Buyer's guide · 2026
The best ad intelligence tools.
An ad intelligence tool shows you what your competitors are advertising - and, if it's any good, which of those ads are actually proven. Here's what separates the best from the rest, and how the main options compare.
What separates the best ad intelligence tools.
Longevity data, not just a feed
Anyone can show you live ads. The signal that matters is how long an ad has been running - a creative live for 100+ days is proven, not a test. The best tools surface longevity, not just volume.
Creative analysis, not raw dumps
A wall of competitor ads is noise. You need the hooks, formats, angles and persuasion mechanics broken down so you can act - which is analysis, not scraping.
Reconciled to outcomes
Intelligence is only useful if it changes what you spend. The strongest setups tie what competitors are proving to your own blended efficiency and profit, not just curiosity.
Coverage of your category
A tool is only as good as the brands it tracks. Depth in your specific vertical beats a shallow index of millions.
How the options compare.
Meta Ad Library (free)
Best for: A free baseline checkStrengths
Free, official, shows every live ad on Meta.
Limitations
No longevity ranking, no analysis, no export. You do all the interpretation manually, brand by brand.
Ad spy / swipe tools
Best for: Browsing creative inspirationStrengths
Large searchable indexes, filters, saved boards.
Limitations
Built for inspiration, not decisions. Rarely tie back to your account, your margins, or what’s proven to sustain spend.
Mammoth (proof-led intelligence)
Best for: Turning intelligence into profitStrengths
Longevity-ranked winners, full creative analysis, and a team that builds your creative from what’s proven - judged on blended MER and profit.
Limitations
It’s a managed engine, not a self-serve toy - best for brands ready to act on the intelligence.
See our ad intelligence in action.
Browse the live library, or have us run it on your category.
Ad intelligence FAQs.
What is an ad intelligence tool?
An ad intelligence tool collects and analyses the ads your competitors are running - typically from public sources like the Meta Ad Library - so you can see which creative, hooks and formats are working in your market. The best ad intelligence tools go beyond a feed of ads to show longevity (how long an ad has run), creative analysis, and how to apply it to your own campaigns.
What is the best free ad intelligence tool?
The Meta Ad Library is the best free option - it shows every live ad running on Facebook and Instagram. The limitation is that it offers no longevity ranking, analysis or export, so it’s a manual starting point rather than a decision-making tool. Mammoth’s ad library adds the longevity and creative analysis the free version lacks.
What are the best ad intelligence tools?
There is no single best tool - it depends on what you need. The options fall into three tiers: free transparency archives (the Meta Ad Library, Google Ads Transparency Center, TikTok Creative Center) for a raw baseline; paid spy/scraper tools (AdSpy, BigSpy, Minea and similar) for large searchable indexes; and proof-led intelligence (like the Mammoth ad library) that ranks ads by longevity, analyses the creative, and ties it to your own performance. For inspiration, a spy tool is fine; for decisions reconciled to profit, proof-led intelligence wins.
What are the top advertising intelligence tools in 2026?
The top advertising intelligence tools combine four things: every active and historical ad, creative-level analysis, a longevity or fatigue signal, and a way to act on what you learn. The Meta Ad Library is the best free starting point; paid scrapers add scale; and proof-led platforms add the analysis and longevity ranking that turn a feed of ads into decisions. Choose based on whether you need breadth (a big index) or depth (analysis you can act on in your category).
How do I choose an ad intelligence tool?
Look for longevity data (proven ads, not just live ones), genuine creative analysis rather than raw ad dumps, strong coverage of your specific category, and - most importantly - a way to turn the intelligence into spend decisions reconciled to your profit, not just inspiration.
What happened to Moat Ad Search?
Moat Ad Search was retired when Oracle wound down its advertising business, including the Moat product line, in 2024. If you used Moat to browse competitor creative, the closest free replacement is the Meta Ad Library (plus the Google Ads Transparency Center and TikTok Creative Center for other channels). For the analysis layer Moat never had - longevity ranking, hook and format breakdowns per brand - the Mammoth ad library is a free place to start.
What is the best Moat Ad Search alternative?
It depends on what you used Moat for. For simply seeing what a brand is running, the Meta Ad Library is free and comprehensive for Facebook and Instagram. For a large searchable index across networks, paid spy tools like BigSpy or Minea fill the gap. For understanding which competitor ads are actually working - ranked by how long they have run, with the creative analysed - use a proof-led library like Mammoth’s.
Is competitor ad analysis worth it?
Yes - the longest-running competitor ads are a free signal of what’s proven to convert in your category. Building creative from proven angles instead of guessing is faster, cheaper and lower-risk. The value comes from acting on the analysis, which is why proof-led intelligence beats a passive feed.