# Facebook Ads Library Scraper PRO (`intelscrape/facebook-ads-library-scraper`) Actor Extract winning ads from the Meta Ad Library (Facebook & Instagram). Scrape active ad copy, creative URLs, and advertiser pages. Includes a custom Spam Filter and bypasses Meta API requirements. - **URL**: https://apify.com/intelscrape/facebook-ads-library-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [IntelScrape](https://apify.com/intelscrape) (community) - **Categories:** AI, Social media, Lead generation - **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 1 bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $2.00 / 1,000 results This Actor is paid per event and usage. You are charged both the fixed price for specific events and for Apify platform usage. Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/platform/actors/running/actors-in-store#pay-per-event ## What's an Apify Actor? Actors are a software tools running on the Apify platform, for all kinds of web data extraction and automation use cases. 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.md): ```bash npm install apify-client ``` In Python projects, use official [Python client library](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python.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/platform/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 ## Facebook Ads Library Scraper PRO The most reliable, bypass-proof Meta Ad Library scraper on the market. Extracts full ad copy, pristine image/video URLs, and metadata by directly intercepting Facebook's internal APIsβ€”completely sidestepping fragile HTML scraping. ### πŸš€ Why This Scraper is Different (and Better) Most Facebook scrapers on Apify suffer from two fatal flaws: they crash on 403 WAF blocks, or they break when Facebook changes their CSS classes, returning zero results. **We solved both:** 1. **Total WAF Immunity:** We mimic human clicks from the Facebook homepage to generate perfect headers and session tokens. Even if Meta's frontend blocks the HTML load, our scraper successfully intercepts the raw JSON GraphQL payloads happening behind the scenes. 2. **Zero DOM Fragility:** Because we extract directly from Meta's structured backend JSON responses, this scraper is immune to Facebook's daily UI/CSS updates. 3. **Boardroom-Ready CSV Exports:** We don't give you messy JSON arrays. We automatically format Unix timestamps into human-readable dates, clean up the ad copy formatting, and extract pristine single URLs for Primary Images and Videos so they paste perfectly into Excel and Google Sheets. ### πŸ’‘ How to Search (Crucial for 5-Star Data) The #1 mistake users make is treating the Facebook Ad Library like Google Maps. The search box only matches the **ad text** and the **advertiser's name**. It does NOT match location or targeting data. **If you put a city or county in the search term, you are almost guaranteed 0 results.** (e.g., searching `"plumber dallas"` will fail, because advertisers rarely write "dallas" in their ad copy). Here are the 3 ways to search correctly: 1. **Spy on ONE competitor (Best Results):** Type their exact Facebook Page name (e.g., `Gymshark` or `Premier Building Solutions`). This returns that advertiser's entire ad playbook. 2. **Scan a whole category for ideas:** Use a broad product term, no geography (e.g., `metal buildings`, `storage sheds`, `CRM software`, `shapewear`). 3. **Find LOCAL competitors:** Search broad (e.g., `metal buildings`), export the CSV, and then use Excel to filter the `Ad Copy` column for your area code or nearby town names. The location is sitting *in the data*, not in the search query. ### πŸ“Š Output Format The output is perfectly formatted for marketers: * `Ad Copy`: Full, clean text of the ad. * `Ad Library URL`: Direct, clickable link to view the live ad in your browser. * `Advertiser`: The Facebook Page running the ad. * `Library ID`: The unique Meta Ad ID. * `Primary Image URL`: High-res JPG/PNG link. * `Primary Video URL`: Raw MP4 video link. * `Publisher Platforms`: Where the ad runs (e.g., FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM). * `Start Date`: Human-readable date format (YYYY-MM-DD). * `Status`: Active or Inactive. ### βš™οΈ Configuration - **Search Terms:** A list of keywords or advertiser names. - **Country:** Target country code (Default: US). - **Max Ads Per Search:** Deep infinite scroll (Default: 100). - **Active Status:** Filter by Active/Inactive ads. Enjoy the most bulletproof Facebook Ad intelligence tool available! # Actor input Schema ## `searchMode` (type: `string`): Choose how you want to search. ## `searchInputs` (type: `array`): ❌ Never type a city or state here β€” it returns 0 results. Set location in the Country field below. ## `country` (type: `string`): Country code to search in. ## `maxAdsPerSearch` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of ads to extract per search term. ## `activeStatus` (type: `string`): Filter by active or inactive ads. ## `filterSpamAds` (type: `boolean`): In Keyword mode, drop 'story ads' (serialized fiction novels) that spam broad keywords by filtering out ad copy over 3000 characters. Does not apply to Competitor or URL modes. ## `autoBroaden` (type: `boolean`): If a specific search returns 0 results, automatically shorten the keywords to find related ads. When enabled, broadened results will be labeled 'Auto-Broadened: TRUE' so you know the query was shortened. ## `proxyConfiguration` (type: `object`): Select the proxies to be used. Residential proxies are highly recommended to bypass Meta's anti-bot systems. ## Actor input object example ```json { "searchMode": "keyword", "searchInputs": [ "metal buildings" ], "country": "US", "maxAdsPerSearch": 100, "activeStatus": "all", "filterSpamAds": true, "autoBroaden": false, "proxyConfiguration": { "useApifyProxy": true, "apifyProxyGroups": [ "RESIDENTIAL" ] } } ```` # Actor output Schema ## `Search Term` (type: `string`): The search term used ## `Auto-Broadened` (type: `string`): Indicates if the query was broadened ## `Library ID` (type: `string`): Meta Ad Library ID ## `Advertiser` (type: `string`): The Facebook Page name ## `Status` (type: `string`): Active or Inactive status ## `Start Date` (type: `string`): The date the ad started running ## `Ad Copy Length` (type: `string`): Character count of the ad copy ## `Ad Copy` (type: `string`): The main text of the ad ## `Primary Image URL` (type: `string`): URL to the ad's main image ## `Primary Video URL` (type: `string`): URL to the ad's main video ## `Publisher Platforms` (type: `string`): Platforms the ad runs on (Facebook, Instagram) ## `Ad Library URL` (type: `string`): Direct link to the ad in Meta Ad Library # 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 = {}; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("intelscrape/facebook-ads-library-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 = {} # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("intelscrape/facebook-ads-library-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 '{}' | apify call intelscrape/facebook-ads-library-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=intelscrape/facebook-ads-library-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Facebook Ads Library Scraper PRO", "description": "Extract winning ads from the Meta Ad Library (Facebook & Instagram). Scrape active ad copy, creative URLs, and advertiser pages. Includes a custom Spam Filter and bypasses Meta API requirements.", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "4cyS1pGUYsbwXaV9G" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/intelscrape~facebook-ads-library-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-intelscrape-facebook-ads-library-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/intelscrape~facebook-ads-library-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-intelscrape-facebook-ads-library-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/intelscrape~facebook-ads-library-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-intelscrape-facebook-ads-library-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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", "required": [ "searchMode", "searchInputs" ], "properties": { "searchMode": { "title": "Search Mode", "enum": [ "competitor", "keyword", "url" ], "type": "string", "description": "Choose how you want to search.", "default": "keyword" }, "searchInputs": { "title": "Search Inputs", "type": "array", "description": "❌ Never type a city or state here β€” it returns 0 results. Set location in the Country field below.", "default": [ "metal buildings" ], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "country": { "title": "Country", "enum": [ "ALL", "US", "GB", "CA", "AU", "DE", "FR", "IT", "ES", "BR", "MX", "IN" ], "type": "string", "description": "Country code to search in.", "default": "US" }, "maxAdsPerSearch": { "title": "Max Ads Per Search", "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of ads to extract per search term.", "default": 100 }, "activeStatus": { "title": "Active Status", "enum": [ "all", "active", "inactive" ], "type": "string", "description": "Filter by active or inactive ads.", "default": "all" }, "filterSpamAds": { "title": "Filter Long Story/Spam Ads", "type": "boolean", "description": "In Keyword mode, drop 'story ads' (serialized fiction novels) that spam broad keywords by filtering out ad copy over 3000 characters. Does not apply to Competitor or URL modes.", "default": true }, "autoBroaden": { "title": "Enable Auto-Broadening", "type": "boolean", "description": "If a specific search returns 0 results, automatically shorten the keywords to find related ads. When enabled, broadened results will be labeled 'Auto-Broadened: TRUE' so you know the query was shortened.", "default": false }, "proxyConfiguration": { "title": "Proxy Configuration", "type": "object", "description": "Select the proxies to be used. Residential proxies are highly recommended to bypass Meta's anti-bot systems.", "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```