# Google Ads Transparency Scraper: Competitor Ad Library (`steady-scrape/google-ads-transparency`) Actor

Every Google Search, YouTube, Shopping, Maps and Play ad a competitor runs, from Google's Ads Transparency Center: creative ID, format, preview image, first and last shown dates. Search by domain, advertiser ID or name. New-ads monitor. No browser, no login.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/steady-scrape/google-ads-transparency.md
- **Developed by:** [SteadyScrape](https://apify.com/steady-scrape) (community)
- **Categories:** Marketing, SEO tools, Lead generation
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 0.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $0.70 / 1,000 ads

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

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: Competitor Ad Library

See **every Google ad a competitor is running**: Search, YouTube, Shopping, Maps and Play. Data comes from Google's public **Ads Transparency Center**. Enter a domain, an advertiser ID or a company name and get a clean list of ad creatives, with format, preview image, and first-shown and last-shown dates.

- 🔎 **Three ways in**: a domain (`nike.com`), an advertiser ID (`AR16735076323512287233`) or a name search (`hubspot`) that finds the advertiser accounts for you
- 🖼️ **Creative details**: creative ID, format (text, image or video), preview image or video preview link, the advertiser's verified status, and a direct link to the ad in the Transparency Center
- 📅 **Run-time facts**: first shown, last shown, days running and whether the ad is active right now
- 🌍 **Any region**: 210+ countries, or "anywhere"
- 🔔 **Monitor mode**: schedule it and get **only ads you haven't seen before**, so you can spot a competitor's new campaigns the day they launch
- 🛡️ **Built not to break**: no browser, no proxies, no login and no CAPTCHAs. The data comes from a licensed ads-data API, so runs don't fail when Google changes its page
- 💸 **Pay only for ads you get**: errors, "no ads" results and filtered-out ads are free

### Quick start

```json
{
  "targets": ["nike.com"],
  "region": "US"
}
```

Find a competitor by name and pull its ads:

```json
{
  "advertiserSearch": ["hubspot"],
  "fetchAdsForFoundAdvertisers": true,
  "region": "US"
}
```

Watch for new creatives every day (put this on a schedule):

```json
{
  "targets": ["competitor-one.com", "competitor-two.com"],
  "onlyNewAds": true,
  "lastShownWithinDays": 2
}
```

### Output

One row per ad creative, most recently shown first:

| Field | Example | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| `query` | `nike.com` | What you entered |
| `advertiserName` / `advertiserId` | `Nike, Inc.` / `AR16735076323512287233` | |
| `verified` | `true` | Advertiser identity verified by Google |
| `creativeId` | `CR04339633203531743233` | Stable ID of the ad |
| `format` | `text` | `text`, `image` or `video` |
| `previewImageUrl` | `https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/archive/simgad/…` | Rendered ad image (text and image ads) |
| `previewUrl` | `https://displayads-formats.googleusercontent.com/…` | Interactive preview (video and HTML ads) |
| `firstShown` / `lastShown` | `2023-11-16T22:47:25Z` / `2026-10-27T01:45:50Z` | UTC |
| `daysRunning` | `1076` | Long-running ads are usually the winners |
| `isActive` | `true` | Shown in the last 48 hours |
| `isNew` | `true` | Monitor mode only |
| `adUrl` | `https://adstransparency.google.com/advertiser/…/creative/…` | Open the ad in Google's Transparency Center |
| `region`, `platform`, `rank`, `fetchedAt` | | |

A name search adds one row per advertiser account: `advertiserName`, `advertiserId`, `accountGroup` (for companies with several accounts), `verified`, `location`, `adsCountApprox`, `advertiserUrl` and `relatedDomains`.

Targets that can't be processed get a `recordType: "error"` row that explains why, and targets with no ads get a `no_ads` row. Neither is ever charged. The run summary in the `OUTPUT` record shows per-target totals, including Google's approximate total ad count (`totalAdsApprox`).

The dataset has two views, **Ads** and **Advertisers**. Export to CSV, Excel or JSON, or use the API, Make, n8n or Zapier.

### Input options

| Option | Default | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| `targets` | | Domains, advertiser IDs (comma-separate up to 25 IDs of one company) or Transparency Center URLs |
| `advertiserSearch` | | Company or brand names to look up |
| `fetchAdsForFoundAdvertisers` / `maxAdvertisersPerSearch` | `false` / `1` | Also list the ads of the top matching advertiser(s) |
| `region` | `US` | ISO code, country name or `anywhere` |
| `platform` | `all` | `google_search`, `youtube`, `google_shopping`, `google_maps`, `google_play` |
| `adFormat` | `all` | `text`, `image`, `video` |
| `maxAdsPerTarget` | `120` | Up to 360 with format `all` (see limits) |
| `lastShownWithinDays` | `0` | Keep only recently shown ads. `1`–`2` means running now |
| `dateFrom` / `dateTo` | | Only ads shown in this date range |
| `onlyNewAds` / `monitorStoreName` | `false` | Monitor mode. Remembers what you've already received in a named store in your account |

### Pricing (pay per event)

| Event | Price | When |
|---|---|---|
| Ad | $1.00 / 1,000 ads | Each ad row you receive |
| Advertiser | $3.00 / 1,000 | Each advertiser account from a name search |
| Monitor check | $0.008 / target | Monitor mode, each target checked after the first (baseline) run |
| New ad | $3.00 / 1,000 | Monitor mode, each new creative found |

Set **Max cost per run** in the run options. The Actor only fetches what fits in that limit and never charges more than it.

### Limits, honestly

- Google's Transparency Center returns **at most 120 creatives per query**, newest first. With format `all`, the Actor also queries text, image and video separately, which lifts the limit to **360 unique creatives per target**. Very large advertisers (thousands of ads) are covered by their most recently shown ads. Narrow down with `platform`, `adFormat` or `region` to go deeper.
- **Ad copy text** and the regional impression ranges aren't included yet. For text and image ads, the preview image shows the rendered copy.
- A **domain** target returns every ad that points to that domain, including ads that partners, agencies or resellers run for it (the `advertiserName` column shows who paid). To see one company's own ads only, use its advertiser ID or a name search.
- `adsCountApprox` and `totalAdsApprox` are Google's rounded estimates.
- Old date ranges may return nothing: Google keeps fewer historical creatives.

### FAQ

**Do I need a Google account or API key?** No.

**Is this legal?** The Ads Transparency Center is a public library that Google publishes so anyone can see who advertises and how. The output contains business advertisers and their ads only, with no personal data. You're responsible for how you use the data.

**Why would a run return fewer ads than Google's total?** See the 120-per-query limit above. `totalAdsApprox` in the summary tells you how many exist.

**Something wrong?** Open an issue on the Issues tab. SteadyScrape answers there.

### More tools from SteadyScrape

- [Domain SEO Metrics](https://apify.com/steady-scrape/domain-seo-metrics): organic and paid traffic estimates, ranked keywords, backlinks and spam score for a list of domains.
- [Keyword Search Volume](https://apify.com/steady-scrape/keyword-search-volume): Google search volume, CPC, competition and a 12-month trend for up to 10,000 keywords per run.
- [AI Visibility & Share of Voice Tracker](https://apify.com/steady-scrape/ai-brand-visibility-tracker): see whether ChatGPT and Perplexity mention, rank and cite your brand versus your competitors.

# Actor input Schema

## `targets` (type: `array`):

One per line: a domain (nike.com), an advertiser ID (AR16735076323512287233), several IDs of one company separated by commas (max 25), or an adstransparency.google.com advertiser URL.

## `advertiserSearch` (type: `array`):

Find advertisers by company or brand name (e.g. "hubspot"). Returns matching advertiser accounts with IDs, verification and approximate ad counts. Turn on 'Fetch ads for found advertisers' to also get their ads.

## `fetchAdsForFoundAdvertisers` (type: `boolean`):

For each name search, also list the ads of the top matching advertiser(s).

## `maxAdvertisersPerSearch` (type: `integer`):

Used only with 'Fetch ads for found advertisers'. A company with several Google Ads accounts counts as one.

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

Where the ads were shown: country ISO code ("US", "DE"), country name ("Germany") or "anywhere" for all regions.

## `platform` (type: `string`):

Where the ads ran. 'All platforms' includes every Google ad surface in the Transparency Center.

## `adFormat` (type: `string`):

Text, image or video creatives.

## `maxAdsPerTarget` (type: `integer`):

Most recently shown ads first. Google returns up to 120 per query; with format 'All' up to 360 are collected by also querying text, image and video separately (deduplicated).

## `lastShownWithinDays` (type: `integer`):

0 = no filter. 1-2 = ads running right now. Filtered-out ads are not charged.

## `dateFrom` (type: `string`):

Optional. Only ads shown on or after this date (YYYY-MM-DD). Google keeps fewer old ads, so long-ago ranges may return nothing.

## `dateTo` (type: `string`):

Optional, needs 'Shown from'. Defaults to today.

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

Schedule this Actor and get only creatives you have not received before for each target. The first run saves a baseline (and returns all ads).

## `monitorStoreName` (type: `string`):

Named key-value store in your Apify account that remembers which ads you already received. Use a different name per monitor.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "targets": [
    "nike.com"
  ],
  "fetchAdsForFoundAdvertisers": false,
  "maxAdvertisersPerSearch": 1,
  "region": "US",
  "platform": "all",
  "adFormat": "all",
  "maxAdsPerTarget": 120,
  "lastShownWithinDays": 0,
  "onlyNewAds": false,
  "monitorStoreName": "steadyscrape-ads-monitor"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

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

One row per ad creative.

## `advertisers` (type: `string`):

Advertiser accounts from name searches.

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

Per-target totals, new-ad counts and charges.

# 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 = {
    "targets": [
        "nike.com"
    ],
    "region": "US"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("steady-scrape/google-ads-transparency").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 = {
    "targets": ["nike.com"],
    "region": "US",
}

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

```

## MCP server setup

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

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/dvrVrxzMtNrph4uoC/builds/wskZbHh0BReA9bv2U/openapi.json