Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 103,449	$ 157,353	$ 246,048	$ 330,941
Costs and operating expenses
Cost of revenue	87,925	132,305	208,806	279,485
Sales and marketing	7,958	5,724	15,181	11,115
Product development	5,661	3,840	10,877	7,160
General and administrative	12,316	13,585	29,464	29,334
Total costs and operating expenses	113,860	155,454	264,328	327,094
(Loss) income from operations	(10,411)	1,899	(18,280)	3,847
Other expenses (income), net	44	171	(479)	21
Interest expense	1,956	2,237	3,315	4,538
Total other expense, net	2,000	2,408	2,836	4,559
(Loss) before income taxes	(12,411)	(509)	(21,116)	(712)
Income tax expense (benefit)	611	(125)	1,754	(489)
Net (loss)	(13,022)	(384)	(22,870)	(223)
Net (loss) attributable to non-controlling interest	(3,883)	(177)	(6,655)	(301)
Net (loss) income attributable to MediaAlpha, Inc.	$ (9,139)	$ (207)	$ (16,215)	$ 78
Net (loss) income per share of Class A common stock
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.22)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.39)	$ 0.00
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ (0.22)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.39)	$ 0.00
Weighted average shares of Class A common stock outstanding
Basic (in shares)	41,705,344	37,667,432	41,279,146	35,414,548
Diluted (in shares)	41,705,344	37,667,432	41,279,146	35,414,548