11 Best Marketing Agencies in Chicago in 2026

When you think of Chicago, you probably think of the Bean, The Bear, and Portillo’s hot dogs; all a testament to the industrious and innovative nature of the city. The thing is, Chicago didn’t gain this reputation overnight just because it has hot dogs with pickles on them.

​Long before the Chicago dog was invented, Chicago was busy inventing the way the world buys things. Chicago gave us the first mail-order catalogs (Sears), the first car radios (Motorola), and the “Chicago style” of advertising, spearheaded by Leo Burnett, that created icons like the Jolly Green Giant and the Marlboro Man.

If you’re a business in Chicago, you can’t just rest on that legacy and call it a day. In a world where people have shifted from flipping through catalogs to now asking LLMs for shopping advice, Chicago’s agencies are leading the charge in this fast-moving environment. Not every agency is built the same, though, which is why we’ve constructed this guide that contains the information you need to make an educated decision on which agency is best equipped to help your brand.

The Best Chicago Marketing Agencies: Quick Comparison

Keep reading for a deep dive on each of the Chicago marketing agencies that made our list of the top 11.

Best Marketing Agencies in Chicago, IL

1. NoGood

NoGood earns the top spot because we operate fundamentally differently from traditional marketing agencies. Rather than selling fixed services or rigid retainers, NoGood builds custom growth squads around each client: small, senior teams designed to solve specific business problems through experimentation, iteration, and measurable impact.

At the core of our model is constant testing. Every strategy is treated as a hypothesis, validated through real-world experiments across SEO, AEO, paid media, content, lifecycle, and CRO. This testing-first mindset allows NoGood to move faster than larger agencies while staying grounded in performance, not assumptions.

NoGood is also at the forefront of AI-driven marketing innovation. We’re not just adapting to changes in search and discovery, but actively shape them through proprietary tooling and frameworks focused on Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), AI visibility, and brand presence within platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity. Our forward-looking approach ensures clients aren’t just optimized for today’s algorithms, but positioned for where search and discovery are heading next and where it’s at now.

Structurally, NoGood avoids bloated account teams and handoffs. Clients work directly with experienced managers who remain deeply embedded in strategy and execution, supported by specialists brought in as needed. This lean, modular approach keeps communication tight, accountability high, and results moving.

NoGood is an ideal partner for brands that want a proactive, experimental growth team; one that blends creativity, technical rigor, and strategic clarity. For companies looking to push beyond conventional marketing playbooks and win in increasingly complex digital ecosystems, NoGood sets the standard.

Headquarters: New York City, NY

Year Founded: 2016

Team Size: 11-50 employees

Key Services: Performance Branding, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Content Marketing, Social and Paid Ads, Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Video Marketing, Analytics

Industries Served: B2B, Consumer, Fintech, SaaS, Healthcare, AI

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

2. Cramer-Krasselt

Cramer-Krasselt (C-K) is one of the oldest independent marketing agencies in the U.S., with more than 125 years of experience shaping nationally recognized brands. Their longevity isn’t just trivia either. Their team is responsible for culturally iconic work, including Corona’s “Find Your Beach” campaign, which helped redefine the brand for a modern audience.

C-K operates under a “make friends, not ads” philosophy, prioritizing emotional connection and long-term brand equity over short-lived campaigns. While many agencies of their size have been absorbed into global holding companies, C-K has remained independent, allowing them to move faster, avoid network bureaucracy, and maintain a distinct creative point of view. Their recognition as one of the most efficient independent agencies in the U.S. (including an Effie Award win) underscores their ability to pair creativity with measurable performance.

C-K is best suited for established national or global brands looking for a seasoned creative partner with deep brand-building expertise. Smaller or earlier-stage companies may find their offerings better aligned with agencies designed specifically for growth-stage or performance-led engagements.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 1898

Team Size: 201-500 employees

Key Services: Advertising, PR, Brand Planning, Media Buying and Planning, Social Media, Content Marketing, Experience Design, SEO, Analytics

Industries Served: Automotive, Food & Beverage, Financial Services, Healthcare

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

3. Walker Sands

Walker Sands is an integrated B2B marketing and PR agency that focuses on its proprietary Outcome-Based Marketing (OBM) approach. OBM focuses on the how, what, and where to lead with outcomes. Instead of starting with channels and then mapping them to outcomes, Walker Sands starts with outcomes and constructs a plan that will lead to them.

This approach is specialized for B2B brands, as Walker Sands focuses on delivering one of the following outcomes: Position, Growth, Reputation, and Engagement. For example, using creative copy, they helped Semrush generate over 30 high-engagement conversations across LinkedIn and Twitter, boosting brand affinity.

Walker Sands delivers strong B2B results with a creative edge, making them a standout choice for brands that want performance without feeling buttoned-up. That said, their deep B2B specialization means they’re best suited for companies operating in complex, long-cycle sales environments.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 2001

Team Size: 51-200 employees

Key Services: PR, SEO, SEM, Social Media, Web Design, Creative, Branding, Marketing Automation, CRO, Media Planning, Copywriting, Influencer Marketing

Industries Served: AI, IT, Fintech, Healthcare, Martech, eCommerce, Professional Services, Technology

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

4. Rise

Rise is a media-focused agency built around a modern interpretation of what it means to be an “agent,” acting squarely in the client’s best interest, not pushing pre-packaged media solutions. As part of the Quad group, Rise combines strategic independence with the ability to execute media programs at a meaningful scale.

Rise’s strength lies in integrating audience intelligence directly into media planning and activation, ensuring that targeting, channel selection, and investment decisions are tightly aligned. That approach has delivered strong performance across consumer brands such as Stanley Steemer, ColourPop, and Ulta, including a reported 124% increase in revenue for ColourPop. Their recognition as a 2025 Drum Awards finalist further reinforces their credibility as a media-first partner.

Rather than positioning themselves as a catch-all agency, Rise excels when media is the primary lever for growth; whether that’s scaling paid channels, improving audience efficiency, or connecting data to activation more intelligently. Brands looking for a dedicated partner to manage and optimize media investments will find Rise particularly well-suited to that role.

Rise is a strong choice for companies prioritizing media strategy, planning, and activation. Brands seeking creative development, brand storytelling, or experiential work may want to pair Rise with a complementary agency or look elsewhere.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 2004

Team Size: 201-500 employees

Key Services: Search Marketing, Social Media, Display Advertising, Affiliate Marketing, Email Marketing, Web Analytics

Industries Served: Consumer, eCommerce, Food & Beverage, Home Services, Financial Services

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

5. Arc Worldwide

Arc Worldwide is a shopper and retail-focused agency built around one core idea: every brand interaction should be designed to drive purchase. Rather than treating marketing, commerce, and customer experience as separate disciplines, Arc plans across the entire customer journey to make each moment measurably shoppable.

That philosophy shows up not just in their client work, but in how they market themselves. Arc’s website is designed as a fully shoppable experience, allowing visitors to “add” case studies, articles, and job listings to a cart and receive them via email. It’s a small but telling example of how deeply commerce thinking is embedded in everything they do.

Arc’s expertise makes them a strong partner for consumer and retail-driven brands, including work with companies like Heinz, Miller High Life, and Walgreens. Their strength lies in bridging brand storytelling with real-world buying behavior; particularly in environments where discovery, consideration, and purchase are increasingly fragmented across channels.

Arc is best suited for B2C and eCommerce brands focused on retail innovation and shopper conversion. B2B brands or companies without a transactional customer journey may find a more traditional brand or growth-focused agency better aligned with their needs.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 2004

Team Size: 5,001-10,000 employees

Key Services: Retail Design, Customer-Specific Programs, Omnichannel Brand Activation, Experiential Events, Commerce Innovation, Retail Media

Industries Served: Automotive, Food & Beverage, Health & Beauty, Pharmacies

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

6. Bounteous

Bounteous operates more like a digital innovation partner than a traditional agency, helping large organizations design and launch entirely new digital experiences. Their co-innovation model is built around close, long-term collaboration, embedding alongside internal teams to solve complex problems that span strategy, product design, and technology.

That approach was put to the test when Bounteous partnered with Mars during the COVID-19 pandemic to reimagine Halloween in a fully digital format. Together, they built a virtual trick-or-treating experience that allowed families to collect candy credits and redeem them through retailers, resulting in over 500,000 app downloads and 8.7 million in-app interactions. It’s a strong example of Bounteous’s ability to move quickly, think creatively, and execute at scale when circumstances demand it.

Bounteous is best suited for large brands looking to build or reinvent digital products and experiences, not just launch campaigns. Their model shines when there’s organizational complexity, multiple stakeholders, and a real appetite for innovation. Smaller brands or teams looking for incremental marketing support may find a more lightweight agency better aligned with their needs.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL (moved from Frisco, TX after a merger with Accolite)

Year Founded: 2003

Team Size: 1,001-5,000 employees

Key Services: AI, Data, Analytics, Digital Commerce, Experience Innovation & Design, Enterprise Digital Transformation, Marketing Activation & Loyalty, Digital Product & Platform Engineering, Cloud Enablement & Modernization

Industries Served: Consumer, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrial & Manufacturing, Entertainment, Technology, Restaurants, Telecommunications, Travel & Hospitality

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

7. Codal

Similar to Bounteous, Codal also doesn’t operate as your everyday marketing agency. Codal sits at the intersection of digital strategy, UX design, and software engineering (making them less of a traditional marketing agency and more of a product-led growth partner). Their “active discovery and mindful simplification” approach reflects their strong emphasis on deeply understanding complex business systems, then translating that complexity into scalable, user-centric digital experiences.

Codal’s work is particularly compelling for enterprise and regulated brands, where usability, performance, and technical rigor matter as much as creative execution. Their client roster, including Hertz, Charles Schwab, and Thermos, signals their comfort operating at scale, and their reported 156% ROI lift for Thermos highlights how closely their design and engineering work is tied to measurable outcomes.

Codal is best suited for organizations actively scaling or modernizing their digital ecosystem. Brands looking for lighter-touch marketing support or incremental optimization may find a more traditional agency model better aligned with their needs.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 2009

Team Size: 201-500 employees

Key Services: User Experience Design, Full-Stack App Development, Technology Strategy, Web Development, eCommerce Website Development, User Interface Design, CRO Strategy

Industries Served: Healthcare, Consumer, Manufacturing, Social, Financial Services, Legal, Automotive, Life Sciences

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

8. Clique Studios

Clique Studios is a brand and digital experience agency that focuses on using design, technology, and storytelling to create a positive impact for brands. Over the years, they’ve launched hundreds of digital experiences and earned significant industry recognition, with a portfolio that includes both major brands and mission-driven organizations.

Clique’s community-first mindset is especially evident in their work with nonprofits and advocacy groups such as DACA, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and the Cancer Research Foundation, where clarity, accessibility, and storytelling are just as critical as aesthetics. That same thoughtful approach also extends to their corporate work, including partnerships with large brands like McDonald’s.

What sets Clique apart is its education-forward culture. The agency places a strong emphasis on continuous learning, expecting team members to act as both teachers and students. This philosophy is formalized through Clique University: an internal and client-facing knowledge hub that reflects their belief that strong digital experiences come from informed, intentional decision-making, not just creative execution.

Clique Studios is a strong fit for organizations that value thoughtful collaboration, clear communication, and learning-driven partnerships, particularly nonprofits, purpose-led brands, and companies investing in brand storytelling and digital experience. Brands seeking aggressive performance marketing or media-led growth may find a more specialized agency better aligned with their goals.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 2008

Team Size: 11-50 employees

Key Services: Digital Strategy, User Experience Design, Software Development, Digital Marketing, Design Sprints, Messaging Strategy, Accessibility Design, SEO

Industries Served: Healthcare, Entertainment, Restaurant, Arts & Culture, Nonprofit, Education, Sports

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

9. VisualFizz

VisualFizz is a full-service B2B marketing agency blending strategy, creative, and performance across branding, SEO, paid media and web design. While this agency works with a range of mid-sized and enterprise clients, they’re most notably known for VisualFizz Builds, a dedicated practice focusing on manufacturing, industrial, and highly technical businesses.

Rather than chasing surface-level tactics, VisualFizz prioritizes clarity, differentiation, and long-term growth. Their approach is rooted in understanding complex buying cycles, translating technical offerings into compelling narratives, and building digital ecosystems that drive genuine demand.

B2B brands looking to dominate search, modernize their web presence, and compete in crowded markets would do well by partnering with VisualFizz. This agency brings both strategic depth and executional rigor.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 2016

Team Size: 11-50 employees

Key Services: Web Development, Branding, Creative, UX, Paid Search, SEO, Social Media

Industries Served: B2B, Technology, SaaS, Industrial & Manufacturing

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

10. Cubicle Ninjas

Cubicle Ninjas is a creative technology agency known for bringing brands to life through immersive, interactive experiences. Their work sits at the intersection of design, engineering, and emerging tech, with a particular strength in virtual and augmented reality, experiential marketing, and custom digital builds.

That capability is best illustrated by their work with Microsoft, where Cubicle Ninjas developed large-scale interactive experiences like the Polar Blitz activation; driving thousands of hours of user engagement through gameplay and immersive storytelling. It’s a clear example of their ability to turn complex technology into memorable, hands-on brand moments.

While Cubicle Ninjas does offer strategic planning, creative development, and post-launch measurement, their standout value lies in executing bold, technically sophisticated ideas that go beyond traditional digital marketing. They’re an especially strong fit for brands looking to experiment with new formats, experiential campaigns, or interactive technologies that demand both creative vision and technical precision.

Cubicle Ninjas is ideal for organizations that want to push beyond standard web and campaign work. Brands seeking more conventional marketing programs or always-on growth support may find a more traditional agency model better suited to their needs.

Headquarters: Glen Ellyn, IL

Year Founded: 2008

Team Size: 11-50 employees

Key Services: Advertising, Print, Augmented Reality Apps, Brand & Identity, Sales Enablement Design, Web Design, Mobile Apps, 360 Video, Film Production & Post, E-Learning

Industries Served: Professional Services, Technology, Financial Services, Automotive, Gaming, Manufacturing, Entertainment, Real Estate

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

11. Comrade

Comrade is a full-service digital marketing agency built to support small and mid-market businesses without in-house marketing teams. Their service model is especially appealing to founder-led and lean organizations who need an agency partner that can act as an extension of their internal team.

Comrade offers a comprehensive range of services (SEO, PPC, and web design) with a focus on conversion-driven execution. Their work with BrackenBox, for example, combined paid media and site optimization to drive a reported 444% increase in conversions, highlighting their focus on practical, revenue-oriented outcomes rather than vanity metrics.

With a diverse team and experience across multiple industries, Comrade is well-suited for smaller brands that need hands-on support and clear guidance. That said, larger or more complex organizations with advanced enterprise needs may benefit from agencies built to scale across multiple markets or business units.

Headquarters: Chicago, IL

Year Founded: 2007

Team Size: 11-50 employees

Key Services: Web Design, Web Development, Branding, Online Marketing, SEO, SEM, PPC

Industries Served: Law, Construction, Healthcare, Senior Living, Small Businesses

Case Studies: View All Case Studies

Choosing the Right Chicago Marketing Agency for Your Brand

Chicago’s marketing landscape is anything but one-size-fits-all. As this list shows, the “best” agency depends less on size or reputation and more on alignment: between your business goals, internal resources, and the type of expertise you actually need.

Some agencies on this list excel at long-term brand building, others specialize in media execution, shopper conversion, or immersive experiences, and a few operate closer to product and platform innovation than traditional marketing. Understanding those distinctions is what turns an agency search from a popularity contest into a strategic decision.

If you’re looking for a partner that blends experimentation, AI-forward thinking, and hands-on execution, NoGood leads the pack by design. But every agency here has earned its place by excelling in a specific lane. The key is choosing the one that fits where your business is today and where you want it to go next.

Chicago has no shortage of marketing talent. The real advantage comes from picking the partner that moves the needle for your version of growth.

Best Marketing Agencies in Chicago: FAQs