How to Check Your Competitors Facebook Ads (and Why You Should)

Keeping an eye on your competitors’ Facebook ads is one of the smartest (and easiest) ways to stay competitive in today’s digital marketing landscape. Whether you’re launching a new product, scaling an e-commerce store, or managing a service-based business, knowing what your competitors are doing gives you insights that can help sharpen your own strategy.

Why Should You Check Your Competitors’ Facebook Ads?

Before we dive into the how-to, let’s quickly talk about why this matters:

• Inspiration: See what kind of creatives, copy, and calls-to-action others in your industry are using.

• Identify Trends: Spot recurring offers, themes, or ad formats your competitors are doubling down on.

• Benchmark Performance: Evaluate how aggressive your competitors are with their ad spend and offers.

• Avoid Mistakes: Learn from their ad structure and messaging to avoid poor practices or oversaturation.

How to Check Competitors’ Facebook Ads (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Go to the Facebook Ad Library

Meta has made ad transparency a priority, which means anyone can see active ads run by any brand through the Facebook Ad Library.

Visit: https://www.facebook.com/ads/library

Step 2: Select Your Country

Once there, you’ll be prompted to select your country and choose the ad category. If you’re researching competitors in e-commerce or services, just choose “All Ads”.

Step 3: Type in Your Competitor’s Name or Page

In the search bar, type the name of your competitor’s Facebook page (not just the brand name—use their actual page title). You’ll then see:

• All active ads

• Creatives (images, videos, carousels)

• Copy and headlines

• Platforms the ads are running on (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Audience Network)

Step 4: Analyze the Ads

When you’re reviewing ads, take note of:

• Ad Format – Are they using videos, carousels, or single images?

• Messaging – What kind of language are they using? Any emotional or urgent tone?

• Offer Structure – Are they offering discounts, bundles, or free trials?

• Targeting Clues – While targeting data isn’t visible, the creative and copy can hint at their audience focus (e.g., demographics, interests, etc.).

Bonus Tip: Use Tools for Deeper Analysis

You can also use tools to track historical ads, see ad frequency, and get competitor ad analytics:

• AdSpy – Paid tool for in-depth ad spying.

• BigSpy – Freemium tool with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok ad data.

• Social Ad Scout – Advanced tool for performance marketers.

These tools are especially helpful if you’re in highly competitive niches like dropshipping, SaaS, or digital services.

Checking your competitors’ Facebook ads isn’t about copying—it’s about understanding the market, spotting opportunities, and staying ahead. With tools like the Facebook Ad Library at your fingertips, there’s no reason not to keep tabs on what others are doing. Use this insight to refine your own campaigns, test new creatives, and ultimately, drive better results.