How to See Other Business Ads on Facebook (3 Ways)
Here's how to see other business ads on Facebook: go to the free Meta Ad Library at facebook.com/ads/library, set your country, and search the business's name to see every ad it's running right now. You can also open the business's Facebook Page, find its Page transparency section and choose "Go to Ad Library", which takes you to the same list.
Both routes are free and neither needs an ad account. Below I walk through each one, plus mobile, Instagram, and how to read what you find.
Can you see another business's Facebook ads?
Yes. Meta makes every active ad on Facebook and Instagram public through the Ad Library. That covers any advertiser, in any country, whether or not you're in their target audience.
This exists for transparency. Meta wants the public to see who is advertising what. For marketers, it also means every competitor's live ads are one search away.
You don't need to log in to a business account or run ads yourself. If you want the full competitor routine built on top of this, our guide to seeing competitors' Facebook ads covers it.
How do I see other business ads on Facebook with the Ad Library?
This is the route I use every day. It's the fastest and gives you the most control.
- 1Open the libraryGo to facebook.com/ads/library.
- 2Set countryPick the market, or all countries.
- 3Choose ad categoryLeave it on "All ads".
- 4Search the advertiserType the business name, pick its Page.
- 5Read the cardsStart dates, versions, platforms.
1. Open the library. Go to facebook.com/ads/library in any browser.
2. Set the country. Choose the market you care about. If you're not sure where the business advertises, pick all countries first.
3. Keep the category on "All ads". The other category is for political and social-issue ads, which is a separate view.
4. Search the business name. As you type, the library suggests matching Pages. Pick the Page from that list rather than pressing enter on a keyword search.
5. Read the results. You'll see a grid of ad cards, each with its start date and a "See ad details" button.
If the name is common or the brand runs ads from several Pages, it can take a minute to find the right one. Our walk-through on finding a brand's Facebook ads covers the tricky cases.
How do you view another Page's ads from the Page itself?
Sometimes you're already on a business's Facebook Page. You don't need to search the library separately.
On the Page, look for the Page transparency section. It shows basic information about the Page, and it includes a link to Go to Ad Library. Click it and you land on the Ad Library already filtered to that Page.
This route is handy for two reasons. You're certain you have the right advertiser, because you started from their Page. And Page transparency shows useful context, like when the Page was created and whether its name has changed.
How do you see other business ads on the Facebook app?
On your phone, you have two options.
The first is the same as desktop. Open a mobile browser, go to facebook.com/ads/library, and search the business name. It works, although the grid is cramped and filters take more taps.
The second is inside the Facebook app. Open the business's Page and look for Page transparency, usually in the Page's about or info area. Tap it, then tap "Go to Ad Library". The exact spot moves between app versions, so if you can't find it, the browser route always works.
There's also a third, narrower trick. If an ad from that business appears in your own feed, it carries a "Sponsored" label. Tap the three-dot menu on the ad and choose "Why am I seeing this ad?" to see why you were shown it.
How do you see a business's Instagram ads?
Instagram ads live in the same Meta Ad Library. When you search a business and open its results, each card shows which platforms that ad runs on, including Instagram.
So one search covers both. You don't need a separate Instagram tool. If you only care about Instagram placements, our guide on how to see Instagram ads shows how to focus on them.
If you know the brand's Instagram handle but not its Facebook Page name, search the brand name in the library anyway. Most businesses advertise on Instagram through a linked Facebook Page with the same or a similar name.
How to see other business ads on Facebook: which method is best?
Each route leads to the same data. The difference is speed and certainty.
| Method | Best for | Downside |
|---|---|---|
| Ad Library search (desktop) | Checking several businesses fast | Common names can be hard to match |
| Page transparency link | Being sure you have the right advertiser | You have to find the Page first |
| Facebook app | Quick checks on the go | Menus move between app versions |
| "Why am I seeing this ad?" | Ads already in your own feed | Only shows ads you were served |
My default is the desktop Ad Library. I only use the Page route when a brand's name is too generic to search cleanly.
What can you see, and what can't you see?
This is where people get confused, so here's the honest version.
- Every active ad
- ad copy and creative
- start dates
- platforms
- multiple versions
- Spend for normal ads
- clicks or sales
- targeting outside EU
- paused ads outside EU
Active ads only, in most countries. Outside the EU, you see ads that are running now. Once a business pauses an ad, it drops out of view.
More in the EU. For ads shown in the EU, the library also keeps inactive ads and shows limited targeting and reach data. We break down the differences in Facebook Ad Library EU vs US.
No spend for normal ads. Spend ranges only appear for political and social-issue ads. For a regular business, you won't see budget, clicks, sales or reach outside the EU.
How do you read another business's ads once you find them?
Finding the ads is the easy part. Reading them well is where the value is. I look at three things.
Longevity. Each card shows "Started running on". An ad running for months is usually a winner, because businesses stop paying for ads that don't work. We go deeper in Facebook ad longevity.
Versions. Some cards show that an ad has multiple versions. That usually means the business is testing hooks or visuals around one idea. Several versions of one concept is a strong hint that the concept is working.
Platforms. The platform icons tell you where the ad runs. An ad on both Facebook and Instagram across placements is often a broad, proven creative. An ad on one platform only may be a narrower test.
Because ads vanish when they're paused, I save the ones worth keeping on the day I find them. Our free extension, the Meta Ad Library downloader, adds a Download button to each ad in the library and saves videos in original HD, images and full carousels.
Use saved ads for research only. Copy the angle, not the asset. Running another business's creative as your own can infringe their rights. This isn't legal advice, so check with a lawyer if you're unsure.
FAQ
How do I see other business ads on Facebook?
Go to facebook.com/ads/library, set your country, keep the category on "All ads", and search the business name. You can also open the business's Facebook Page, find Page transparency, and choose "Go to Ad Library".
Can I see another page's ads without an ad account?
Yes. The Meta Ad Library is free and public, and you don't need to run ads to use it. Anyone can view the active ads of any Page on Facebook and Instagram.
Can I see how much a business spends on Facebook ads?
Not for normal commercial ads. Meta only shows spend ranges for political and social-issue ads. For regular businesses, how long an ad has been running is the best available signal.
Why can't I find a business's ads in the Ad Library?
Check that your country filter matches where the business advertises and that you picked the right Page from the dropdown. The business may also have no active ads right now, or may advertise from a different Page.
Can I see a business's old Facebook ads?
Outside the EU, usually not, because paused ads drop out of the library. In the EU, inactive ads stay visible, and political and social-issue ads are kept everywhere.
How do I see a company's Instagram ads?
Search the company in the Meta Ad Library. Instagram ads appear there alongside Facebook ads, and each card shows the platforms the ad runs on.
The Klipio extension adds a download button to every ad in the Meta Ad Library: one click per ad, or bulk-save a whole search as a ZIP with a searchable swipe file inside. Free, no sign-up.
Get the free extensionKlipio reads a competitor's live Meta ads, ranks them by how long they have been running — the honest signal that an ad is profitable — and turns the winning angle into on-brand creative for your own brand. 3-day free trial.
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