How long does a Facebook ad have to run before you can call it a winner?
Short answer
There is no official threshold. In our October 2026 scans, the median active on-topic ad had been running 66 to 148 days depending on the niche, so an ad past 90 days is in the top half. Treat 90+ days, plus the same creative reused in several ads, as a strong signal the advertiser keeps paying for it, not as proof it is profitable.
Key takeaways
- Median run time of active on-topic ads, US, Oct 13, 2026: protein powder 148 days, vitamin C serum 86 days, magnesium gummies 66 days.
- Ads running 90+ days: 6 of 9 (protein powder), 5 of 10 (vitamin C serum), 9 of 21 (magnesium gummies).
- Short-lived ads are not necessarily losers; seasonal offers and tests stop on purpose.
- Combine run time with creative reuse and a direct-response offer before calling an ad a winner.
Evidence from a real scan
Verified scan · Oct 13, 2026 Real scan, US, "vitamin C serum", Oct 13, 2026. The longest runner had been live 955 days.
| Advertiser | Days running | Hook | Angle | Ad |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LoveToKnow | 474 | Listicle howto | Authority credential | View in Ad Library |
| Grace perfect skin | 955 | Question | Other | View in Ad Library |
| Maelove | 181 | Negative hook | Price discount | View in Ad Library |
| Kim Ji Soo 김지수 - Korean Skincare Expert | 116 | Bold claim | Authority credential | View in Ad Library |
| Eqqualberry-Global | 119 | Problem callout | Other | View in Ad Library |
| SkinCeuticals | 8 | Bold claim | Authority credential | View in Ad Library |
Full data: vitamin c serum ad report. We quote only advertiser names and link to Meta; we don't re-host creatives.
Measured run times in three niches (AdRadar scans, US, Oct 13, 2026)
| Niche | Active on-topic ads | Advertisers | Median days running | Ads at 90+ days | Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protein powder | 9 | 9 | 148 | 6 | View |
| Vitamin C serum | 10 | 8 | 86 | 5 | View |
| Magnesium gummies | 21 | 12 | 66 | 9 | View |
Small samples (9 to 21 ads per niche). Medians will move as we add niches.
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 scan active US Facebook ads for "sleep gummies". Tell me the median days running, how many ads are past 90 days, and what those long runners have in common.
Pay per scan, no subscription. Credits never expire. Failed or empty scans are refunded.
FAQ
Is 30 days long enough to call an ad a winner?
It's a weak signal. In our scans the median active ad was already past 60 days, so 30 days is below average.
Why do some ads run for years?
Evergreen offers, catalog ads and brand ads can run for years. Check whether the ad still has a clear offer and CTA.
Does AdRadar's Winning Score prove an ad is profitable?
No. It combines run time, creative reuse, CTA strength and clarity to rank what's worth studying.