System1 Alternative | AI Ad Testing in 20 Seconds Starting at $99 | Test My Advertising

System1 Alternative: Predict Which Ad Wins in Market

System1 measures emotional response to predict brand growth.
TestMyAdvertising predicts which ad wins in market — in 20 seconds, starting at $99.

Same goal, different approach. Faster results. Fraction of the cost.

Test My Ad in 20 seconds →
TestMyAdvertising System1 Test Your Ad
Speed 20 seconds 24 hours+
Starting Price $99/test $5,000+ (estimated)
Methodology Real-world competitive outcomes Emotional response panels
Database 18T+ outcomes 100,000+ ads

Two Approaches to the Same Problem

Both System1 and TestMyAdvertising want to answer the same question: Which ad will perform better?
But we take fundamentally different approaches to get there.

System1: Emotional Response → Brand Growth

System1's Star Rating measures how ads make people feel. Their methodology is built on a compelling insight: emotional ads drive long-term brand growth. Panelists watch your ad and select emotions from a pictorial scale (FaceTrace™). The resulting emotional profile predicts brand-building potential.

This approach has been validated by the IPA and WARC. It works — especially for brand marketers focused on long-term growth.

TestMyAdvertising: Real-World Outcomes → Market Performance

TestMyAdvertising is trained on 18 trillion real-world outcomes — when two pieces of content competed for engagement in the real world, which one won? We learn from what actually worked in market, not opinions about what might work.

We then proved with Fortune 500 & Super Bowl advertisers that this beats all other approaches to predicting real-world outcomes, and were awarded a patent on it.

System1 predicts emotional response. We predict market winners.

Detailed Comparison

Comparisons based on publicly available information. Individual experiences may vary.

Feature TestMyAdvertising System1 Test Your Ad
Speed ~20 seconds 24 hours (express) to 2+ weeks (full guidance)
Pricing Starting at $99/test $5,000-$10,000+ per test (estimated)
Pricing Model Pay-per-test Enterprise contracts
Methodology AI trained on 18T+ real-world competitive outcomes FaceTrace™ emotional response panels
Sample 200M+ people (behavioral data) 150-500 panelists per test
Primary Metric Market performance prediction Star Rating (1.0-5.9)
Secondary Metrics Winner identification, scoring Spike Rating, Fluency Rating
Database Access N/A 100,000+ ads (Competitive Edge)
Account Required No Yes
Sales Call Required No Yes
Validation Fortune 500 & Super Bowl advertiser results, U.S. Patent IPA, WARC, TikTok validations
Best For Predicting which ad wins Long-term brand building

When Each Approach Makes Sense

Choose System1 if:

  • You're focused on long-term brand building. System1's Star Rating is specifically designed to predict brand growth over time, not immediate performance.
  • You want access to their ad database. Competitive Edge gives you 100,000+ tested ads for benchmarking against competitors and category norms.
  • You want Orlando Wood-style creative guidance. System1's Expert Guidance draws on their thought leadership in emotional advertising effectiveness.
  • You have $5,000+ per test. System1's pricing reflects enterprise-grade service with human guidance and extensive reporting.
  • You need validation for internal stakeholders. The IPA and WARC validations carry weight in boardrooms.

Choose TestMyAdvertising if:

  • You need to know which ad wins — fast. Results in 20 seconds vs. 24+ hours.
  • You're optimizing for market performance, not just emotion. We predict what wins when content competes in the real world.
  • You're testing multiple concepts and need affordability. At $99/test vs. $5,000+, you can test 50x more creative.
  • You don't want to commit to enterprise contracts. Pay-per-test, no minimums, no sales process.
  • You want to test before a campaign, not just track after. Pre-flight prediction vs. post-hoc analysis.

The Speed Difference

System1 Timeline

  • Express (24 hours): Basic Star Rating and metrics
  • Standard (3-5 days): Full reporting with diagnostics
  • Expert Guidance (1-2 weeks): Detailed recommendations and consultation

TestMyAdvertising Timeline

Every test: ~20 seconds

In the time System1 delivers one Express result, you could test 4,320 creative variations with TestMyAdvertising.

We're not exaggerating for effect — speed fundamentally changes how you can use creative testing. Instead of testing your "final two" options, you can test every concept, every headline, every visual treatment.

The Methodology Difference

System1: What People Say They Feel

System1's FaceTrace methodology asks panelists to indicate their emotional response to ads. People watch your creative and select from seven basic emotions plus neutral on a pictorial scale.

This captures conscious, stated emotional response in a research environment.

TestMyAdvertising: What Actually Won in Market

TestMyAdvertising is trained on 18 trillion real-world outcomes — when two pieces of content competed for engagement in the real world, which one won?

We learn from what actually worked in market, not opinions about what might work. No research environment. No stated preference. Just revealed behavior at massive scale.

The gap between stated preference and actual behavior is well-documented. What people say they'll do and what they actually do often diverge — especially in the split-second decisions that determine ad performance.

The Star Rating vs. Market Prediction

System1's Star Rating (1.0-5.9)

The Star Rating predicts long-term brand growth potential based on emotional response. It's validated against the IPA Effectiveness Databank — campaigns with higher Star Ratings achieved more "very large business effects" over time.

This is genuinely useful for brand marketers thinking in years, not weeks.

TestMyAdvertising's Winner Prediction

We predict which ad wins when it competes in market. Our predictions have been validated in controlled tests:

  • 3.6x more TV acquisitions for a Super Bowl advertiser (p < 0.05)
  • 4.4x higher brand lift across 22 CTV ads for a Fortune 500 company (p < 0.05)
  • $3-4M impact on paid SEM for a B2C company
  • 60-70% prediction accuracy across all client tests

Different questions, different methodologies, different use cases.

What About Competitive Edge?

System1's Competitive Edge database (100,000+ ads) is genuinely valuable for competitive intelligence. You can see how competitors' ads performed emotionally and benchmark your category.

TestMyAdvertising doesn't offer a competitive database — we're focused on predicting your creative's performance, not tracking competitors' historical results.

If competitive benchmarking is critical to your workflow, System1's database is a real advantage. If you need fast, affordable predictions for your own creative, TestMyAdvertising fills a different need.

Proven Results

TestMyAdvertising predictions have been validated in controlled tests with statistical significance:

3.6x

more TV acquisitions

Super Bowl advertiser

p < 0.05
4.4x

higher brand lift

Fortune 500 company, 22 CTV ads

p < 0.05
$3-4M

impact on paid SEM

B2C company

100%

accuracy predicting

Apple App Store carousel winners

60-70%

prediction accuracy

across all client tests

We proved with Fortune 500 & Super Bowl advertisers that this approach beats all other methods, and were awarded U.S. Patent 12,020,279.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does TestMyAdvertising compare to System1's Star Rating?

They measure different things. System1's Star Rating predicts long-term brand growth potential based on emotional response — validated against the IPA Effectiveness Databank. TestMyAdvertising predicts which ad wins in market based on 18 trillion real-world competitive outcomes. System1 is strong for brand-building measurement; TestMyAdvertising is built for predicting market performance. System1 takes 24+ hours and costs $5,000+; TestMyAdvertising takes 20 seconds starting at $99.

Is TestMyAdvertising as accurate as System1?

For different questions. System1's Star Rating has been validated by the IPA and WARC for predicting long-term brand effects. TestMyAdvertising has been validated with Fortune 500 & Super Bowl advertisers for predicting which ad wins in market, achieving 60-70% accuracy and results like 3.6x acquisition improvement in controlled tests (p < 0.05). We were awarded a U.S. patent for proving our methodology beats other approaches.

Can I benchmark against competitors like with System1's Competitive Edge?

No. TestMyAdvertising is focused on predicting your creative's performance, not tracking competitors. If competitive intelligence and category benchmarking are core needs, System1's 100,000+ ad database offers something we don't.

Can I test the same ad types as System1?

Yes. Both platforms support TV ads, digital video, social ads, and more. System1 also offers specialized Outdoor and Audio testing; TestMyAdvertising works across all visual and video formats.

Do I need to sign a contract?

No. TestMyAdvertising is pay-per-test with no minimums, no contracts, and no sales process. System1 typically requires enterprise agreements.

What if I'm not satisfied?

We offer a 100% money-back guarantee. If you're not satisfied with the results, we'll refund your payment within 30 days.

Can I use both System1 and TestMyAdvertising?

Yes — and some teams do. System1 for brand-building measurement and competitive benchmarking; TestMyAdvertising for fast, affordable creative optimization during production. Different tools for different questions.

Ready to Try the Faster Alternative?

Predict which ad wins in market — in 20 seconds, starting at $99.

20 seconds, not 24+ hours

Starting at $99, not $5,000+

Real-world outcomes, not panel opinions

100% money-back guarantee

Test My Ad in 20 seconds →

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