11 Best Ad Spy Tools in 2026 (Tested & Compared)
Compare the best ad spy tools for competitive intelligence in 2026. We tested Foreplay, Benly, Minea, AdSpy, BigSpy, and more to help you find winning ads and outperform competitors.
Try AI-powered marketingKey Takeaways
- Benly ranks #1 for all-in-one creative intelligence, combining a 50M+ ad database with AI-powered creative generation to go from research to production in one workflow.
- Free tools are essential: Every advertiser should use Meta Ad Library and TikTok Creative Center alongside paid tools - they provide the most accurate real-time data.
- Match tools to your platforms: Choose ad spy tools based on where you actually advertise. A TikTok-focused tool won't help if you only run Facebook ads.
- Ad longevity indicates success: Focus on ads running 30+ days with multiple variations - this suggests they're profitable and worth studying.
- Build systematic workflows: Regular competitive research (weekly checks, monthly deep dives) yields better results than occasional browsing.
Finding winning ad creatives shouldn't require guesswork. The right ad spy tool can reveal exactly what's working for your competitors, giving you a proven blueprint for success.
We spent 3 months testing 11 of the most popular ad spy tools on the market, analyzing their databases, features, and real-world usefulness for performance marketers. From free options like Meta Ad Library to premium platforms like AdSpy, we evaluated each tool on database size, search functionality, filtering options, pricing value, and unique capabilities. Whether you're a dropshipper hunting for winning products, an agency researching client competitors, or a brand looking to outpace the competition, this guide will help you choose the right tool for your needs.
Our methodology: We evaluated each tool based on database freshness (how quickly new ads appear), search accuracy, filter granularity, platform coverage, unique features, and value for money. We also considered user experience, learning curve, and customer support quality.
Quick Comparison
← Scroll to see more →
| # | Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Benly | All-in-One Creative Intelligence | $99/mo | |
| 2 | Foreplay | Swipe File Organization | $49/mo | |
| 3 | Minea | Product Research | $49/mo | 4.4 |
| 4 | AdSpy | Facebook Ad Database | $149/mo | 4.3 |
| 5 | BigSpy | Budget-Friendly Option | $9/mo | 4.1 |
| 6 | PiPiAds | TikTok Ads | $77/mo | 4.2 |
| 7 | Dropispy | Dropshipping | Free | 4.0 |
| 8 | Meta Ad Library | Free Option | Free | |
| 9 | TikTok Creative Center | TikTok Trends | Free | 4.4 |
| 10 | Adbeat | Display Ads | $249/mo | 4.1 |
| 11 | SpyFu | Search Ads | $39/mo | 4.3 |
Detailed Reviews
Benly
Our PickBest for All-in-One Creative Intelligence
$99/mo
Benly stands out by combining ad spy capabilities with AI-powered creative generation in one platform. Rather than just showing you what competitors are doing, Benly helps you understand why certain creatives work and then generate your own winning variations. The platform's AI analyzes patterns across millions of ads to identify trends and generate creative concepts that align with proven formats.
Key Features
- Multi-platform ad database (Meta, TikTok, Google)
- AI-powered creative pattern analysis
- One-click creative generation from inspiration
- Performance prediction scoring
- Competitor monitoring and alerts
- Integrated with reporting and analytics
Foreplay
Best for Swipe File Organization
$49/mo
Foreplay has become the go-to tool for creative teams who need to organize and collaborate on ad inspiration. Its Chrome extension makes saving ads effortless, and the board-based organization system is intuitive for teams used to tools like Figma or Notion. While it doesn't have the largest database, its focus on workflow and collaboration makes it the top choice for agencies and in-house creative teams.
Key Features
- Chrome extension for instant ad saving
- Board-based organization with tags and folders
- Team collaboration and sharing features
- Creative brief generation from saved ads
- Direct integration with Meta Ad Library
- AI-powered ad analysis and insights
Minea
Best for Product Research
$49/mo
Minea is the Swiss Army knife for e-commerce product research. While it includes solid ad spy features, its real strength is helping dropshippers and e-commerce brands find winning products before they saturate. The influencer tracking feature is particularly valuable for identifying products gaining organic traction before they hit mainstream advertising.
Key Features
- Product research across AliExpress and suppliers
- Influencer marketing tracker
- Multi-platform ad coverage (Meta, TikTok, Pinterest)
- Shop and store analysis tools
- Product trend detection
- Supplier finding and verification
AdSpy
Best for Facebook Ad Database
$149/mo
AdSpy has one of the largest Facebook and Instagram ad databases in the market, with over 150 million ads indexed. Its advanced filtering options let you search by engagement metrics, ad text, landing page content, and more. For marketers who need deep historical data on Meta platforms, AdSpy remains the industry standard despite its premium pricing.
Key Features
- 150M+ Facebook and Instagram ads indexed
- Search by ad text, comments, and landing pages
- Engagement metrics and social proof data
- Affiliate and network filtering
- Historical ad data going back years
- Detailed advertiser profiles
BigSpy
Best for Budget-Friendly Option
$9/mo
BigSpy offers impressive multi-platform coverage at a fraction of competitors' prices. With access to ads across Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, Twitter, and more, it's hard to beat the value. The database isn't as comprehensive as premium options, but for marketers on a budget, BigSpy provides solid competitive intelligence without breaking the bank.
Key Features
- 9+ advertising platforms covered
- Budget-friendly pricing tiers
- Basic filtering and search options
- Ad tracking and monitoring
- Download and export capabilities
- Chrome extension for saving ads
PiPiAds
Best for TikTok Ads
$77/mo
PiPiAds has carved out a niche as the specialist TikTok ad spy tool. Its database focuses exclusively on TikTok, providing deeper coverage and better filtering for the platform than generalist tools. Features like ad performance estimates and product link extraction make it particularly valuable for e-commerce brands advertising on TikTok.
Key Features
- TikTok-focused ad database
- Performance estimation metrics
- Product and landing page analysis
- Advertiser research and tracking
- Trending ad and product discovery
- Daily database updates
Dropispy
Best for Dropshipping
Free
Dropispy is built specifically for dropshippers, combining ad spy features with product research and supplier information. Its free tier is genuinely useful, making it a great starting point for beginners. The tool excels at identifying dropshipping-specific ads and connecting them to product sources.
Key Features
- Free tier with useful features
- Dropshipping-focused ad detection
- Product source identification
- AliExpress integration
- Basic competitor monitoring
- Chrome extension included
Meta Ad Library
Best Free Option
Free
Meta Ad Library is the official transparency tool from Meta, providing access to every active ad running on Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger. It's completely free and offers the most accurate, real-time data for Meta platforms. While it lacks advanced features like historical data or performance metrics, it's an essential tool that every advertiser should use.
Key Features
- 100% accurate Meta ad data
- Complete active ad coverage
- Real-time updates
- Advertiser page information
- Political ad transparency features
- API access for developers
TikTok Creative Center
Best for TikTok Trends
Free
TikTok Creative Center is TikTok's official creative intelligence platform, offering curated top-performing ads, trending sounds, hashtags, and creative insights. Unlike most spy tools, it explicitly highlights ads that achieved strong performance, making it invaluable for understanding what works on TikTok.
Key Features
- Curated top-performing TikTok ads
- Trending sounds and hashtags
- Creative insights and best practices
- Industry and objective filtering
- Region-specific trend data
- Official TikTok creative tools
Adbeat
Best for Display Ads
$249/mo
Adbeat specializes in display advertising intelligence, tracking ads across premium publishers and ad networks. It's the go-to tool for brands and agencies running programmatic display campaigns, offering insights into competitor media buying strategies that social-focused tools completely miss.
Key Features
- Display ad network coverage
- Publisher and placement data
- Media buying strategy insights
- Competitor spend estimates
- Landing page tracking
- Ad network identification
SpyFu
Best for Search Ads
$39/mo
SpyFu is the veteran tool for search advertising intelligence, providing deep insights into competitor Google Ads strategies. It reveals competitor keywords, ad copy, and estimated spend across search campaigns. For brands investing heavily in Google Search, SpyFu offers intelligence that social ad spy tools simply can't provide.
Key Features
- Google Ads competitor research
- Keyword spy and tracking
- Ad copy history and testing
- Estimated spend and clicks
- SEO competitive intelligence
- Historical data going back 15+ years
How to Choose the Right Tool
Key Criteria
- 1Platform coverage - Match the tool to where you advertise (Meta, TikTok, Google, Display)
- 2Database size and freshness - Larger databases with frequent updates provide better insights
- 3Search and filtering capabilities - Advanced filters save time finding relevant ads
- 4Organization features - Team collaboration and swipe file tools improve workflow
- 5Additional capabilities - Consider creative generation, performance estimates, and integrations
- 6Budget and value - Balance features needed against price point for your use case
Questions to Ask
- ?Which advertising platforms are most important to your business?
- ?Do you need team collaboration and sharing features?
- ?Is historical ad data important for your research?
- ?Do you want creative generation alongside research?
- ?What's your monthly budget for competitive intelligence tools?
- ?Are you focused on product research or creative analysis?
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to optimize your ads?
Join 500+ agencies using Benly to save 15+ hours per week on reporting.
