Is there a Facebook Ad Library API for commercial ads, and what can you use instead?
Short answer
Meta's official Ad Library API only covers political and issue ads, plus ads delivered in the EU and UK. US commercial ads are not in it. Your options are a scraper (Apify and similar), a paid ad-data API, or an MCP server like AdRadar, which lets Claude or ChatGPT search the public library and return structured rows per scan.
Key takeaways
- The official API needs identity verification and returns political/issue ads worldwide, plus any ad delivered to the EU or UK in the past year.
- It is not a general "search US ecommerce ads" API.
- Scrapers work but you maintain the code, proxies and breakage when Facebook changes its pages.
- AdRadar is not a REST API. It is an MCP server: your agent calls it, pays per scan and gets rows with Ad Library links.
Ways to get Meta Ad Library data programmatically
| Option | Covers US commercial ads | Setup | Pricing model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meta Ad Library API (official) | No (political/issue ads, EU/UK-delivered ads) | Developer app + identity verification | Free |
| Scraper actors (e.g. Apify) | Yes | Run and maintain scraper; handle blocks | Per run / compute |
| Ad intelligence platforms | Yes, from their stored archive | Account + dashboard or enterprise API | Monthly subscription |
| AdRadar MCP | Yes, searched at request time | Paste one URL into Claude/ChatGPT/Cursor | Prepaid: $3 for 60 scans |
Official API scope: Meta Ad Library API, accessed 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 pull active US ads for "creatine gummies" and return them as JSON rows with library_id, page_name, days_running, hook_type and primary_angle.
Pay per scan, no subscription. Credits never expire. Failed or empty scans are refunded.
FAQ
Do I need a Meta developer account to use AdRadar?
No. You sign in to AdRadar with Google. AdRadar reads the public Ad Library; it never touches your ad account.
Can I call AdRadar from a script?
Yes, from any MCP client, including the MCP SDKs and n8n's MCP client node, with a Bearer key. There is no plain REST API.
Is scraping the Ad Library allowed?
The library is public, but Meta's terms restrict automated collection. Check Meta's terms for your use; AdRadar returns links to Meta's own pages rather than re-hosting creatives.