Google Ads Transparency (via Apify)

Google Ads Transparency Scraper & API: competitors' ads

Google Ads Transparency Scraper is an Apify Actor that returns every ad an advertiser or domain runs on Google Search, YouTube, Display and Shopping, from Google's Ads Transparency Center: format, first and last shown dates, days running, ad text and images, preview and a link to each ad, filtered by country and format, at $1 per 1,000 ads.

Price: $1 per 1,000 ads ($0.80 on Gold and above) · Run it: https://apify.com/automationnation/google-ads-transparency-scraper · Guide: https://retracn.github.io/automationnation-actors/google-ads-transparency-scraper/

Quick facts

• One row per ad: advertiser, ad ID, format, first and last shown, days running, headline and texts, images, landing page, YouTube video, preview and link.
• Look up advertisers by name, domain or ID; filter by 50+ countries and format.
• Competitor ad alerts: with Only new ads on, a scheduled run checks each advertiser's latest ads and returns only new ones. Guide: https://retracn.github.io/automationnation-actors/guides/competitor-ad-alerts/
• Price: $1 per 1,000 ads with ad text included.

Example input

{
  "advertisers": [
    "nike.com"
  ],
  "region": "us",
  "maxAdsPerAdvertiser": 100
}

Run it from code

REST API

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/automationnation~google-ads-transparency-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items?token=$APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"advertisers": ["nike.com"], "region": "us", "maxAdsPerAdvertiser": 100}'

Python — see examples/python_example.py

# pip install apify-client
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN")
run = client.actor("automationnation/google-ads-transparency-scraper").call(run_input={
  "advertisers": [
    "nike.com"
  ],
  "region": "us",
  "maxAdsPerAdvertiser": 100
})
for item in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(item.get("advertiserName"), item.get("format"), item.get("headline"), item.get("daysShown"))

JavaScript — see examples/node_example.mjs

// npm install apify-client
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: 'YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN' });
const run = await client.actor('automationnation/google-ads-transparency-scraper').call({
  "advertisers": [
    "nike.com"
  ],
  "region": "us",
  "maxAdsPerAdvertiser": 100
});
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
for (const item of items) console.log(item.advertiserName, item.format, item.headline, item.daysShown);

Use it with AI agents (MCP)

Hosted MCP server URL (Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and other clients with remote MCP support):

https://mcp.apify.com?tools=automationnation/google-ads-transparency-scraper

Local config for Claude Desktop / Cursor — mcp/claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "google-ads-transparency-scraper": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@apify/actors-mcp-server",
        "--tools",
        "automationnation/google-ads-transparency-scraper"
      ],
      "env": {
        "APIFY_TOKEN": "YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}

FAQ

What is Google's Ads Transparency Center? A public Google tool listing the ads verified advertisers run on Search, YouTube, Display and Shopping. This Actor turns it into data.

Can I see ad spend? No: Google publishes spend and targeting only for political ads.

Can I get alerts when a competitor launches new ads? Yes. Turn on Only new ads and schedule it daily: each run returns only ads earlier runs didn't, with text, dates and previews.

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• All Actors and guides · AI visibility trackers compared · Google Jobs scrapers compared · Google Trends scrapers compared · App Store review scrapers compared · Google Play review scrapers compared · YouTube transcript scrapers compared · Google Flights scrapers compared · Google Hotels scrapers compared · Google Ads Transparency scrapers compared · Google Shopping scrapers compared · Google News scrapers compared

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This repository holds usage examples. The scraper itself runs on the Apify platform; you need a free Apify account and API token. Examples are MIT licensed.