9 Best Instagram Ads Spy Tools in 2026 (Tested & Ranked)
Compare the best Instagram ads spy tools for 2026. We tested tools for spying on Instagram feed ads, Stories, Reels, and more to help you find winning creatives.
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Key Takeaways
- Instagram ads are managed through Meta, so most Facebook spy tools cover Instagram too
- Benly offers AI-powered visual analysis to understand what makes Instagram creatives work
- Meta Ad Library is free and covers all Instagram ad formats including Reels
- For team collaboration and organization, Foreplay excels at Instagram swipe files
- Minea uniquely combines Instagram ad spying with influencer tracking
- Budget-conscious advertisers can start with free options before upgrading
Instagram is a visual-first platform where creative quality makes or breaks your ads. Knowing what creatives your competitors are running on Instagram gives you a blueprint for success in this highly competitive space.
We evaluated 9 tools specifically for their Instagram ad coverage, including feed posts, Stories, and Reels ad formats. Instagram advertising shares the same backend as Facebook through Meta, so many tools cover both platforms. However, some tools offer better Instagram-specific features like Reels filtering and Stories format detection. This guide helps you find the best tool for your Instagram advertising research.
Our methodology: We tested each tool's Instagram ad coverage, ability to filter by IG-specific formats (Stories, Reels, Feed), search accuracy, creative download capabilities, and value for Instagram-focused advertisers.
Quick Comparison
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| # | Tool | Best For | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Benly | AI-Powered Instagram Intelligence | $99/mo | |
| 2 | Meta Ad Library | Free Official Source | Free | |
| 3 | AdSpy | Largest Instagram Database | $149/mo | 4.4 |
| 4 | Foreplay | Swipe File Organization | $49/mo | |
| 5 | Minea | E-commerce + Influencers | $49/mo | 4.3 |
| 6 | BigSpy | Budget Option | $9/mo | 4.0 |
| 7 | PowerAdSpy | Engagement Metrics | $49/mo | 4.1 |
| 8 | SocialPeta | Global Coverage | $59/mo | 4.2 |
| 9 | Dropispy | Free Starter Option | Free |
Detailed Reviews
Benly
Our PickBest for AI-Powered Instagram Intelligence
$99/mo
Benly excels at Instagram ad research with AI that analyzes visual patterns, hooks, and creative trends across the platform. The tool identifies what makes Instagram creatives perform well - from color palettes to text overlay styles to video pacing. You can filter by Instagram-specific formats and generate new variations based on winning IG creatives.
Key Features
- Instagram feed, Stories, and Reels ad coverage
- AI analysis of visual creative patterns
- Format-specific filtering for IG placements
- One-click creative generation from inspiration
- Competitor monitoring for Instagram accounts
- Multi-platform coverage (Meta, TikTok, Google)
Meta Ad Library
Best Free Official Source
Free
Meta Ad Library is the official transparency tool showing all active Instagram and Facebook ads. It's completely free and provides direct access to what competitors are currently running. Essential starting point for any Instagram ad research before investing in paid tools.
Key Features
- All active Instagram ads (Feed, Stories, Reels)
- Search by advertiser name
- Filter by country and category
- View creative, copy, and CTA
- See ad variations and versions
- No account required
AdSpy
Best for Largest Instagram Database
$149/mo
AdSpy maintains the largest database of Meta ads including extensive Instagram coverage. With over 150 million indexed ads, you can find historical Instagram ads, filter by engagement metrics, and discover long-running winners that have proven performance.
Key Features
- 150M+ Facebook and Instagram ads
- Filter by estimated engagement
- Search by text, URL, or landing page
- Demographic and interest filtering
- Historical ad data
- Daily database updates
Foreplay
Best for Swipe File Organization
$49/mo
Foreplay's Chrome extension makes it incredibly easy to save Instagram ads directly from Meta Ad Library. The platform excels at organization - create boards for different campaigns, tag ads by format or style, and share collections with your team. Perfect for building a curated Instagram swipe file.
Key Features
- One-click save from Meta Ad Library
- Boards and tags for organization
- Team collaboration and sharing
- Discovery feed from community
- Brief creation from saved ads
- Export options for creative teams
Minea
Best for E-commerce + Influencer Tracking
$49/mo
Minea combines Instagram ad spying with influencer marketing research, making it uniquely valuable for e-commerce brands. Track both paid ads and influencer partnerships on Instagram, with product research features that help identify winning items being promoted.
Key Features
- Instagram ads + influencer tracking
- Product research integration
- Shopify store detection
- Influencer partnership insights
- E-commerce focused filters
- Chrome extension for saving
BigSpy
Best Budget Option
$9/mo
BigSpy provides solid Instagram ad coverage at a fraction of premium tool pricing. While the database is smaller and features more basic, it's enough for small advertisers or those just starting with competitive research on Instagram.
Key Features
- Instagram and multi-platform coverage
- Basic filtering options
- Ad download capability
- Competitor tracking
- Affordable entry plans
- Daily updates
PowerAdSpy
Best for Engagement Metrics
$49/mo
PowerAdSpy offers estimated engagement data that helps filter Instagram ads by performance. Search for ads with high likes, comments, or shares to find creatives that are actually resonating with Instagram audiences.
Key Features
- Engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares)
- Multi-platform including Instagram
- CTA filtering
- Bookmark functionality
- Landing page preview
- Niche-based search
Dropispy
Best Free Starter Option
Free
Dropispy offers a free tier that includes basic Instagram ad research capabilities. While primarily focused on dropshipping, the free access makes it a good starting point for beginners before committing to paid tools.
Key Features
- Free tier available
- Basic Instagram coverage
- Dropshipping focus
- Shop detection
- Chrome extension
- Simple interface
How to Choose the Right Tool
Key Criteria
- 1Instagram coverage - Does it cover Feed, Stories, and Reels ads?
- 2Database size - How many Instagram ads are indexed?
- 3Format filtering - Can you filter by specific IG placements?
- 4Visual analysis - Does it help understand why creatives work?
- 5Organization - Can you save and organize Instagram inspiration?
- 6Price value - Does the cost match your Instagram ad spend?
Questions to Ask
- ?What Instagram ad formats do you primarily use (Feed, Stories, Reels)?
- ?Do you need historical ads or just currently active ones?
- ?Is team collaboration important for your workflow?
- ?Do you want AI analysis or just raw ad access?
- ?What's your budget for research tools?
Frequently Asked Questions
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SocialPeta
Best for Global Coverage
$59/mo
SocialPeta offers strong global coverage for Instagram ads, particularly useful for brands advertising in multiple markets. The platform provides good regional filtering and supports research across many countries with local ad data.
Key Features