookies are phased out. The platform is used across industries including media, retail, manufacturing, and broadcasting, with the heaviest concentration of customers in the United States, followed by Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada, and India. In 2018, Tapad was named in a series of privacy complaints alleging GDPR violations, filed in the United Kingdom by the watchdog group Privacy International. Source 1: wikipedia.org — Tapad Source 2: landbase.com — Companies using Tapad in 2026 Source 3: catalina.com — Tapad Launches Global Privacy-Safe Solution to Provide ...

Business model

SaaS / Data Licensing

Target market

Enterprise

What they offer

  • The Tapad Graph

    A large-scale identity graph that links multiple devices to a single user or household, enabling cross-device targeting, measurement, and personalization without relying on cookies or device IDs.

  • Switchboard

    A module within The Tapad Graph designed to bridge emerging cookieless identifiers with traditional digital IDs, providing continuity for advertisers as third-party cookies are deprecated.

  • Cross-Device Targeting

    Enables advertisers to reach the same user consistently across smartphones, tablets, desktops, and connected TVs within programmatic campaigns.

  • Attribution & Measurement

    Provides cross-device attribution capabilities that allow marketers to understand the full consumer journey across devices and channels.

Key features

Probabilistic and deterministic cross-device identity resolutionCookie-free and device-ID-free identity graphHousehold-level and individual-level identity linkingCookieless identifier bridging via SwitchboardGlobal identity graph with strong US, Japan, UK, Canada, and India coveragePrivacy-safe by design, with no reliance on third-party cookies

Use cases

Cross-device programmatic advertising targetingMulti-touch attribution across devices and channelsAudience extension and reach amplificationFrequency capping across devicesPersonalization across the consumer journeyMedia measurement and campaign analyticsCookieless identity continuity for advertisers

Customer segments

Enterprise marketers and brand advertisersMedia companies and broadcastersRetail and e-commerce companiesProgrammatic advertising platforms and DSPsData management platforms (DMPs)Ad agencies and trading desksManufacturing sector advertisers

Tech & specs

Technology stack

Probabilistic machine learning algorithmsBig data processing infrastructureIdentity graph databaseAPI-based integration layerPrivacy-enhancing technologies (PETs)

Security & compliance

GDPRCCPAPrivacy-safe identity resolution framework

Deployment

CloudAPI

API

Yes

Explore further

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