# Google Ads Transparency Scraper (`datadungeon/google-ads-transparency-scraper`) Actor

Get every Google ad a brand runs: search by domain, advertiser name, or advertiser ID. Image URLs, text ad headlines and descriptions, YouTube links, first/last shown dates. No login, no proxy, $1 per 1,000 ads.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/datadungeon/google-ads-transparency-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [Data Dungeon](https://apify.com/datadungeon) (community)
- **Categories:** Lead generation, SEO tools, E-commerce
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

$1.00 / 1,000 ad scrapeds

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/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
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.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## 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.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Google Ads Transparency Scraper

See every Google ad a brand is running, or has run. Type a **domain**, an **advertiser name**, or an **advertiser ID**. You get back the ad images, text ad headlines and descriptions, YouTube video links, and first/last shown dates from the [Google Ads Transparency Center](https://adstransparency.google.com).

No login, no browser, no proxy needed. A run of 50 ads finishes in about 15 seconds.

### What you can do with it

- **Competitor research:** see which ads a competitor has kept running for months (those are the ones that work).
- **Creative inspiration:** pull a brand's full image and text ad library into a spreadsheet.
- **Agency pitches:** show a prospect what their competitors spend on.
- **Monitoring:** schedule a daily run and catch new ads the day they launch.

### Input

| Field | What it does |
|---|---|
| `queries` | Domains (`nike.com`), advertiser names (`Patagonia`), or advertiser IDs (`AR16735076323512287233`). One per line. |
| `region` | Two-letter country code (`US`, `GB`, `DE`...). Empty = ads shown anywhere. |
| `maxAdsPerQuery` | Stop after this many ads per query (default 50, max 10,000). |
| `fetchAdCopy` | Read text ad headlines, descriptions, and YouTube links (default on). |

A **domain** returns every advertiser running ads for that site. A **name** picks the advertiser with the most ads matching that name.

### Output

```json
{
  "advertiserId": "AR13494478831020408833",
  "advertiserName": "PATAGONIA, INC.",
  "domain": "",
  "creativeId": "CR03060101783935254529",
  "format": "text",
  "imageUrl": "https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/archive/simgad/7975243735260179410",
  "headline": "Patagonia® Nano Puff® Jacket",
  "description": "Synthetic Insulation Nano Puff® Jackets & Vests for Packable, Easy-Layering Warmth.",
  "displayUrl": "",
  "videoUrl": "",
  "firstShown": "2025-09-17",
  "lastShown": "2026-10-28",
  "adUrl": "https://adstransparency.google.com/advertiser/AR13494478831020408833/creative/CR03060101783935254529?region=US",
  "query": "Patagonia"
}
```

`format` is `image`, `text`, `video`, `shopping`, or `other`. Export as JSON, CSV, or Excel, or pull it through the Apify API.

### Pricing

Pay only for ads returned: see the Pricing tab. Fields Google does not show for an ad are left empty.

### Notes

- Data comes from Google's public Ads Transparency Center. It shows ads Google has verified, not spend or impressions.
- If Google rate-limits a large run, turn on Apify Proxy in the input.

# Actor input Schema

## `queries` (type: `array`):

One per line. Examples: nike.com, Nike, AR16735076323512287233. A domain returns every advertiser running ads for that site; a name picks the best-matching advertiser.

## `region` (type: `string`):

Two-letter country code (US, GB, DE...). Leave empty for ads shown anywhere.

## `maxAdsPerQuery` (type: `integer`):

Stop after this many ads for each query.

## `fetchAdCopy` (type: `boolean`):

Opens each ad preview to read the headline, description, display URL, and YouTube link. Slower; turn off for image URLs and dates only.

## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`):

Only needed if Google starts rate-limiting runs.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "queries": [
    "nike.com"
  ],
  "region": "",
  "maxAdsPerQuery": 50,
  "fetchAdCopy": true,
  "proxyConfiguration": {
    "useApifyProxy": false
  }
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `ads` (type: `string`):

Every ad found, one row per ad.

# 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 = {
    "queries": [
        "nike.com"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("datadungeon/google-ads-transparency-scraper").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 = { "queries": ["nike.com"] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("datadungeon/google-ads-transparency-scraper").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 '{
  "queries": [
    "nike.com"
  ]
}' |
apify call datadungeon/google-ads-transparency-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,datadungeon/google-ads-transparency-scraper"
        }
    }
}
```

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/fk2Qg9NBlK0AuRcCr/builds/5JJOQ9JHYLa8GyXeR/openapi.json