Explore Revive Adserver, the free open-source ad server descended from OpenX. See features, self-hosting requirements, and hosted pricing for 2026.
Category
Productivity
Pricing
Free and open source (GPL license) for self-hosted use; an optional hosted edition is available from third-party providers for a monthly fee., from Free (self-hosted); hosted edition from around $10/month
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2013
Headquarters
No corporate headquarters - open-source project; originally developed under OpenX Technologies, now maintained by Aqua Platform
Web AppAPIOpen SourceFreemiumSelf-Hosted
Overview
Revive Adserver is an open-source ad server whose codebase traces back to the phpAdsNew project from around 2000-2001, which became Openads and then OpenX Source by 2007. When OpenX Source was acquired and rebranded in September 2013, it became Revive Adserver, released under the GNU General Public License. Project stewardship passed to Revive Software and Services in 2015 and then to Aqua Platform in 2024, which maintains the software today and offers a paid hosted edition alongside the free self-hosted download.
Key Features
The platform supports zone-based ad targeting, banner rotation, click and impression tracking, frequency capping, and multiple ad formats including banner, text, rich media, and video. A plugin architecture, introduced in the OpenX era, allows developers to extend core functionality, and a REST API enables programmatic management of campaigns and inventory.
Pricing
The downloadable, self-hosted edition of Revive Adserver is completely free under its GPL open-source license, with no licensing or per-impression fees. Organizations that prefer not to manage their own servers can use a hosted edition offered by maintainer Aqua Platform, which starts at approximately $10 per month. The project also accepts voluntary sponsorships via Patreon from businesses earning revenue through the software.
Key Features
Self-Hosted Ad Serving — Deploy the full ad server on your own infrastructure at no licensing cost.
Zone-Based Targeting — Target ad delivery by browser, domain, language, and other visitor attributes.
Plugin Architecture — Extend core functionality with plugins, a system introduced in the OpenX-era codebase.
Multi-Format Ad Support — Serve banner, text, rich media, and video ad formats from one system.
Click and Impression Tracking — Built-in statistics and tracking system for measuring campaign performance.
Frequency Capping — Limit how often the same visitor sees a given ad.
REST API — Programmatically manage campaigns, zones, and inventory via the Revive Adserver REST API.
GPL Open-Source License — Full access to the source code with no vendor lock-in.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free to self-host under the GPL license
Long track record with roots going back to the early 2000s
Active open-source community and GitHub contributor base
Full control and customization of source code and data
REST API available for automation and integrations
No per-impression licensing fees
Cons
Requires self-hosting and ongoing server maintenance for the free edition
Admin interface feels dated compared to modern SaaS ad servers
Technical setup (PHP/MySQL environment) is required
Limited official support without opting into the paid hosted plan
Fewer built-in programmatic/RTB integrations than commercial ad servers
Documentation can be sparse for some newer features