What is the best AdSpy alternative if you don't want a $149 subscription?
Short answer
Start with the free Meta Ad Library for one-off checks. If you want sorting by run time, hooks and angles without a monthly bill, AdRadar charges $3 for 60 scans and runs inside Claude or ChatGPT. If you need AdSpy's huge comment-and-engagement archive, a subscription tool is still the closer match.
Key takeaways
- AdSpy advertises "virtually unlimited usage for just $149 per month" (adspy.com, Oct 2026).
- The Meta Ad Library is free but has no ranking, tagging or export.
- AdRadar ranks live ads by days running and labels hook, angle and CTA; each scan is 1 credit (about $0.05).
- Break-even: at $0.036 to $0.05 per scan, a $149 unlimited plan only becomes cheaper above roughly 3,000 to 4,200 scans a month.
Evidence from a real scan
Verified scan · Oct 13, 2026 Sample AdRadar output: US Meta Ad Library, "protein powder", active ads, Oct 13, 2026.
| Advertiser | Days running | Hook | Angle | Ad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unjury- Medical Quality Protein | 670 | Bold claim | Authority credential | View in Ad Library |
| Sarah Wragge | 203 | Bold claim | Other | View in Ad Library |
| ProDough Shop | 148 | Bold claim | Other | View in Ad Library |
| Everything Envy | 154 | Question | Speed convenience | View in Ad Library |
| Orgain | 152 | Problem callout | Identity belonging | View in Ad Library |
Full data: protein powder ad report. We quote only advertiser names and link to Meta; we don't re-host creatives.
How the options compare
| Tool | Price | Data | Where you use it | Main limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Ad Library | Free | Meta ads, live | Browser | No ranking, tagging or export |
| AdSpy | $149/month source | Large Meta archive, search by comments/engagement | Dashboard | None noted |
| Minea | from $49/month source | Ads + product research for ecommerce | Dashboard | None noted |
| Foreplay | from $59/month source | Swipe files, boards, briefs | Dashboard | None noted |
| Atria | from $129/month, billed annually source | Ad library + creative analytics | Dashboard | None noted |
| SpyTrend | Pro $79/month (free Starter tier) source | Meta + TikTok archive (TikTok on Pro) | Dashboard + MCP | None noted |
| AdRadar | $3 for 60 scans, no subscription | Live Meta Ad Library + TikTok top ads | Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor (MCP) | No archive, no Google/YouTube ads |
PiPiADS and BigSpy are not listed because we couldn't verify their current prices on their official pages on Oct 13, 2026.
What AdRadar is
- Remote MCP server at https://adradarmcp.cloud/mcp. Works in Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and Claude Code; sign in with Google over OAuth.
- ad_radar_spy searches the public Meta Ad Library by keyword and country at the moment you ask (not a stored archive) and returns days running, creative reuse, hook, angle, CTA strength and a link to each ad in the Ad Library.
- ad_radar_tiktok_top returns 20 top TikTok auction ads per country from TikTok Creative Center, with CTR, likes, budget tier and objective.
- Prepaid credits: $3 for 60 scans, $5/100, $10/200, $25/600, $50/1400. Credits never expire. Failed or empty scans refund the credit automatically.
Try it in your agent
AdRadar is a remote MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor. Connect it once, then paste this prompt.
Use AdRadar to find active US Facebook ads for "red light therapy" that have been running for more than 60 days, and summarise their hooks.
Pay per scan, no subscription. Credits never expire. Failed or empty scans are refunded.
FAQ
Is there a free AdSpy alternative?
The Meta Ad Library is free. For ranked, tagged results inside an AI agent, AdRadar starts at $3.
Does AdRadar show engagement like AdSpy?
No. AdRadar shows days running and creative reuse for Meta ads, and CTR and likes for TikTok top ads.
Do AdRadar credits expire?
No. Credits never expire and failed or empty scans are refunded automatically.