# Meta Ads Competitor Intelligence (`0xgollum/meta-ads-competitor-intelligence`) Actor

Track competitor ads, identify new creatives, and generate actionable marketing angles.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/0xgollum/meta-ads-competitor-intelligence.md
- **Developed by:** [0xGollum](https://apify.com/0xgollum) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, Automation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $20.00 / 1,000 results

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

## Meta Ads Competitor Intelligence

An Apify Actor that turns Meta Ad Library exports into a daily competitor-watch report. It runs a source Meta Ads Actor, normalizes different output field names, retains a persistent history, and outputs only previously unseen ads by default.

### What it does

- Calls `apify/facebook-ads-scraper` by default (you can select another compatible source Actor).
- Detects newly observed ads even when the source does not expose a stable ad ID.
- Classifies common marketing angles: promotion, urgency, proof, novelty, or conversion CTA.
- Stores a `SUMMARY` record in the default key-value store.
- Optionally sends the summary to an HTTPS webhook. A failed webhook never discards the dataset or fails the run.

### Example input

```json
{
  "sourceActorInput": {
    "startUrls": [
      { "url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=FR&search_type=page&view_all_page_id=YOUR_PAGE_ID" }
    ],
    "activeStatus": "active"
  },
  "historyStoreName": "my-brand-competitor-history",
  "onlyNewAds": true,
  "maxAds": 500,
  "webhookUrl": "https://example.com/meta-ad-alert"
}
```

Use exactly the same `historyStoreName` in scheduled runs. Reset it or give it a new name to treat all currently found ads as new.

### Local development

```bash
npm install
npm test
npm run lint
```

The live end-to-end run requires an Apify API token and consumes the source Actor's usage. Deploy with `apify push`, configure the input in Apify Console, then schedule it daily.

### Privacy and compliance

Only process public Ad Library data and use webhook destinations you control. Ensure that your use complies with Meta's terms, applicable privacy laws, and your customers' contractual obligations.

# Actor input Schema

## `sourceActorId` (type: `string`):

Actor ID used to collect ads. The default is Apify's maintained Facebook Ads Library Scraper.

## `sourceActorInput` (type: `object`):

Input passed verbatim to the source Actor. Add its Meta page URLs or Ad Library search URLs here.

## `historyStoreName` (type: `string`):

Use the same name on scheduled runs to identify ads already seen.

## `onlyNewAds` (type: `boolean`):

When enabled, only ads not already delivered in a previous run are returned. Turn off to re-deliver every currently active ad each run.

## `maxAds` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of ads read from the source Actor's dataset and processed in this run.

## `webhookUrl` (type: `string`):

HTTPS endpoint that receives a JSON summary after each successful run. Suitable for Make, Zapier, Slack workflows, or your own endpoint.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "sourceActorId": "apify/facebook-ads-scraper",
  "sourceActorInput": {
    "startUrls": [
      {
        "url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=US&search_type=page&view_all_page_id=20531316728"
      }
    ],
    "activeStatus": "active"
  },
  "historyStoreName": "meta-ads-competitor-history",
  "onlyNewAds": true,
  "maxAds": 500
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `competitorAds` (type: `string`):

Normalized competitor ads, limited to new ads when onlyNewAds is enabled.

## `summary` (type: `string`):

Counts of processed and newly detected ads, plus advertisers with new activity.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "sourceActorInput": {
        "startUrls": [
            {
                "url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=US&search_type=page&view_all_page_id=20531316728"
            }
        ],
        "activeStatus": "active"
    }
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("0xgollum/meta-ads-competitor-intelligence").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "sourceActorInput": {
        "startUrls": [{ "url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=US&search_type=page&view_all_page_id=20531316728" }],
        "activeStatus": "active",
    } }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("0xgollum/meta-ads-competitor-intelligence").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "sourceActorInput": {
    "startUrls": [
      {
        "url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=US&search_type=page&view_all_page_id=20531316728"
      }
    ],
    "activeStatus": "active"
  }
}' |
apify call 0xgollum/meta-ads-competitor-intelligence --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,0xgollum/meta-ads-competitor-intelligence"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/ugOXyvrrFpvf9iw7C/builds/MYO6PeyhQYqgWEd5H/openapi.json