Guide
The best ad spy tools, by what each one is for
6 min read · updated 5 November 2026
Start with the free sources
- Meta Ad Library: every active Facebook and Instagram ad, free, no ranking. See our guide to using it.
- TikTok Creative Center: TikTok's top ads with a click-through ranking, likes and a spend band.
- Google Ads Transparency Center: the ads an advertiser runs on Google and YouTube.
How to choose a paid tool
- Does it tell you which ads are working, and why? A rating with a reason beats a raw feed.
- Which platforms do you sell on: Meta, TikTok, or both?
- Which countries? Single-market tools miss the products that are crowded at home and open abroad.
- Does it show demand (searches) and competition (advertisers, sellers), or only ads?
- Can you try it free before you pay?
The tools, by what they are built for
Described by each tool's public positioning. Features and prices change; check each site for the current details.
Meta Ad Library
Free
Every active Facebook and Instagram ad, by keyword or page, filterable by country, platform, media and date. No ranking.
How to use it →TikTok Creative Center
Free
TikTok's top-performing ads by region and industry, with a click-through ranking, likes and a spend band.
How to use it →Crossendor
This site
Winning Meta and TikTok ads rated daily with the reason shown, rising searches and scaling brands per market, and the countries where a winner is not sold yet.
See it →Minea
Dropshippers researching products across several ad platforms
An ad spy and product research platform popular with dropshippers. Built for: finding winning products through ads, shops and influencer placements.
Crossendor vs Minea →GetHookd
Brands and media buyers building a creative library
An ad library and creative tool for saving winning ads and making new ones. Built for: swipe files, ad research and AI-assisted creative.
Crossendor vs GetHookd →AdSpy
Researchers who want to query a big historical archive
A long-running searchable database of Facebook and Instagram ads. Built for: searching a large ad database by text, advertiser, URL and engagement.
Crossendor vs AdSpy →BigSpy
Marketers who want breadth across networks
A multi-platform ad spy tool with a free tier. Built for: ad discovery across many ad networks.
Crossendor vs BigSpy →PiPiADS
Sellers whose main channel is TikTok
A TikTok-first ad spy tool for e-commerce. Built for: tikTok ads and TikTok Shop products.
Crossendor vs PiPiADS →Foreplay
Creative teams and agencies
A swipe file and creative workflow tool for brands and agencies. Built for: saving ads from ad libraries, organising them and writing briefs.
Crossendor vs Foreplay →Dropispy
Beginners who want a low-cost way to browse ads
An ad spy tool for dropshippers with a free plan. Built for: searching social ads and shops for dropshipping products.
Crossendor vs Dropispy →Atria
In-house creative strategists and agencies with an ad account to analyse
A creative intelligence platform for brands and agencies. Built for: ad inspiration, creative analytics and AI-assisted briefs.
Crossendor vs Atria →Kalodata
Sellers and creators whose business runs on TikTok Shop
A TikTok Shop analytics tool for products, shops, creators and videos. Built for: sales data from TikTok Shop: best-selling products, creators and livestreams.
Crossendor vs Kalodata →Sell The Trend
Dropshippers who want research, sourcing and store automation together
A dropshipping suite: product finder, suppliers and store tools in one. Built for: finding trending products and pushing them to a store with a supplier attached.
Crossendor vs Sell The Trend →Questions
What is the best free ad spy tool?
The Meta Ad Library for Facebook and Instagram, and TikTok's Creative Center for TikTok. Both are free; neither ranks ads for you.
What is the best ad spy tool for dropshipping?
One that shows proof (how long an ad has run, how often it is relaunched), demand and competition. If you can sell in several countries, pick one that compares markets.
Is Crossendor a Minea alternative?
For finding winning products, yes. Crossendor focuses on what is selling now and the countries where nobody sells it yet; see the comparison page for when each fits.