Definition
The Facebook Ad Library (Meta Ad Library) is a free, public database of ads running across Meta's platforms — Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and the Audience Network. Meta created it for advertising transparency.
What it shows
- active ads (and, for some categories, inactive ones)
- the advertiser's page
- ad creative: text, images, videos
- when each ad started running
- the platforms it runs on
- for political and issue ads, extra details like spend ranges
How people use it
- competitive research — see what competitors advertise
- creative inspiration — study ads that run for a long time
- lead generation — find businesses actively spending on ads
For lead generation
Advertisers have budgets and measurable goals. Prospect Cheap's Facebook Ad Library scraper searches by keyword and country, groups ads by advertiser and adds website, email and Instagram — plus ad count and start dates. See Ad Library lead generation.
Example
Searching "roof replacement" in the Ad Library for the US shows roofing companies currently advertising, each with their active ads and start dates. A roofer running six ads since last month is clearly investing in marketing.
Key takeaways
- The Ad Library is a public archive of ads on Meta platforms.
- It shows who advertises, what and since when.
- Advertisers are strong leads for marketing services.