# Facebook Ad Library Scraper - Active Ads & Creatives (`thirdwatch/fb-ad-library-scraper`) Actor Scrape Facebook's public Ad Library for any brand. Returns active ad count, per-creative text, CTA, start date, and platform mix (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Audience Network). - **URL**: https://apify.com/thirdwatch/fb-ad-library-scraper.md - **Developed by:** [Thirdwatch](https://apify.com/thirdwatch) (community) - **Categories:** Social media, SEO tools - **Stats:** 4 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, NaN bookmarks - **User rating**: No ratings yet ## Pricing from $22.00 / 1,000 results 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/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 Ad Library Scraper > Scrape any brand's active ads from Facebook's public Ad Library — total ad count, creative text, CTAs, start dates, and platform mix across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network. ### What you get Monitor competitor ad activity across the Meta ecosystem (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Audience Network) without logging in. For every brand you pass in, this scraper returns whether the brand is currently running ads, how many ads are live, and up to 200 individual creative samples with text snippets, call-to-action buttons, start dates, and platform mix. Data is country-filterable (US, IN, GB, etc.). **Coverage note:** Meta's Ad Library shows all ad categories in many countries, but in the **EU, UK, and US** only **political and issue ads** (plus housing, employment, and credit ads where applicable) are publicly surfaced. Outside those regions, general commercial ads are usually visible too. Use the `adType` parameter to target a specific category. ### Output fields | Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | `brand` | Brand name searched | | `country` | Country filter applied (or `ALL`) | | `adType` | Ad category (all, political, housing, employment, credit) | | `url` | Ad Library search URL | | `active` | Whether the brand is currently running ads | | `adCount` | Total number of active ads matching the search | | `creatives` | Array of individual ad creative samples | | `creativeCount` | Number of creatives captured | | `scraped_at` | Timestamp | #### Creative fields | Field | Description | |-------|-------------| | `startDate` | Date the ad started running | | `platforms` | Platforms the ad is running on (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Audience Network) | | `cta` | Call-to-action button text (e.g., "Shop Now", "Sign Up") | | `textSnippet` | Ad copy / text content | ### Example output ```json { "brand": "allbirds", "country": "US", "adType": "all", "url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=US&q=allbirds", "active": true, "adCount": 42, "creatives": [ { "startDate": "Mar 18, 2026", "platforms": ["Facebook", "Instagram"], "cta": "Shop Now", "textSnippet": "New Tree Runners. Made with eucalyptus. Comfortable from your first step." }, { "startDate": "Apr 2, 2026", "platforms": ["Instagram"], "cta": "Learn More", "textSnippet": "Plant-based materials. Real carbon reduction. Meet Allbirds." } ], "creativeCount": 20, "scraped_at": "2026-04-23T10:30:00.000Z" } ```` ### Input parameters | Parameter | Required | Description | |-----------|----------|-------------| | `brands` | Yes | Brand names or keywords to look up in the Ad Library (e.g., `["allbirds", "on running", "hoka"]`). One dataset item per brand. | | `country` | No | ISO country code or `ALL` for worldwide. Default `ALL`. Common: `US`, `IN`, `GB`, `CA`, `AU`. | | `adType` | No | Ad category. One of `all`, `political_and_issue_ads`, `housing_ads`, `employment_ads`, `credit_ads`. Default `all`. | | `maxCreatives` | No | Maximum number of individual ad creatives to capture per brand. Set to `0` to return count only. Default `20`, max `200`. | ### Use cases - **Growth marketers**: Reverse-engineer competitor acquisition strategies — which ads are running, on which platforms, and how long they've been live. - **Brand monitoring**: Track your own active ad inventory across Meta or catch rogue creatives running longer than intended. - **Ad agencies**: Build creative swipe files by pulling active ads for top performers in any vertical. - **Political campaigns**: Monitor opponent ad spend activity with `adType: political_and_issue_ads`. - **Compliance teams**: Audit housing, employment, or credit ads for regulatory compliance. ### Limitations - **Coverage varies by country.** Meta's Ad Library shows **all ad categories** (commercial + political/issue/housing/employment/credit) in many regions, but in the **EU, UK, and US** non-political ads are restricted and only `political_and_issue_ads` (plus housing/employment/credit where applicable) are surfaced. Expect smaller result sets for general-brand searches in those markets. - Creative capture is best-effort — Facebook's Ad Library lazy-loads creatives; the first 20–50 are most reliable. Deeper pagination can miss creatives. - Ad visibility varies by country. A brand active in the US may return `active: false` when filtered to `IN`. - Political, housing, employment, and credit ads have extra disclosure fields on Meta's site; this scraper captures the standard fields only. - Text snippets are truncated to the first portion of the ad copy visible in the Library card view. ### Compared to alternatives - **vs. Meta's Ad Library API**: Meta's API requires business verification and is limited to political, housing, employment, and credit ads in most regions. This actor covers **all** ad categories with no approval required. - **vs. Other Apify Store Facebook ad scrapers**: Most pull Page posts, not Ad Library data. This actor is focused specifically on the active-ad inventory. Pairs well with [Instagram Scraper](https://apify.com/thirdwatch/instagram-scraper?fpr=9m2cd6) for organic post monitoring and [TikTok Scraper](https://apify.com/thirdwatch/tiktok-scraper?fpr=9m2cd6) for cross-platform competitor tracking. ### FAQ **Do I need a Facebook account?** No. The Ad Library is a public tool and this scraper does not log in. **Why does the same brand return different `adCount` for different countries?** Meta shows different ads in different regions. Use `country: "ALL"` for worldwide totals or pass a specific country code to see that country's ad inventory. **Can I get ad spend data?** Only for political, housing, employment, and credit ads — Meta publishes spend ranges for those categories only. Standard ads do not include spend. **Can I pull creative images or videos?** This actor returns text, CTA, platforms, and start date. Creative media URLs are available on request for custom integrations. Last verified: 2026-04 More scrapers at [thirdwatch.dev](https://thirdwatch.dev). # Actor input Schema ## `brands` (type: `array`): Brand names or pages to search the Facebook Ad Library for. Each brand returns one dataset item with the active ad count, country, and up to N creative samples (text, CTA, start date, platforms). ## `country` (type: `string`): ISO country code or 'ALL' for worldwide. Default: ALL. Common codes: US, IN, GB, CA, AU. ## `adType` (type: `string`): Category of ads to search. Default: all. ## `maxCreatives` (type: `integer`): Maximum number of individual ad creatives to capture per brand (text + start date + CTA). Set to 0 to return count only. ## Actor input object example ```json { "brands": [ "allbirds" ], "country": "ALL", "adType": "all", "maxCreatives": 20 } ``` # Actor output Schema ## `results` (type: `string`): No description # 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 = { "brands": [ "allbirds" ], "country": "ALL", "maxCreatives": 20 }; // Run the Actor and wait for it to finish const run = await client.actor("thirdwatch/fb-ad-library-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 '' with your token. client = ApifyClient("") # Prepare the Actor input run_input = { "brands": ["allbirds"], "country": "ALL", "maxCreatives": 20, } # Run the Actor and wait for it to finish run = client.actor("thirdwatch/fb-ad-library-scraper").call(run_input=run_input) # Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any) print("💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/" + run["defaultDatasetId"]) for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items(): print(item) # 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start ``` ## CLI example ```bash echo '{ "brands": [ "allbirds" ], "country": "ALL", "maxCreatives": 20 }' | apify call thirdwatch/fb-ad-library-scraper --silent --output-dataset ``` ## MCP server setup ```json { "mcpServers": { "apify": { "command": "npx", "args": [ "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=thirdwatch/fb-ad-library-scraper", "--header", "Authorization: Bearer " ] } } } ``` ## OpenAPI specification ```json { "openapi": "3.0.1", "info": { "title": "Facebook Ad Library Scraper - Active Ads & Creatives", "description": "Scrape Facebook's public Ad Library for any brand. Returns active ad count, per-creative text, CTA, start date, and platform mix (Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Audience Network).", "version": "1.0", "x-build-id": "dP3DDjwqjgjVKPG6r" }, "servers": [ { "url": "https://api.apify.com/v2" } ], "paths": { "/acts/thirdwatch~fb-ad-library-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-get-dataset-items-thirdwatch-fb-ad-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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/inputSchema" } } } }, "parameters": [ { "name": "token", "in": "query", "required": true, "schema": { "type": "string" }, "description": "Enter your Apify token here" } ], "responses": { "200": { "description": "OK" } } } }, "/acts/thirdwatch~fb-ad-library-scraper/runs": { "post": { "operationId": "runs-sync-thirdwatch-fb-ad-library-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor and returns information about the initiated run in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": { "$ref": "#/components/schemas/runsResponseSchema" } } } } } } }, "/acts/thirdwatch~fb-ad-library-scraper/run-sync": { "post": { "operationId": "run-sync-thirdwatch-fb-ad-library-scraper", "x-openai-isConsequential": false, "summary": "Executes an Actor, waits for completion, and returns the OUTPUT from Key-value store in response.", "tags": [ "Run Actor" ], "requestBody": { "required": true, "content": { "application/json": { "schema": { "$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": [ "brands" ], "properties": { "brands": { "title": "Brand names", "type": "array", "description": "Brand names or pages to search the Facebook Ad Library for. Each brand returns one dataset item with the active ad count, country, and up to N creative samples (text, CTA, start date, platforms).", "default": [], "items": { "type": "string" } }, "country": { "title": "Country", "type": "string", "description": "ISO country code or 'ALL' for worldwide. Default: ALL. Common codes: US, IN, GB, CA, AU.", "default": "ALL" }, "adType": { "title": "Ad type", "enum": [ "all", "political_and_issue_ads", "housing_ads", "employment_ads", "credit_ads" ], "type": "string", "description": "Category of ads to search. Default: all.", "default": "all" }, "maxCreatives": { "title": "Max creatives per brand", "minimum": 0, "maximum": 200, "type": "integer", "description": "Maximum number of individual ad creatives to capture per brand (text + start date + CTA). Set to 0 to return count only.", "default": 20 } } }, "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 } } } } } } } } } } ```