How to Analyse Competitor Ads & Spy Their Strategies

Why Competitor Ads Matter

Competitor ads are the paid marketing campaigns your rivals run to get attention, clicks, and sales. Understanding what your competitors are doing in their advertising strategy can help you improve your own.

When you learn how to find competitors’ ads, you unlock powerful insights—what’s working for them, what keywords they’re bidding on, and what creative ideas they’re using. It’s not about copying; it’s about learning and adapting.

How to Find Competitors’ Ads

There are several tools and techniques you can use to see competitor ads online:

1. Google Ads Transparency Center

Google now allows you to see all active ads from any advertiser through their Google Ads Transparency Center. Just search the brand name, and you’ll see which ads they’re running.

If you’ve ever wondered how to check competitors’ Google ads, this is your go-to tool—no login required.

2. Use the FB Ads Library

The FB ads library is a free tool by Meta where you can see all active Facebook and Instagram ads. It’s perfect for tracking seasonal promos, headlines, images, and calls to action.

3. Spy Tools for Display Ads

To track competitors’ display ads, use platforms like:

SEMrush
SpyFu
Adbeat
These tools help you uncover banner designs, ad placements, and campaign frequency.

4. Manual Browsing

Visit competitor websites and add items to your cart. Later, check if you’re being retargeted via display or social ads.

How to Analyse Competitor Google Ads

Performing a Google Ads competitor analysis involves checking their:

Ad Copy: What’s their messaging style?
Target Keywords: Are they targeting product names or broad industry terms?
Landing Pages: Where are they directing the traffic?

There are tools like Ahrefs and Ubersuggest that can help with keyword research. You’ll often see what ads your competitors are using for search traffic.

You can also ask: Can I use competitor brand keywords in Google Ads?
Yes, but with care. Google allows bidding on competitor brand names, but you can’t use their trademarks in your ad text unless authorized. Violating this can lead to ad disapproval.

How to Spy on Competitors’ Ads (Ethically)

If you’re asking, “how to spy on competitors’ ads”, here are ways to do it without crossing ethical or legal lines:

Observe Display Placements: Use SpyFu or Adbeat to check where their display ads show up.
Monitor Keywords: Use SEMrush to view shared keyword strategies.
Track Social Ads: Go to their Facebook/Instagram pages and view their active campaigns using the FB Ads Library.

Curious about their performance? Some tools even offer estimated traffic volume, click-through rate (CTR), and ad spend.

Benefits of Watching Competitor Ads

Why spend time watching your competition? Here’s why:

Inspiration for Your Ads: Spot creative trends and apply what works.
Avoid Wasting Budget: Don’t test what’s already proven not to work.
Position Better: Spot gaps in your market and differentiate your message.

If you want to build on those insights and promote the product effectively, competitor research is a must-have in your digital toolkit.

Google Display Ads: Spying the Smart Way

If your goal is to spy on competitors’ Google display ads, tools like Adbeat and WhatRunsWhere give you visual copies of banners, formats used, and how long the ad has been running.

Why does this matter?

Long-running ads = likely profitable
New ads = trend or testing phase
Ad copy = messaging insight

Can You Copy Competitor Ads?

No. You can’t legally or ethically copy exact headlines, creative designs, or taglines—especially if they’re trademarked. But you can get inspired and build better versions using your unique brand voice.

To stand out, use platforms like TikTok and Instagram to create short, engaging content. You can also get free TikTok like to give your videos a push, helping you test your ad creatives in a low-risk way.

Final Tips to Beat the Competition

Test Your Own Ads: Don’t just watch—experiment.
Use Competitor Data as a Benchmark: Improve, don’t imitate.
Diversify: Try YouTube, TikTok, and display if they’re only on search.
Keep Monitoring: Competitor strategies change fast. Check monthly.

And if you’re running Google ads or planning to start, integrating this intel into your campaign setup will increase ROI and reduce guesswork.

Conclusion

Understanding and tracking competitor ads is not a luxury—it’s a necessity in today’s digital world. With the right tools and mindset, you can uncover exactly how to spy on competitors’ Google display ads, analyze their performance, and make smarter decisions.