# What does Reference Desk use? Reference Desk (refdesk.com) shows public evidence of 42 tools, according to runsonwhat (last checked 2026-10-20). - Industry: Libraries - Size: 1–10 employees - Based in: Platteville, United States - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reference-desk ## Edge & Hosting | Tool | Category | Evidence | Since | |---|---|---|---| | [Cloudflare](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/cloudflare) | CDN & Edge | DNS records, Website code | | | [Google Cloud](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/gcp) | Hosting & Cloud | Custom domain | | ## Application | Tool | Category | Evidence | Since | |---|---|---|---| | [Google Fonts](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/google-fonts) | Media & UI | Website code | | ## Data & Observability | Tool | Category | Evidence | Since | |---|---|---|---| | [Google Analytics](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/ga) | Analytics | Website code | | | [Google Tag Manager](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/gtm) | Analytics | Website code | | | [Dynatrace](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/dynatrace) | Monitoring | Website code | | ## Go-to-market | Tool | Category | Evidence | Since | |---|---|---|---| | [Google Ads](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/google-ads) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [LinkedIn Insight Tag](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/linkedin-insight) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Google Ad Manager](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/google-ad-manager) | Ads & Pixels | Website code, Website config | | | [Microsoft Xandr](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/xandr) | Ads & Pixels | Website config, Website code | | | [Google AdSense](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/google-adsense) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Criteo](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/criteo) | Ads & Pixels | Website config, Website code | | | [LiveRamp](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/liveramp) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Magnite](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/magnite) | Ads & Pixels | Website config, Website code | | | [PubMatic](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/pubmatic) | Ads & Pixels | Website config, Website code | | | [Adobe Audience Manager](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/adobe-audience-manager) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [StackAdapt](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/stackadapt) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [OpenX](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/openx) | Ads & Pixels | Website config, Website code | | | [Amazon Publisher Services](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/amazon-publisher-services) | Ads & Pixels | Website config, Website code | | | [Media.net](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/media-net) | Ads & Pixels | Website config | | | [Index Exchange](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/index-exchange) | Ads & Pixels | Website config | | | [Sovrn](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/sovrn) | Ads & Pixels | Website config | | | [TripleLift](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/triplelift) | Ads & Pixels | Website config | | | [Amazon Advertising](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/amazon-advertising) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Sharethrough](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/sharethrough) | Ads & Pixels | Website config | | | [RTB House](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/rtb-house) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Quantcast](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/quantcast) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Demandbase](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/demandbase) | Sales & CRM | Website code | | | [Adobe Advertising](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/adobe-advertising) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [ID5](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/id5) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [MediaMath](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/mediamath) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Outbrain](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/outbrain) | Ads & Pixels | Website config | | | [33Across](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/33across) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Lotame](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/lotame) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Nativo](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/nativo) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [MGID](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/mgid) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | | [Brave Creators](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/brave) | Marketing | DNS verification records | | | [Amazon Associates](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/amazon-associates) | Ads & Pixels | Website code | | ## Company Ops | Tool | Category | Evidence | Since | |---|---|---|---| | [reCAPTCHA](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/recaptcha) | Security & Compliance | Website code | | | [Mailgun](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/mailgun) | Email Delivery | Email records, Website code | | | [Rackspace Email](https://www.runsonwhat.com/reverse/rackspace-email) | Workspace | Email records | | ## FAQ ### What tools does Reference Desk use? As of October 2026, runsonwhat has found 42 tools at Reference Desk (refdesk.com) in public records. Edge & Hosting: Cloudflare and Google Cloud. Application: Google Fonts. Data & Observability: Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager and Dynatrace. Go-to-market: Google Ads, LinkedIn Insight Tag and Google Ad Manager. Company Ops: reCAPTCHA, Mailgun and Rackspace Email. Last checked October 20, 2026. ### What cloud does Reference Desk run on? Reference Desk uses Google Cloud for hosting and cloud infrastructure, according to runsonwhat (October 2026). runsonwhat found Google Cloud through a subdomain that points at Google Cloud. Google Cloud is used by 76,249 companies runsonwhat tracks. ### What sales tools does Reference Desk use? The sales tools runsonwhat has found at Reference Desk are Demandbase (October 2026); no CRM shows up in Reference Desk's public records. runsonwhat found Demandbase through Demandbase code on refdesk.com. Demandbase is used by 9,685 companies runsonwhat tracks. ### What email provider does Reference Desk use? Reference Desk uses Rackspace Email for email and office software, according to runsonwhat (October 2026). runsonwhat found Rackspace Email through email records that authorize Rackspace Email. Rackspace Email is used by 6,084 companies runsonwhat tracks. ### What analytics tools does Reference Desk use? Reference Desk uses Google Analytics for analytics, alongside Google Tag Manager, according to runsonwhat (October 2026). runsonwhat found Google Analytics through Google Analytics code on refdesk.com. Google Analytics is used by 891,092 companies runsonwhat tracks. ### What marketing software does Reference Desk use? Reference Desk uses Brave Creators for marketing, according to runsonwhat (October 2026). runsonwhat found Brave Creators through a DNS verification record for Brave Creators. Brave Creators is used by 851 companies runsonwhat tracks. ### Does Reference Desk use Google Fonts? Yes. runsonwhat found Google Fonts at Reference Desk through Google Fonts code on refdesk.com. Google Fonts is a Media & UI tool used by 816,701 companies runsonwhat tracks. ### Which companies have a tech stack similar to Reference Desk's? The companies with the stacks most like Reference Desk's are ProSettings.net, PC Perspective, IndraStra Global and TouchArcade, according to runsonwhat (October 2026). Each shares 9 to 12 tools with Reference Desk, and rare tools count for more than common ones like Google Workspace, so the match reflects real stack choices. ### How does runsonwhat know what Reference Desk uses? runsonwhat reads public records only. Of the 42 tools at Reference Desk, 24 were found through code on refdesk.com, 12 through website configuration files, 3 through DNS records, 2 through email records and 1 through subdomains that point at the vendor. A tool is listed only when a direct record backs it up; DNS is rechecked weekly and refdesk.com about monthly. --- Source: runsonwhat, https://www.runsonwhat.com/company/refdesk.com (updated October 2026). Counts are companies with direct public evidence of the tool (DNS records, certificates, website code, a real-browser crawl, subprocessor lists), so they are lower bounds. Methodology: https://www.runsonwhat.com/methodology.