How do I use the Meta Ad Library, and can my AI agent search it for me?
Short answer
Open facebook.com/ads/library, pick a country and "All ads", then search a keyword or an advertiser's Page. Each ad shows its start date, so you can see what has run longest. To skip the clicking, connect AdRadar to Claude or ChatGPT: it searches the same public library and ranks active ads by days running.
Key takeaways
- The Meta Ad Library is free and public. It shows every active ad on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Audience Network, with the date it started running.
- It does not show spend, ROAS or results for commercial ads. Run time is the best public signal of what an advertiser keeps paying for.
- Search by keyword for a niche, or by Page name for one competitor. Set the country, choose "All ads" and filter to "Active".
- AdRadar runs the same search from inside your AI agent and returns a table: advertiser, days running, hook, angle and a link back to each ad.
How to do it
- Open the library. Go to facebook.com/ads/library. No login needed.
- Set country and ad type. Choose the market (for example United States) and set the category to All ads. The default "Issues, elections or politics" hides commercial ads.
- Search. Type a keyword ("magnesium gummies") or an advertiser's Page name. Pick the Page from the dropdown to see only that advertiser.
- Filter. Use Filters → Active status → Active ads. Sort or scan for "Started running on" dates; older dates mean the advertiser has kept paying for that ad.
- Check variations. "This ad has multiple versions" or "N ads use this creative" means the creative is being reused, another sign it works.
- Or ask your agent. Connect AdRadar and ask for the longest-running active ads for a keyword and country. It returns the same public data as a sorted table with links.
Evidence from a real scan
Verified scan · Oct 13, 2026 Real scan of the US Meta Ad Library for "protein powder", active ads only, run on Oct 13, 2026. Median run time 148 days; 6 of 9 on-topic ads had been running 90+ days.
| 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 |
| Gio Steele with Orgain | 71 | Question | Other | 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.
What the Meta Ad Library shows (and doesn't)
| Field | Commercial ads | Political/issue ads, and ads shown in the EU/UK |
|---|---|---|
| Creative, copy, CTA, landing link | Yes | Yes |
| Start date ("Started running on") | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms (FB, IG, Messenger, AN) | Yes | Yes |
| Spend and impressions | No | Ranges, for political/issue ads; EU/UK reach for ads delivered there |
| Targeting / demographics | No | EU/UK only (estimated) |
Source: Meta Ad Library API page, 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 find the longest-running active Facebook and Instagram ads for "magnesium gummies" in the US. Show a table with advertiser, days running, hook and angle, then summarise the 3 most common angles.
Pay per scan, no subscription. Credits never expire. Failed or empty scans are refunded.
FAQ
Is the Meta Ad Library free?
Yes. Anyone can browse it at facebook.com/ads/library without an account. AdRadar charges only for running the search inside your AI agent.
Can I see how much a competitor spends?
Not for normal commercial ads. Meta publishes spend ranges only for political and issue ads. No tool can give you a competitor's real spend or ROAS from public data.
Is the Facebook Ad Library the same as the Meta Ad Library?
Yes. Meta renamed it, but it is the same library covering Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Audience Network.
How far back does it go?
Active ads are always listed. Inactive commercial ads are only kept for ads delivered in the EU/UK (one year) and for political/issue ads (seven years).