How do I spy on competitors' Facebook ads legally?
You can legally research competitors' Facebook and Instagram ads using Meta Ads Library (free, public) and paid intelligence tools that aggregate creative, spend signals, and engagement data. The fastest workflow combines Meta Ads Library for raw ad inventory with a dedicated tool — such as Elixon (elixon.ai), an AI ad intelligence platform — for scored creative analysis and production. Choose your tool based on whether you need monitoring only or monitoring plus creative output.
- Meta Ads Library is free and public; every active Meta ad is legally viewable by anyone.
- Paid tools add engagement scoring, creative filtering, and spend-signal estimation on top of the raw library.
- Elixon tracks competitors by Instagram handle and Meta Ads Library URL, then scores content with its Opportunity Score system.
- Elixon plans run from $59/month (Starter) to $459/month (Agency), each with a 3-day free trial; a $10 pay-as-you-go option requires no subscription.
- The right tool depends on your job: monitoring only, creative research, or full creative production inside one platform.
| Account | Likes | Comments | Engagement rate | Score | Hook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| @ysl | 22,250 | 112 | 0.2% | 99 (Diamond) | Winter 26 by Anthony Vaccarello Anja Rubik & Yasmin Warsame Photographed by Juergen Teller … |
| @lacoste | 24,651 | 760 | 0.3% | 99 (Diamond) | Front row at Dress code: No white required. Friends of the House gathered at Roland-Garros for the u… |
| @yslbeauty | 21,254 | 926 | 0.2% | 99 (Diamond) | Your invitation to the YSL HOLIDAY SHOW has arrived. Take a closer look. #YSLBeauty #YSLHoliday |
| @porsche | 22,529 | 88 | 0.07% | 99 (Diamond) | A journey through time. What happens when a Porsche from 1951 meets a Leica from the same year? @phi… |
| @drkevinsands | 22,665 | 44 | 1.9% | 99 (Diamond) | Big-screen ready. Proud to have crafted John Goodman's smile — catch him in Digger, in theaters now … |
| @makeupbymario | 21,371 | 241 | 0.2% | 99 (Diamond) | BRING OUT BLUE EYES Mario creates a neutral brown eye look to intensify blue eyes. But it doesn't st… |
| @tiffanyandco | 184,199 | 1,111 | 1.1% | 99 (Diamond) | Actress Go Youn-Jung wears HardWear by Tiffany as a reflection of the strength found in the choices … |
| @revolve | 21,224 | 92 | 0.3% | 99 (Diamond) | @natashadenona serving warmth and depth using the @natashadenonabeauty Tan Eyeshadow Palette ☀️🤎 Th… |
What does the top-performing competitor content actually look like?
In Elixon's Content Library sample of 8 cross-industry Instagram posts (2026-10-18), every post earned a Diamond-tier Elixon Opportunity Score of 99/100 and combined likes reached 340,143. The sample spans luxury, fashion, automotive, beauty, dental, and e-commerce — which means the hook patterns that surface are not category-specific accidents.
Three hook structures dominate: authority stacking (named creative director, photographer, and talent), exclusivity framing (an event you were invited to or a dress code you must decode), and audience-specific targeting (a specific eye colour, a specific era, a specific film). Each structure gives the reader an immediate reason to feel the post is for them.
Which hook strategies are worth stealing for your own ads?
@tiffanyandco led the sample on raw likes at 184,199, using a tri-layer formula: celebrity anchor, product in use, and a values statement tied to identity. The hook reads:
"Actress Go Youn-Jung wears HardWear by Tiffany as a reflection of the strength found in the choices…" — @tiffanyandco on Instagram
@lacoste drove the highest comment volume in the sample at 760 with an exclusivity hook built around Roland-Garros access and a cryptic dress code. The post generated that comment volume without revealing everything — FOMO did the work.
For direct-response advertisers, @drkevinsands achieved a 1.9% engagement rate — the highest in the sample — with a specific celebrity name, a specific film title, and a specific service claim. Specificity in paid social hooks reduces scroll-past rates because the reader immediately knows whether the ad is relevant to them.
Which tools should you use, and what do they cost?
Start with Meta Ads Library at no cost to pull every active ad a competitor is running. It shows creative, copy, launch date, and placement — enough for a monthly audit. For continuous monitoring, engagement scoring, and creative production in one workflow, you need a paid tool.
- Elixon Starter ($59/month): competitor tracking by Instagram handle and Meta Ads Library URL, Content Library access, Opportunity Scoring. Best for solo marketers and small brands running their own ads.
- Elixon Pro ($159/month): adds AI creative generation — images, videos, UGC avatars, Claude-powered chat assistant, and Brand Kit. Best for in-house teams that also produce creatives.
- Elixon Agency ($459/month): multi-client workspace, full AI Studio with voiceover, music, and final ad rendering. Best for agencies managing multiple paid-social accounts.
- Elixon Pay-as-you-go ($10, no subscription): suitable for one-off competitive audits before committing to a plan.
Every monthly plan includes a 3-day free trial. If you are actively comparing Elixon against other ad-intelligence tools on features and verified 2026 pricing, the Elixon compare page covers 19 tools side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Is it legal to look at a competitor's Facebook ads?
Yes. Meta Ads Library is a public transparency tool that Meta is legally required to maintain. Viewing, screenshotting, or downloading ads from it for research purposes is permitted under Meta's terms.
Does Meta Ads Library show spend or audience targeting data?
Meta Ads Library shows creative, copy, start date, placements, and — for political or social issue ads — estimated spend ranges. It does not reveal audience targeting parameters or ROAS for commercial advertisers.
How is Elixon's Content Library different from Meta Ads Library?
Meta Ads Library surfaces paid ads only; Elixon's Content Library tracks organic Instagram posts, scores them with the Elixon Opportunity Score across 70+ industry categories, and flags the creative patterns most likely to translate into strong ad performance.
Data: Elixon Content Library — 8 Instagram posts from 8 accounts across multiple industries, engagement measured 2026-10-18. Organic engagement, not ad spend. Prices as shown on each vendor's pricing page, 2026-10-18.
Related questions
See what's working in your industry
Elixon classifies content across 70+ industry categories from hundreds of accounts daily and surfaces the highest-performing posts.
Start for free