Updated January 26, 2026· 11 min

9 Best Facebook Ads Spy Tools in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)

Compare the best Facebook ads spy tools for 2026. We tested AdSpy, Benly, Minea, BigSpy, and more to help you find winning Meta ads and crush your competition.

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Key Takeaways

  • AdSpy has the largest Facebook ad database but at a premium price point
  • Benly offers AI-powered analysis that helps you understand why ads work, not just see them
  • Meta Ad Library is free and sufficient for basic competitor research
  • E-commerce brands should consider Minea for combined product + ad research
  • Budget-conscious advertisers can start with BigSpy or free Dropispy
  • Foreplay excels at organizing Facebook ads but requires manual discovery

Facebook remains the largest paid social platform, and knowing what your competitors are running can give you a massive edge. The right spy tool reveals their exact strategies, creatives, and targeting approaches.

We tested 9 Facebook ads spy tools specifically for their Meta ad coverage, database size, and Facebook-specific features. While some tools cover multiple platforms, we focused on how well each performs for Facebook and Instagram ad research. From the official Meta Ad Library to premium solutions with millions of indexed ads, this guide helps you choose the best tool for your Facebook advertising strategy.

Our methodology: We evaluated each tool based on Facebook ad database size, search accuracy for Meta ads, filtering options (interests, demographics, ad type), freshness of indexed ads, and Facebook-specific features like audience insights.

Quick Comparison

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#ToolBest ForPriceRating
1
AdSpy
Largest Facebook Database$149/mo
4.5
2
BenlyBenly
AI-Powered Meta Intelligence$99/mo
4.8
3
Meta Ad Library
Free Official SourceFree
4.4
4
Minea
Product Research + Ads$49/mo
4.3
5
BigSpy
Budget Option$9/mo
4.0
6
Dropispy
DropshippingFree
3.9
7
Foreplay
Swipe File Organization$49/mo
4.5
8
PowerAdSpy
Engagement Data$49/mo
4.1
9
AdFlex
Affiliate Marketers$89/mo
4.0

Detailed Reviews

#1

AdSpy

Best for Largest Facebook Ad Database

4.5

$149/mo

AdSpy built its reputation as the original Facebook ads spy tool and maintains one of the largest databases of Meta ads. With over 150 million ads indexed, it offers unmatched depth for Facebook ad research. The platform's advanced filters let you search by demographics, interests, ad text, landing pages, and even estimated engagement metrics.

Key Features

  • 150M+ Facebook and Instagram ads indexed
  • Advanced demographic and interest filtering
  • Search by ad text, URL, or landing page
  • Estimated engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares)
  • Affiliate network tracking
  • Daily database updates
Best for: Serious advertisers who need the deepest possible Facebook ad database and don't mind paying premium prices.
Visit Website
#2
Benly

Benly

Our Pick

Best for AI-Powered Meta Intelligence

4.8

$99/mo

Benly combines comprehensive Meta ad coverage with AI that helps you understand why certain ads perform well. Beyond just showing competitor ads, Benly analyzes patterns across winning Facebook creatives to identify trends in hooks, visual styles, and copy frameworks. You can then generate new ad variations based on proven formats directly within the platform.

Key Features

  • Multi-platform database including Meta ads
  • AI analysis of winning creative patterns
  • Natural language search ('show me DTC skincare video ads')
  • One-click creative generation from inspiration
  • Competitor watchlists with real-time alerts
  • Integrated reporting and analytics
Best for: Marketers who want to understand the 'why' behind winning Facebook ads and quickly create their own variations.
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#3

Meta Ad Library

Best Free Official Source

4.4

Free

Meta Ad Library is Facebook's official transparency tool, showing all currently active ads on Facebook and Instagram. While it lacks the advanced features of paid tools, it's completely free and provides direct access to competitor ads. Essential for initial research before investing in paid tools.

Key Features

  • All active Facebook and Instagram ads
  • Search by advertiser name
  • Filter by country and ad category
  • View ad creative, copy, and call-to-action
  • Political and social issue ad archive
  • No sign-up required
Best for: Anyone wanting free access to competitor Facebook ads for basic research and inspiration.
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#4

Minea

Best for Product Research + Ads

4.3

$49/mo

Minea combines Facebook ad spying with product research, making it ideal for dropshippers and e-commerce brands. The platform tracks Facebook ads alongside product data, helping you identify winning products and the ads that sell them. Strong filtering for e-commerce specific metrics.

Key Features

  • Facebook ads + product research combined
  • Shopify store detection
  • Product sales estimation
  • Filter by product category and price
  • Influencer marketing tracking
  • Chrome extension for easy saving
Best for: E-commerce brands and dropshippers who want to find winning products alongside the Facebook ads selling them.
Visit Website
#5

BigSpy

Best Budget Option

4.0

$9/mo

BigSpy offers decent Facebook ad coverage at a fraction of the cost of premium tools. While the database isn't as large as AdSpy, it covers the essentials well enough for smaller advertisers or those just getting started with competitive research.

Key Features

  • Multi-platform including Facebook
  • Basic demographic filtering
  • Ad download functionality
  • Competitor tracking
  • Daily new ads added
  • Affordable entry plan
Best for: Beginners and small advertisers who want basic Facebook ad spying without a large investment.
Visit Website
#6

Foreplay

Best for Swipe File Organization

4.5

$49/mo

Foreplay isn't a traditional spy tool but excels at saving and organizing Facebook ads you find. Its Chrome extension lets you save ads directly from Meta Ad Library with one click, then organize them into boards with tags. Perfect for building a curated Facebook ad swipe file.

Key Features

  • One-click save from Meta Ad Library
  • Boards and tags for organization
  • Team collaboration features
  • Discovery feed from community
  • Brief creation from saved ads
  • Export for creative teams
Best for: Teams that want to build well-organized Facebook ad swipe files with collaboration features.
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#7

Dropispy

Best Free Option for Dropshipping

3.9

Free

Dropispy offers a generous free tier that makes it accessible for beginners. While primarily focused on dropshipping products, it includes decent Facebook ad coverage. The free plan has limitations but is enough to get started with competitive research.

Key Features

  • Free tier available
  • Dropshipping product focus
  • Basic Facebook ad search
  • Shop detection
  • Chrome extension
  • Daily updates
Best for: Beginners and dropshippers who want free Facebook ad research without commitment.
Visit Website
#8

PowerAdSpy

Best for Engagement Data

4.1

$49/mo

PowerAdSpy provides estimated engagement metrics that help you gauge ad performance. You can filter by likes, comments, and shares to find Facebook ads that are actually resonating with audiences, not just running.

Key Features

  • Engagement metrics (likes, shares, comments)
  • Multi-platform coverage
  • Call-to-action filtering
  • Bookmark and organize ads
  • Landing page preview
  • Niche-based search
Best for: Marketers who want to filter Facebook ads by estimated engagement to find proven performers.
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#9

AdFlex

Best for Affiliate Marketers

4.0

$89/mo

AdFlex is designed with affiliate marketers in mind, offering features specifically for tracking affiliate offers and the Facebook ads promoting them. The platform helps identify which offers are being heavily promoted and what creatives are driving traffic.

Key Features

  • Affiliate network tracking
  • Offer-based search
  • Landing page analysis
  • Facebook ad coverage
  • Competitor campaign tracking
  • Export functionality
Best for: Affiliate marketers who want to track which offers are being promoted via Facebook ads.
Visit Website

How to Choose the Right Tool

Key Criteria

  • 1
    Database size - How many Facebook ads are indexed?
  • 2
    Search quality - Can you find specific types of ads easily?
  • 3
    Filtering options - Demographics, interests, ad types available?
  • 4
    Freshness - How quickly are new ads indexed?
  • 5
    Price vs. value - Does the cost match your research needs?
  • 6
    Additional features - AI analysis, creative generation, organization?

Questions to Ask

  • ?How much are you spending on Facebook ads monthly?
  • ?Do you need historical ads or just current ones?
  • ?Are you focused on e-commerce or other verticals?
  • ?Do you need team collaboration features?
  • ?Is AI analysis or creative generation valuable to you?

Frequently Asked Questions

A Facebook ads spy tool lets you search and analyze ads running on Facebook and Instagram. These tools index millions of ads, letting you research competitors, find creative inspiration, and discover winning ad strategies for your own campaigns.
Yes, researching competitor ads is completely legal. Facebook even provides the official Meta Ad Library for this purpose. Spy tools simply make the research process more efficient. However, directly copying creative assets or copy can lead to trademark issues.
AdSpy has the largest dedicated Facebook ad database with over 150 million indexed ads. However, database size isn't everything - tools like Benly offer AI analysis that can be more valuable than raw volume for understanding what makes ads work.
Meta Ad Library is great for basic research and is completely free. However, it only shows currently active ads, has limited search filters, and doesn't provide engagement data or organization features. Paid tools add historical data, better search, and productivity features.
Most spy tools collect ads through a combination of API access (where available), web scraping, and user-contributed data. They index ads from public sources like Meta Ad Library and their own proprietary collection methods.
For beginners or small advertisers, start with free tools like Meta Ad Library or budget options like BigSpy ($9/mo). If you're spending $10K+/month on ads, premium tools like AdSpy ($149/mo) or Benly ($99/mo) typically pay for themselves quickly.

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Gaultier D'Acunto

Gaultier D'Acunto

Co-founder

Published January 20, 2026· Updated January 26, 2026