Facebook Ad Library API – working example (Python, JS, n8n)

Export the Facebook & Instagram ads of any page, or of any keyword, from the public Meta Ad Library to CSV or JSON: ad copy, headline, CTA, landing page, image and video URLs, start/end dates, platforms, page info, and spend/reach for political ads.

Powered by the meta-ad-library-scraper actor on Apify. No Facebook login, no cookies, no Meta developer app or identity verification.

Example output (real result, shortened)

{
  "ad_archive_id": "1632663538563793",
  "ad_library_url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1632663538563793",
  "page_id": "15087023444",
  "page_name": "Nike",
  "is_active": true,
  "start_date_iso": "2026-08-31T07:00:00.000Z",
  "publisher_platform": ["FACEBOOK", "INSTAGRAM", "AUDIENCE_NETWORK"],
  "display_format": "IMAGE",
  "ad_text": "Bring sports more fully into your day with the Nike App.",
  "title": "Nike Zenvy Women's Dri-FIT Tank Top",
  "cta_text": "Install now",
  "link_url": "http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nike.omega",
  "image_urls": ["https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/788880667_..._n.jpg"],
  "video_urls": [],
  "page_like_count": 39501406
}

Quickstart (3 steps)

1. Create a free Apify account and copy your API token from Settings → Integrations.
2. Put it in an environment variable (never in code): export APIFY_TOKEN=your_token
3. Run the example:

pip install -r python/requirements.txt
python python/example.py 15087023444 --active            # a page (id, @username or facebook.com link)
python python/example.py "running shoes" --keyword --country US

JavaScript: cd js && npm install && node example.mjs 15087023444

Examples

Python (pip install "apify-client<2")

import os
from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient(os.environ["APIFY_TOKEN"])
run = client.actor("lagenuina_agency/meta-ad-library-scraper").call(run_input={
    "pageIDs": ["15087023444"],
    "country": "US",
    "activeStatus": "active",
    "maxAds": 100,
})
for ad in client.dataset(run["defaultDatasetId"]).iterate_items():
    print(ad["page_name"], ad["ad_text"], ad["image_urls"], ad["video_urls"])

JavaScript / Node.js (npm install apify-client)

import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: process.env.APIFY_TOKEN });
const run = await client.actor('lagenuina_agency/meta-ad-library-scraper').call({ keywords: ['running shoes'], country: 'US', activeStatus: 'active', maxAds: 100 });
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);

cURL / any language – one HTTP call, results in the response:

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/acts/lagenuina_agency~meta-ad-library-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"adLibraryUrls": ["https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?active_status=active&ad_type=all&country=US&search_type=page&view_all_page_id=15087023444"], "maxAds": 100}'

All input fields are documented on the actor page (Input tab).

Use case: export a competitor's Facebook & Instagram ads to CSV

python/example.py scrapes the Meta Ad Library for one page or keyword and writes meta_ads_<target>.csv with ad ID, page, status, dates, platforms, format, copy, headline, CTA, landing page, image and video URLs, spend and Ad Library link – ready for Excel or Google Sheets.

n8n workflow

n8n/workflow.json: every Monday 08:00 → run the actor on a competitor's page (active ads) → flatten the fields with a Set node → append to Google Sheets.

1. In n8n: Workflows → Import from File and pick n8n/workflow.json.
2. Create a Header Auth credential named Apify API token with name Authorization and value Bearer <your token>, and select it in the Run Apify actor node.
3. Edit the JSON body (your page ids or keywords), set your Google Sheet ID and activate.

The run-sync-get-dataset-items endpoint waits up to 300 s; for bigger runs use /runs plus a webhook.

Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client this actor as a tool:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "meta-ad-library-scraper": {
      "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?actors=lagenuina_agency/meta-ad-library-scraper"
    }
  }
}

Sign in with Apify OAuth when asked, or send Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_TOKEN>.

Pricing

$0.20 per 1,000 ads on every Apify plan (Free, Bronze, Silver, Gold and above), with Apify platform usage and residential proxy included, no start fee, pay only for results – see lagenuina_agency/meta-ad-library-scraper.

More tools from Quelli di Carne Genuina

• Ad intelligence: Google Ads Transparency · TikTok Top Ads · LinkedIn Ad Library
• Competitor & SEO research: Similarweb traffic · Google Trends · Google Play
• Travel prices: Google Hotels · Google Flights
• Retail prices: Woolworths & Coles
• Content & social data: YouTube Transcript · Medium · Likee

All actors: apify.com/lagenuina_agency · Tutorials: assa83.github.io

Disclaimer

Independent, not affiliated with Meta (not endorsed by Meta Platforms, Inc.). It reads only publicly available data from the Meta Ad Library. Use it in line with the applicable terms and laws.

License

MIT © Quelli di Carne Genuina