Ad Library Intelligence: Google, LinkedIn and TikTok ad monitoring

Give it a list of competitors and get their currently running ads from the Google Ads Transparency Center, the LinkedIn Ad Library and TikTok's Creative Center, normalized into one schema. Schedule it and get only what changed: new ads, ended ads, creative refreshes, new landing domains and new regions.

Meta's ad library has a dozen actors. Google, LinkedIn and TikTok have one to three each, none of them combined, and none of them tell you what changed since yesterday. This Actor does both.

Who is it for

• Agencies and performance marketers who need a weekly competitor creative review without opening three transparency sites.
• Brand and product marketing teams tracking when a competitor launches a campaign, refreshes creatives or starts advertising in a new country.
• Competitive intelligence and sales teams watching landing-domain changes (a new product microsite is usually a launch signal).
• Founders and analysts sizing up how heavily a company advertises and where.

What makes it different

• Three libraries in one run, one schema per ad (platform, advertiser, format, copy, landingDomain, mediaUrls, dates, regions).
• Change detection. A compact snapshot per watch list is kept in the ad-intel-state key-value store; every run emits new_ad, ad_ended, creative_refresh, new_landing_domain, new_region and advertiser_error events. Ended ads stay in the snapshot so each event fires once; ads whose library id changed but whose creative did not are recognised as the same ad.
• Internal JSON endpoints where they are stable. Google's own transparency RPCs (SearchCreatives, GetCreativeById) and TikTok's signed top_ads API are used directly; LinkedIn's server-rendered pages are parsed with text-anchored selectors. No login anywhere, no cookies, no media downloads.
• LinkedIn impression ranges and country shares, TikTok engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares, CTR percentile, duration), Google first/last shown dates and regions.
• Advertiser disambiguation. A name search on Google can match ten advertisers ("Notion OU", "NOTION LLC", "Skin notion"); the resolver scores them by name and domain, and the run summary lists the candidates so you can pin googleAdvertiserId next time.
• Per advertiser and per platform isolation. A 403 on LinkedIn does not touch the Google results of the same advertiser, and in change mode it never produces ad_ended events; you get one advertiser_error with the previous count instead.
• No personal data. Ads run by individual people rather than organisations are skipped, and phone numbers or emails inside ad copy are masked.

Input

Field	Type	Default	Description
advertisers	array	–	{ name, domain, googleAdvertiserId, linkedinCompanyId or linkedinUrl }. Name alone works; ids remove ambiguity.
platforms	array	["google","linkedin"]	Any of google, linkedin, tiktok.
googleRegion	string	anywhere	ISO-2 country code to filter Google creatives.
linkedinCountries	array	–	ISO-2 codes; limits the per-country impression breakdown.
tiktokQueries	array	–	{ keyword, industry, region (default SA), objective, period (7/30/180), adFormat }. TikTok is query-based, not advertiser-based.
activeOnly	boolean	true	Keep only currently running ads.
lastNDays	integer	90	Drop ads last shown before this window.
maxAdsPerAdvertiser	integer	200	Cap per advertiser and platform.
emitChangesOnly	boolean	false	Change events instead of ads. Needs trackingId.
emitBaselineAsNew	boolean	false	First run for a trackingId emits every ad as new_ad instead of a silent baseline.
trackingId	string	–	Name of the watch list (state key).
refreshThreshold	integer	5	New ads from one advertiser on one platform in one run that count as creative_refresh.
maxConcurrency	integer	5	Advertiser × platform sources in parallel.
proxyConfiguration	object	Apify datacenter	See proxy guidance below.

Snapshot mode (every running ad, once):

{
    "advertisers": [
        {
            "name": "HubSpot",
            "domain": "hubspot.com",
            "googleAdvertiserId": "AR10072600183532683265",
            "linkedinUrl": "https://www.linkedin.com/company/hubspot"
        },
        { "name": "Notion", "domain": "notion.so" },
        { "name": "monday.com", "domain": "monday.com" }
    ],
    "platforms": ["google", "linkedin", "tiktok"],
    "tiktokQueries": [{ "keyword": "project management", "region": "US", "period": 30 }],
    "maxAdsPerAdvertiser": 100
}

Change mode (schedule daily):

{
    "advertisers": [
        { "name": "HubSpot", "domain": "hubspot.com" },
        { "name": "Notion", "domain": "notion.so" }
    ],
    "platforms": ["google", "linkedin"],
    "trackingId": "competitor-ads",
    "emitChangesOnly": true,
    "refreshThreshold": 5
}

Output

Snapshot mode pushes one record per ad (see .actor/dataset_schema.json for every field). Google and LinkedIn ads use the same shape with linkedin.impressionsRange / linkedin.countryBreakdown filled for LinkedIn and firstShownAt / lastShownAt for Google. A TikTok top ad from a test run (query fitness app, US):

{
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "advertiser": {
        "name": "celunes",
        "id": null,
        "domain": null,
        "verified": null
    },
    "adId": "7660514428254257153",
    "libraryUrl": "https://ads.tiktok.com/business/creativecenter/topads/7660514428254257153/pc/en",
    "format": "video",
    "headline": "Fast heat, steady comfort, zero cords. Keep one in your bag for your next period.",
    "bodyText": null,
    "cta": null,
    "landingUrl": "https://www.celunes.com/products/celunes-menstrual-heating-patch?utm_source=tiktok&utm_id=__CAMPAIGN_ID__&utm_campaign=__CAMPAIGN_NAME__&utm_medium=paid&tt_campaignid=__CAMPAIGN_ID__",
    "mediaUrls": [
        "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn.com/tos-alisg-p-0051c001-sg/oAVEUILIgA9ABD5uNFf1iqDBd2UnkEDf0niHAS~tplv-noop.image?dr=18692&refresh_token=0f4f54b1&x-expires=1788665814&x-signature=OQEOAwkGYB%2BiaLGib4KA0AQh4%2Bk%3D&t=9276707c&ps=14f1eb3e&shp=9e36835a&shcp=317596d8&idc=my2&VideoID=v14033g50000d992uhvog65sgum5vei0",
        "https://v16m-default.tiktokcdn.com/0b7a77f2eefcb8a6d8fda8147d9575bd/6a9cdfd6/video/tos/alisg/tos-alisg-ve-0051c001-sg/oUQcaY1Pm1ixtuASAgBPldie4XSJwA0IKJnBEB/?a=0&bti=NTU4QDM1NGA%3D&&bt=1137&ft=cApXJCz7ThWHo1~5LGZmo0P&mime_type=video_mp4&rc=PDM6NDQ3ZTQ0ZTU0ZTllOEBpM2g4eHY5cms1PDMzODYzNEA1Y18vYy0tNWIxL141NV4zYSNmc2pkMmRzcjZhLS1kMDFzcw%3D%3D&vvpl=1&l=202609060536404018C6138272D616A929&btag=e000b0000"
    ],
    "firstShownAt": null,
    "lastShownAt": null,
    "isActive": true,
    "regions": ["AU", "CA", "US"],
    "tiktok": {
        "likes": 2,
        "comments": 0,
        "shares": 0,
        "ctrPercentile": 0.8,
        "durationSec": 13.584,
        "industry": "label_14107000000",
        "objective": "conversion",
        "region": "US",
        "query": "tiktok \"fitness app\" · US · 30d"
    },
    "scrapedAt": "2026-09-05T21:36:31.918Z",
    "landingDomain": "celunes.com"
}

Change mode pushes one item per change event (type: new_ad, ad_ended, creative_refresh, new_landing_domain, new_region, advertiser_error). Real items from a test run: creative_refresh:

{
    "type": "creative_refresh",
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "advertiser": "tiktok SA · 30d",
    "sourceKey": "tiktok:||sa||30|",
    "trackingId": "proof-tiktok",
    "observedAt": "2026-09-05T21:26:46.551Z",
    "count": 6,
    "threshold": 5,
    "headlines": [
        "#متخصص في دهان الابواب وتجديد بويه الابواب القديمه دهان طاولات ومكتبات تجديد بويه المطابخ دهان غرف النوم الخشب دهان الديكورات الخشبيه والحديد دهان كراسي متواجد بمكه, [phone]",
        "مضغوط نثري موقعهم حي الرمال على طريق وادي الساحل طبعاً الدجاج واللحم مطبوخ بالبخار لمدة 6 ساعات بدون نقطة مويه 🤯👌🏻 التوصيل مجاني لحي الرمال 🚗 Ad #الرمال #مضغوط #مضغوط_ نثري #مدفون #رز",
        "الثانية مجاناً لايفوتك",
        "❌ لا تغيّر بابك! خلّيه يرجع جديد 👌 بلون فخم وتشطيب يشرّف 🔥 بابك باهت؟ فيه خدوش؟ أثر شمس أو صدأ؟ الحل أسهل مما تتوقع ✨ نقدّم صبغ احترافي لأبواب الحديد والخشب دهانات أصلية 🎨 ثبات لون عالي وحماية من الحرارة والرطوبة 💪 شغل احترافى 👌 تنفيذ سريع ⏱️ ونسلّم في الوقت ✔️ من باب عادي… إلى باب يغيّر شكل المكان بالكامل 😍 تبغى بابك كأنه جديد؟ تواصل معنا الآن 📲 وخلي الصبغ علينا ✨ معاينة مجانية #ص#صبغ_ابوابص#صبغ_ابواب_حديد_وخشب_طاولات_دواليبص#صبغ_خشبد#ديكورتشطيبات_داخلية_خارجية",
        "Let every performance take you deeper into the island’s culture",
        "باقه جاك سبارو من ريف #ريف #عطورات #عطور_ريف : : @ReefPerfumes : : : : :"
    ]
}

new_ad:

{
    "type": "new_ad",
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "advertiser": "tiktok SA · 30d",
    "sourceKey": "tiktok:||sa||30|",
    "trackingId": "proof-tiktok",
    "observedAt": "2026-09-05T21:26:46.551Z",
    "ad": {
        "platform": "tiktok",
        "advertiser": {
            "name": "Unnamed advertiser",
            "id": null,
            "domain": null,
            "verified": null
        },
        "adId": "7663836490589798420",
        "libraryUrl": "https://ads.tiktok.com/business/creativecenter/topads/7663836490589798420/pc/en",
        "format": "video",
        "headline": "#متخصص في دهان الابواب وتجديد بويه الابواب القديمه دهان طاولات ومكتبات تجديد بويه المطابخ دهان غرف النوم الخشب دهان الديكورات الخشبيه والحديد دهان كراسي متواجد بمكه, [phone]",
        "bodyText": null,
        "cta": null,
        "landingUrl": null,
        "mediaUrls": [
            "https://p16-common-sign.tiktokcdn.com/tos-alisg-p-0037/okYwYCuB1Am4ELEiiJ4EiAIaCAnYfLowTIIPBy~tplv-noop.image?dr=18692&refresh_token=9dd838b4&x-expires=1788665231&x-signature=jmGEMTeD%2BkrDXpOxaf38DsflHCY%3D&t=9276707c&ps=14f1eb3e&shp=9e36835a&shcp=317596d8&idc=my2&VideoID=v1c044g50000d9c9gpfog65od4ss84c0",
            "https://v16m-default.tiktokcdn.com/9edd8322f75a23c75ae637e5b75ad7ab/6a9cdd8f/video/tos/alisg/tos-alisg-pve-0037c001/o8BTui4OwEmLyiOCEuEfZnFQ4EuYAIwaY1IEAA/?a=0&bti=NTU4QDM1NGA%3D&&bt=361&ft=cApXJCz7ThWH2f~5LGZmo0P&mime_type=video_mp4&rc=NmRpNDtmNjU7NDtpZDM0aEBpMzd2N3I5cnM8PDMzODczNEBeX2FfYl8yXi8xMV9eYzBgYSNgNXBhMmRjZGBhLS1kMWBzcw%3D%3D&vvpl=1&l=202609060526513B1EE5585E84C405B6AB&btag=e000b8000"
        ],
        "firstShownAt": null,
        "lastShownAt": null,
        "isActive": true,
        "regions": ["SA"],
        "tiktok": {
            "likes": 44,
            "comments": 1,
            "shares": 1,
            "ctrPercentile": 0.7,
            "durationSec": 20.875,
            "industry": "label_21100000000",
            "objective": "conversion",
            "region": "SA",
            "query": "tiktok SA · 30d"
        },
        "scrapedAt": "2026-09-05T21:26:46.551Z",
        "landingDomain": null
    }
}

ad_ended:

{
    "type": "ad_ended",
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "advertiser": "tiktok SA · 30d",
    "sourceKey": "tiktok:||sa||30|",
    "trackingId": "proof-tiktok",
    "observedAt": "2026-09-05T21:26:46.551Z",
    "ad": {
        "hash": "ghost",
        "firstSeenAt": "2026-09-05T21:25:53.824Z",
        "landingDomain": "ghost.example",
        "regions": ["ZZ"],
        "isActive": true,
        "headline": "Your next trip deserves a first-class upgrade 🚐 Experience the ultimate comfort in our premium Toyota Alphard with a professional chauffeur. ✨ Captain electric seats 📺 On-board TV, Wi-Fi, & chargers ☀️ Electric sunshades & sunroof 🧳 Perfect for business trips, family vacations, & airport transfers Ready to elevate your travel from Bangkok to Pattaya, Hua Hin, Khao Yai, and beyond? Contact us to reserve your ride! 📲 #toyotaalphard #luxurytravel #thailandtravel #bangkoktransport #privatedriver",
        "libraryUrl": "https://ads.tiktok.com/business/creativecenter/topads/7667040007445889025/pc/en",
        "adId": "GHOST-ENDED"
    }
}

new_landing_domain:

{
    "type": "new_landing_domain",
    "platform": "tiktok",
    "advertiser": "tiktok SA · 30d",
    "sourceKey": "tiktok:||sa||30|",
    "trackingId": "proof-tiktok",
    "observedAt": "2026-09-05T21:26:46.551Z",
    "domain": "linktr.ee",
    "count": 1,
    "headlines": [
        "مضغوط نثري موقعهم حي الرمال على طريق وادي الساحل طبعاً الدجاج واللحم مطبوخ بالبخار لمدة 6 ساعات بدون نقطة مويه 🤯👌🏻 التوصيل مجاني لحي الرمال 🚗 Ad #الرمال #مضغوط #مضغوط_ نثري #مدفون #رز"
    ]
}

The key-value store record SUMMARY lists every advertiser × platform with ads found, active ads, requests made, duration, proxy type, resolved advertiser and disambiguation candidates, plus charged events per run.

Scheduling and notifications

1. Fill in the change-mode input and Save as task.
2. Add a Schedule to the task (daily at 07:00 is typical; TikTok periods are 7/30/180 days, so daily runs are fine).
3. Under Integrations on the task add Slack, Email, Webhook, Make or Zapier on Run succeeded. In change mode the dataset holds only the change events, so an empty dataset means nothing changed.
4. From your own code: POST https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/<username>~ad-library-intelligence/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=<token> with the change-mode JSON.

State lives in the named key-value store ad-intel-state in your account, one record per trackingId; delete it to reset a watch list.

Pricing

Pay-per-event. You pay for ads and signals, never for requests, retries, detection or failed sources.

Event	Price	When
Run started	$0.01	Once per run.
Advertiser checked	$0.005	Per advertiser × platform (or TikTok query) fetched successfully.
Ad record	$0.003	Snapshot mode, per Google or LinkedIn ad stored.
Ad record (TikTok)	$0.005	Snapshot mode, per TikTok top ad stored (browser compute).
Change detected	$0.01	Change mode, per change event stored. advertiser_error is free.

Worked example, 20 competitors on Google and LinkedIn, daily change mode, about 15 changes a day: $0.01 + 40 × $0.005 + 15 × $0.01 = $0.36 per run, about $11 per month. A weekly full snapshot of the same 20 competitors with 1,500 running ads costs about $4.71 per run. Platform compute is billed separately by your Apify plan; a typical change run takes one to three minutes.

Platform notes and limitations

• Google: dates are shown as ranges (firstShownAt, lastShownAt) and "active" means shown within the last 7 days. Google exposes creatives as image previews or preview scripts, not as headline/body text, so headline, bodyText, cta and landingUrl are null for Google ads; mediaUrls and regions are complete. Text ads are rendered as images by Google. Regions cost one extra RPC per new ad; ads already in the snapshot reuse their stored regions.
• LinkedIn: the Ad Library sits behind Cloudflare and rejects a share of datacenter requests with 403. The Actor retries with spaced attempts and alternating HTTP versions; if a source still fails, switch proxyConfiguration to residential proxies. Name searches return every advertiser mentioning the word; the Actor keeps only the matching organisation, so pass linkedinCompanyId (numeric) when you have it. Impressions are ranges ("< 1k", "1k-5k"); country shares appear only when LinkedIn shows them.
• TikTok: there is no advertiser search, so the unit is a query (keyword / industry / objective / region / period) and change mode means "new top ads for this query". Without a login TikTok serves the top 20 ads per query; use several queries for coverage. Keyword queries run through the page's search box; other filters call the signed API directly. firstShownAt/lastShownAt are not exposed by TikTok.
• Change detection is relative to the filtered set (activeOnly, lastNDays, googleRegion); changing them between runs produces events.
• mediaUrls are the libraries' own CDN links (Google tpc.googlesyndication.com, LinkedIn media.licdn.com, TikTok CDN) and can expire; nothing is downloaded or rehosted.

Proxy guidance

• Google and TikTok: Apify datacenter proxies are enough. Google rate-limits bursts per IP; the Actor paces its RPCs and backs off on 429.
• LinkedIn: start with datacenter; if the summary shows repeated 403s on LinkedIn sources, set proxyConfiguration to { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": ["RESIDENTIAL"] }. Residential traffic costs more, so keep maxAdsPerAdvertiser moderate there.

Related

../review-intelligence collects public reviews for a company or app across five sources, with AI themes and negative-review alerts.

Watching a specific page rather than a feed? ../page-change-monitor reports exactly what changed on any URL, with a diff and an optional AI summary.

Legal note

The Actor reads public advertising transparency data that the platforms publish for exactly this purpose. It never logs in, sends no cookies, paces its requests, links to creatives instead of copying them, and stores no personal data (ads by individual people are skipped; contact details in copy are masked). Brand names appear factually to identify advertisers. Use the data in line with each platform's terms and the laws that apply to you. Google, LinkedIn and TikTok are trademarks of their owners; this Actor is not affiliated with them.