# Google Ads Transparency Scraper β€” Competitor Ad Spy (`hipersoft/google-ads-transparency-scraper`) Actor Spy on any advertiser's ads from Google Ads Transparency Center: creatives, formats, first/last shown dates and preview links across Google Search, Display and YouTube. Search by advertiser name or ID, filter by region. No login, no API key. - **URL**: https://apify.com/hipersoft/google-ads-transparency-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [hiper soft](https://apify.com/hipersoft) (community) - **Categories:** Marketing, Lead generation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $0.0012 / ad scraped 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. In JavaScript/TypeScript projects, use official [JavaScript/TypeScript client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): ```bash pip install apify-client ``` In shell scripts, use [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): ````bash # MacOS / Linux curl -fsSL https://apify.com/install-cli.sh | bash # Windows irm https://apify.com/install-cli.ps1 | iex ```bash In AI frameworks, you might use the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md). If your project is in a different language, use 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 ## Google Ads Transparency Scraper β€” Competitor Ad Spy See exactly what ads your competitors are running. This Actor pulls any advertiser's ads straight from **Google's Ads Transparency Center** β€” creatives, formats, the dates each ad first and last ran, and direct preview links β€” across Google Search, Display and YouTube. Search by **brand name, website domain, or advertiser ID**, filter by region, format and date. No account, no API key. Perfect for competitive research, ad-creative inspiration, affiliate/dropshipping spying, and monitoring what a brand is promoting right now. ### Features - πŸ”Ž **Search by brand name** β€” type "Nike"; the Actor resolves it to the right advertiser automatically - 🌐 **Search by domain** β€” enter `nike.com` to get ads from **every advertiser tied to that domain**, including the brand's media agencies (broader than a name search) - πŸ†” **Or by advertiser ID** β€” pass exact `AR…` IDs to skip the lookup - πŸ–ΌοΈ **All formats, right asset** β€” image ads return the creative image; text & video ads return the render URL; every ad gets a permalink - 🎚️ **Filter by format** β€” image / text / video only - πŸ“… **Filter by date** β€” only ads shown after / before a date you set - 🌍 **Region filter** β€” ads shown in the US, GB, DE, IN, BR and 25+ more countries - πŸ“Š **Bulk & paginated** β€” pull up to thousands of ads per advertiser, de-duplicated ### What you get One record per ad creative: ```json { "advertiserName": "Nike, Inc.", "advertiserId": "AR16735076323512287233", "creativeId": "CR17005015292943794177", "format": "image", "formatCode": 1, "firstShown": "2022-11-30T15:28:09.000Z", "lastShown": "2026-07-22T10:22:58.000Z", "imageUrl": "https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/archive/simgad/10365756016983535800", "renderUrl": null, "adUrl": "https://adstransparency.google.com/advertiser/AR16735076323512287233/creative/CR17005015292943794177?region=US", "region": "US" } ```` Text and video ads have `imageUrl: null` and a `renderUrl` (a Google-hosted URL that renders the actual ad). ### Input ```json { "advertiserNames": ["Nike"], "domains": ["hellofresh.com"], "region": "US", "adFormat": "all", "shownAfter": "2025-01-01", "maxAdsPerAdvertiser": 200 } ``` | Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | `advertiserNames` | Brand/company names to look up. | | `domains` | Website domains β€” returns ads from all advertisers on the domain. | | `advertiserIds` | Exact `AR…` advertiser IDs (skips lookup). | | `region` | Country code (US, GB, DE…) or Google numeric region id. | | `adFormat` | `all`, `image`, `text` or `video`. | | `shownAfter` / `shownBefore` | Date filters (YYYY-MM-DD). | | `maxAdsPerAdvertiser` | Max creatives per target. | ### Use cases - **Competitor ad research** β€” see every ad a rival brand is actively running - **Creative inspiration** β€” build a swipe file of ads in your niche - **Affiliate / dropshipping** β€” spot winning products and angles - **Brand monitoring** β€” track when a competitor launches or retires campaigns ### Pricing Pay-per-event: a small amount per ad scraped. See the **Pricing** tab for current rates. ### Notes Uses the public Google Ads Transparency Center, which Google publishes for ad transparency. Returns Google's own transparency data as-is. This is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google. # Actor input Schema ## `advertiserNames` (type: `array`): Company/brand names to look up (resolved to the closest advertiser in the Transparency Center). e.g. "Nike", "HelloFresh". ## `advertiserIds` (type: `array`): Exact advertiser IDs (start with AR...) if you already have them β€” skips the name lookup. ## `domains` (type: `array`): Website domains to find ads for (e.g. "nike.com"). Returns ads from every advertiser tied to the domain β€” including the brand's agencies. ## `region` (type: `string`): Two-letter country code (US, GB, DE, FR, IN, BR, …) or Google's numeric region id. Ads shown in this region. ## `adFormat` (type: `string`): Filter by creative type. ## `shownAfter` (type: `string`): Keep only ads last shown on/after this date (YYYY-MM-DD). Leave blank for no limit. ## `shownBefore` (type: `string`): Keep only ads first shown on/before this date (YYYY-MM-DD). Leave blank for no limit. ## `maxAdsPerAdvertiser` (type: `integer`): Cap the number of ad creatives pulled per advertiser. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Proxy configuration. Residential recommended (Google throttles datacenter IPs). ## Actor input object example ```json { "advertiserNames": [ "Nike", "HelloFresh" ], "domains": [ "nike.com" ], "region": "US", "adFormat": "all", "maxAdsPerAdvertiser": 100, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ``` # 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 '' with your token const client = new ApifyClient({ token: '', }); // Prepare Actor input const input = { "advertiserNames": [ "Nike", "HelloFresh" ], "domains": [ "nike.com" ] }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("hipersoft/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(`πŸ’Ύ 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); }); // πŸ“š Want to learn more πŸ“–? Go to β†’ 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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "advertiserNames": [ "Nike", "HelloFresh", ], "domains": ["nike.com"], } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("hipersoft/google-ads-transparency-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("πŸ’Ύ Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # πŸ“š Want to learn more πŸ“–? Go to β†’ https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "advertiserNames": [ "Nike", "HelloFresh" ], "domains": [ "nike.com" ] }' | apify call hipersoft/google-ads-transparency-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=hipersoft/google-ads-transparency-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Google Ads Transparency Scraper β€” Competitor Ad Spy", "description": "Spy on any advertiser's ads from Google Ads Transparency Center: creatives, formats, first/last shown dates and preview links across Google Search, Display and YouTube. Search by advertiser name or ID, filter by region. No login, no API key.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "U4wh4pK1roNlfGD5l" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/hipersoft~google-ads-transparency-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-hipersoft-google-ads-transparency-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for its completion, and returns Actor's dataset items in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/hipersoft~google-ads-transparency-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-hipersoft-google-ads-transparency-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK", "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/hipersoft~google-ads-transparency-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-hipersoft-google-ads-transparency-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } } }, "components": { "schemas": { "inputSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "advertiserNames": { "title": "Advertiser names", "type": "array", "description": "Company/brand names to look up (resolved to the closest advertiser in the Transparency Center). e.g. \"Nike\", \"HelloFresh\".", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "advertiserIds": { "title": "Advertiser IDs (optional)", "type": "array", "description": "Exact advertiser IDs (start with AR...) if you already have them β€” skips the name lookup.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "domains": { "title": "Domains", "type": "array", "description": "Website domains to find ads for (e.g. \"nike.com\"). Returns ads from every advertiser tied to the domain β€” including the brand's agencies.", "items": { "type": "string" } }, "region": { "title": "Region", "type": "string", "description": "Two-letter country code (US, GB, DE, FR, IN, BR, …) or Google's numeric region id. Ads shown in this region.", "default": "US" }, "adFormat": { "title": "Ad format", "enum": [ "all", "image", "text", "video" ], "type": "string", "description": "Filter by creative type.", "default": "all" }, "shownAfter": { "title": "Shown after", "type": "string", "description": "Keep only ads last shown on/after this date (YYYY-MM-DD). Leave blank for no limit." }, "shownBefore": { "title": "Shown before", "type": "string", "description": "Keep only ads first shown on/before this date (YYYY-MM-DD). Leave blank for no limit." }, "maxAdsPerAdvertiser": { "title": "Max ads per advertiser", "minimum": 1, "maximum": 5000, "type": "integer", "description": "Cap the number of ad creatives pulled per advertiser.", "default": 100 }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy", "type": "object", "description": "Proxy configuration. Residential recommended (Google throttles datacenter IPs).", "default": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } } }, "runsResponseSchema": { "type": "object", "properties": { "data": { "type": "object", "properties": { "id": { "type": "string" }, "actId": { "type": "string" }, "userId": { "type": "string" }, "startedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "finishedAt": { "type": "string", "format": "date-time", "example": "2025-01-08T00:00:00.000Z" }, "status": { "type": "string", "example": "READY" }, "meta": { "type": "object", "properties": { "origin": { "type": "string", "example": "API" }, "userAgent": { "type": "string" } } }, "stats": { "type": "object", "properties": { "inputBodyLen": { "type": "integer", "example": 2000 }, "rebootCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "restartCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "resurrectCount": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "computeUnits": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "options": { "type": "object", "properties": { "build": { "type": "string", "example": "latest" }, "timeoutSecs": { "type": "integer", "example": 300 }, "memoryMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 1024 }, "diskMbytes": { "type": "integer", "example": 2048 } } }, "buildId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultKeyValueStoreId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultDatasetId": { "type": "string" }, "defaultRequestQueueId": { "type": "string" }, "buildNumber": { "type": "string", "example": "1.0.0" }, "containerUrl": { "type": "string" }, "usage": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 1 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } }, "usageTotalUsd": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "usageUsd": { "type": "object", "properties": { "ACTOR_COMPUTE_UNITS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATASET_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_WRITES": { "type": "number", "example": 0.00005 }, "KEY_VALUE_STORE_LISTS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_READS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "REQUEST_QUEUE_WRITES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_INTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "DATA_TRANSFER_EXTERNAL_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_RESIDENTIAL_TRANSFER_GBYTES": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 }, "PROXY_SERPS": { "type": "integer", "example": 0 } } } } } } } } } } ```