CaptapiCaptapi
Facebook Ad Library
GET /v1/ad-library/facebook/search

Facebook Ad Library Search API

Search Meta Ad Library by keyword — active/inactive, media type, date range, platforms, cursor, and spend/impressions when Meta publishes them.

2 credits per request
Try in PlaygroundGet your API key — freeRead the docs
TL;DR
Search Meta Ad Library by keyword — active/inactive, media type, date range, platforms, cursor, and spend/impressions when Meta publishes them. The Facebook Ad Library Search API (Facebook Ad Library) is a single authenticated GET request to /v1/ad-library/facebook/search that responds with clean JSON and costs 2 credits. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh. Start with 100 free credits — no credit card.

What is the Facebook Ad Library Search API?

Search Meta's Ad Library and get competitor creatives as clean JSON — SC filter set: status (default ACTIVE), media_type, platforms, ad_type, search_type (exact phrase), sort_by (total_impressions|relevancy_monthly_grouped), start_date/end_date, cursor, trim. Cursor pages the current HTML result batch via nextCursor (not Meta's multi-thousand POST cursor). Same advertiser id collapses to one name within a response. Each ad: text/headline/cta/ctaType/landingUrl, media[] plus typed images/videos + cards[], isActive, publisherPlatforms, pageLikeCount/pageCategories/pageEntityType, politicalCountries, reachEstimate, spend/impressions when Meta publishes them (political/issue ads — commercial usually null). searchResultsCount is best-effort. Flat 2 credits on the native path.

What you get

  • Ranked, structured result list
  • Title, URL, author, and thumbnail per result when available
  • Engagement metrics where the platform exposes them
  • Configurable result limit

Platform limits

Honest ceilings from the upstream platform surface — not Captapi bugs. Unexpected truncation here is usually the platform, not us.

  • Meta's Ad Library GET/HTML search surface soft-caps around ~1,500 results. Cursor ends when Meta stops — deeper archives need Meta's authenticated POST library tools, not this endpoint.

Try it

Open in Playground

Fill in the parameters below and copy a ready-to-run request, or open the live Playground to run it against your account (no API key paste).

Parameters

Sign in to run live
curl "https://api.captapi.com/v1/ad-library/facebook/search?q=election" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer capt_live_..."
# or: -H "x-api-key: capt_live_..."

Edit the parameters and the code updates instantly. Switch languages and hit copy.

Example response

{
  "success": true,
  "data": {
    "query": "election",
    "country": "US",
    "totalReturned": 5,
    "ads": [
      {
        "platform": "facebook_ad_library",
        "id": "317161109571794",
        "url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=317161109571794",
        "text": "The Voting Information Center—one-tap voting registration information from election experts and authorities in one place.",
        "headline": "Voting Information Center",
        "cta": "Learn more",
        "landingUrl": "http://facebook.com/votinginformationcenter",
        "adFormat": "VIDEO",
        "firstShown": "2020-09-22T07:00:00.000Z",
        "lastShown": "2020-10-05T07:00:00.000Z",
        "impressions": ">1M",
        "spend": ">$1M",
        "country": "US",
        "advertiser": {
          "id": "108824017345866",
          "name": "Meta",
          "url": "https://www.facebook.com/Meta/",
          "logo": "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/119568341_200337161527884_7846459746434232698_n.png?stp=dst-png_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qaRlosGC9wUQ7kNvwHuGOSN&_nc_oc=AdpUTiQHP0F2DQWlJJsFhLjPwiKgiTaMBS9Gf3J_Ogy1Z6nYv2kt_BhKXvw8jPupOMg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=kjSzmNhJvOQPmxnVKKr0xg&_nc_ss=72289&oh=00_AQCbS0Qc_-2kHNJh8Yysq78dbBXaaJS4Osw3-xA3_SHVlw&oe=6A89438E"
        },
        "media": [
          "https://video-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/o1/v/t2/f2/m412/AQNN757NtitUcJnpv0ODeMH6fXo-yFM-X90P2W82Zsrc70oOzST9lrKgscKf21SHBUtZ9pdKMclY8s32B0eRJ7o.mp4?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=ef5aa3&_nc_ht=video-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net&_nc_ohc=VIhm6QH6QpYQ7kNvwEGz32Z&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6Inhwdl9wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5WSV9VU0VDQVNFX1BST0RVQ1RfVFlQRS4uQzMuMzQwLmFzaWNfaHExX3NkX3Byb2dyZXNzaXZlIiwieHB2X2Fzc2V0X2lkIjo4MzE0MTAwMzMxNDk2MzYsImFzc2V0X2FnZV9kYXlzIjoyMzcsInZpX3VzZWNhc2VfaWQiOjEwNjgwLCJkdXJhdGlvbl9zIjoxNSwidXJsZ2VuX3NvdXJjZSI6Ind3dyJ9&ccb=17-1&_nc_gid=kjSzmNhJvOQPmxnVKKr0xg&_nc_ss=72289&_nc_zt=28&oh=00_AQBmg1RWfbVvJ3MUBSfprUeNw4A1j1otLN5iP3DoZ8RxIw&oe=6A677448",
          "https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/120065387_2711663819108220_8472417301728012411_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=XJsOGtccv7UQ7kNvwFOmuvH&_nc_oc=AdqJh0Avn_pYIk_hzhEW3QS1dyOrrTJn4nBpQ38NLoUvb1OE8Kwj7qy75S7f1QbV1cs&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&_nc_gid=kjSzmNhJvOQPmxnVKKr0xg&_nc_ss=72289&oh=00_AQBESYOW184a4FJWDENcSYwQSBzwkH5yonZh3U5v6ZZEgA&oe=6A67964A"
        ]
      },
      {
        "platform": "facebook_ad_library",
        "id": "372804137235499",
        "url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=372804137235499",
        "text": "The Voting Information Center on Facebook—one-tap voting info from election experts and authorities in one place.",
        "headline": "Voting Information Center",
        "cta": "Learn more",
        "landingUrl": "http://facebook.com/votinginformationcenter",
        "adFormat": "VIDEO",
        "firstShown": "2020-10-05T07:00:00.000Z",
        "lastShown": "2020-10-13T07:00:00.000Z",
        "impressions": ">1M",
        "spend": ">$1M",
        "country": "US",
        "advertiser": {
          "id": "108824017345866",
          "name": "Meta",
          "url": "https://www.facebook.com/Meta/",
          "logo": "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/119568341_200337161527884_7846459746434232698_n.png?stp=dst-png_s60x60&_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=qaRlosGC9wUQ7kNvwHuGOSN&_nc_oc=AdpUTiQHP0F2DQWlJJsFhLjPwiKgiTaMBS9Gf3J_Ogy1Z6nYv2kt_BhKXvw8jPupOMg&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=kjSzmNhJvOQPmxnVKKr0xg&_nc_ss=72289&oh=00_AQCbS0Qc_-2kHNJh8Yysq78dbBXaaJS4Osw3-xA3_SHVlw&oe=6A89438E"
        },
        "media": [
          "https://video-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/o1/v/t2/f2/m412/AQPYrtdWcXYzwK9kZxgDiAgoU_IImyeS9Q8adbGcircR7RR1dDdUBrAQ0LiHO2OJoauE5pf8F4GyEcPVDLQ94uo.mp4?_nc_cat=100&_nc_sid=ef5aa3&_nc_ht=video-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net&_nc_ohc=TJVBi21FSYoQ7kNvwGc3J8g&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6Inhwdl9wcm9ncmVzc2l2ZS5WSV9VU0VDQVNFX1BST0RVQ1RfVFlQRS4uQzMuMzQwLmFzaWNfaHExX3NkX3Byb2dyZXNzaXZlIiwieHB2X2Fzc2V0X2lkIjo4OTE2MjkwMDA0NTQwNDEsImFzc2V0X2FnZV9kYXlzIjoxNTcsInZpX3VzZWNhc2VfaWQiOjEwNjgwLCJkdXJhdGlvbl9zIjoxNCwidXJsZ2VuX3NvdXJjZSI6Ind3dyJ9&ccb=17-1&_nc_gid=kjSzmNhJvOQPmxnVKKr0xg&_nc_ss=72289&_nc_zt=28&oh=00_AQCMG2KnWhkyJxkleqImsnYBBqDKo2-gU04sjFZY6UOemA&oe=6A678682",
          "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/120439450_1980569842077757_2547343747583380554_n.jpg?_nc_cat=100&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=c53f8f&_nc_ohc=ghBwQrPN7IYQ7kNvwEK1Ioe&_nc_oc=Adq-eL0xdnXQzWG8i4nmzYYnwcV_Aa55yUcMBwzE5_rk0sejWdtPX_5QJKW6xounlWk&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=kjSzmNhJvOQPmxnVKKr0xg&_nc_ss=72289&oh=00_AQB1w19aEluVfs5pAiHsky2u5dZ4bgAW_AohS8QzRc8Wkg&oe=6A678BF4"
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
}

Billing metadata is returned in response headers: X-Captapi-Credits (credits charged), X-Captapi-Cache (hit or miss), and X-Captapi-Source. Failed requests (4xx/5xx) are never charged. See the full list of error codes in the error reference.

Response structure

A successful call returns success, cached, creditsUsed, and a data object with the following fields:

Top-level fields

  • queryThe search query you sent.
  • countryCountry for the request context. On popular-creators top-level: ISO feed market you queried (e.g. US) — not each creator's home country (see region).
  • totalReturnedNumber of items returned in this response.

Ads

Each item in ads contains:

  • platformPlatform identifier for this response (matches the endpoint's platform).
  • idStable platform ID for the item.
  • urlCanonical URL of the item.
  • textText content.
  • headlineProfile headline.
  • ctaCall-to-action text.
  • landingUrlLanding page the ad links to.
  • adFormatFormat of the ad creative.
  • firstShownWhen the ad was first shown.
  • lastShownWhen the ad was last shown.
  • impressionsEstimated ad impressions.
  • spendEstimated ad spend.
  • countryCountry for the request context. On popular-creators top-level: ISO feed market you queried (e.g. US) — not each creator's home country (see region).
  • advertiserAdvertiser running the ad.
  • mediaMedia attached to the item.

Parameters

NameTypeRequiredDescription
qstringYesKeyword, brand, or advertiser to search Meta Ad Library (min 2 characters).
countrystringNoTwo-letter ISO country code (e.g. US, GB, DE). Default US.
limitintegerNoMax items to return (default 20, max 200). Flat 2 credits per call.
statusstringNoAd delivery status: ACTIVE (default), INACTIVE, or ALL. Use ACTIVE for "what are they running now?".
media_typestringNoCreative filter: ALL (default), IMAGE, VIDEO, MEME, IMAGE_AND_MEME, or NONE.
platformsstringNoComma-separated publisher platforms to keep: FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, MESSENGER, AUDIENCE_NETWORK, THREADS.
ad_typestringNoall (default) or political_and_issue_ads. Spend/impressions are typically only filled for political/issue ads.
search_typestringNokeyword_unordered (default) or keyword_exact_phrase.
sort_bystringNoMeta sort mode: total_impressions or relevancy_monthly_grouped.
start_datestringNoOnly ads with delivery start on/after this date (YYYY-MM-DD).
end_datestringNoOnly ads with delivery start on/before this date (YYYY-MM-DD).
cursorstringNoPagination cursor from a previous nextCursor. Pages through the current Meta HTML result batch.
trimbooleanNoSC-compatible. Captapi is already lean vs Meta nested snapshots; when true, omit cards/images/videos typed arrays (media[] stays).
cachebooleanNoSet true to serve from the 24h response cache (0 credits on hit). Default false — always fetch fresh. Envelope includes cached + cachedAt on hits.

Authentication: send your key as Authorization: Bearer capt_live_.... A typical call costs 2 credits. Pass cache=true for a free 24h cache hit; default is always fresh.

Using an AI agent? This endpoint is the MCP tool facebook_ad_library_search via @captapi/mcp. Set it up →

How it works

  1. 1. Sign up — get 100 free credits, no card required.
  2. 2. Create a key from your dashboard.
  3. 3. Send one request to /v1/ad-library/facebook/search and parse the JSON response.

Use cases

Trend Discovery

Find trending content by keyword or hashtag.

Content Sourcing

Build feeds and playlists programmatically.

Monitoring

Track topics, brands, and competitors.

Research

Sample large sets of content for analysis.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Facebook Ad Library Search API do?+

The Facebook Ad Library Search API lets you search and return matching results from a public Facebook Ad Library query using one GET request to /v1/ad-library/facebook/search. It returns clean JSON — no OAuth or infrastructure setup required.

How many credits does the Facebook Ad Library Search API cost?+

Each successful call costs 2 credits. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Hits include cached + cachedAt. Selected profile endpoints also accept cacheMaxAge=1d|3d|7d|14d|30d. Failed or empty results are never charged.

Do I need a Facebook Ad Library API key or OAuth?+

No. A single Captapi key works across every platform Captapi supports — YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter/X, Reddit, Threads, Bluesky, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Rumble, Spotify, Kwai, and more. We handle proxies, rate limits, retries, and authentication for you.

How do I find current campaigns instead of 2020 ads?+

Use status=ACTIVE (default) plus start_date (YYYY-MM-DD). For spend/impressions in most markets set ad_type=political_and_issue_ads — commercial ads usually return null spend. Page with nextCursor within the current HTML batch; refine the query when nextCursor is null.

Is the Facebook Ad Library Search API suitable for production use?+

Yes. It is a stable REST endpoint with predictable JSON and automatic retries. Pass cache=true to serve from the 24h cache (0 credits on hit); default is always fresh. Hits include cached + cachedAt. Selected profile endpoints also accept cacheMaxAge=1d|3d|7d|14d|30d. Use it for analytics, monitoring, and content automation.

More Facebook Ad Library APIs

Facebook Company Ads APIFacebook Ad Library Search Companies APIFacebook Ad Details APIFacebook Ad Transcript API

Ready to use the Facebook Ad Library Search API?

Sign up, grab your key, and make your first call in 60 seconds.

Get started free