What's the BEST tool to spy on competitors' Google Ads keywords in 2026?

IlyesP

IlyesP

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Hey, quick question for the Google Ads experts here:

What tool do you use to spy on competitors' PPC keywords and ads?

I need to see:
✅ Competitors' keywords
✅ Their ad copy
✅ Landing pages
✅ Ad history/longevity

What's your recommendation and why? Any tools that are better for affiliate/CPA specifically?

Thanks !
 
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AdBeat and Anstrex. SpyFu as well.

iSpionage was good but was shut down a few months ago
 
IlyesP said:
Hey, quick question for the Google Ads experts here:

What tool do you use to spy on competitors' PPC keywords and ads?

I need to see:
✅ Competitors' keywords
✅ Their ad copy
✅ Landing pages
✅ Ad history/longevity

What's your recommendation and why? Any tools that are better for affiliate/CPA specifically?

Thanks !
Click to expand...
Semrush can do everything you described.But now you need a separate subscription for that.
Previously, everything was available under one subscription (greed will ruin Semrush).
 

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For Google Ads in 2026, Semrush and SpyFu are still the heavy hitters for keyword history and longevity, but if you're focusing specifically on affiliate/CPA, Adplexity is a must. It’s much better at uncovering those hidden landing pages and redirect chains that general SEO tools often miss. Also, don't sleep on the Google Ad Transparency Center - it’s free and gives you the most accurate real-time look at a competitor’s active ad copy across different regions.
 
If you want to find gambling ads in google (white/grey/blackhat) - use humbl.ai. Expensive but worth it.
If you wish to hide your affiliate site from humbl use - hidemyad.com
 
Id go with SpyFu for gads spying. It shows competitor keywords ad copy landing pages and ad history pretty well
 
AdBeat is still my go-to for spying on competitors' Google Ads—keywords, ad history, landing pages, the whole package. SpyFu is cheaper and decent to sanity-check stuff. Semrush does the basics, but you’ll miss some of the ad history. Pick what fits your budget, imo.
 
If budget is tight, there's a free combo that covers part of what you need:

Google Ads Transparency Center — lets you see competitors' actual ad copy and creatives. Not keyword-level data, but useful for understanding their messaging angle.

Google Keyword Planner (Start with a website) — paste in a competitor's landing page URL and it pulls keyword ideas directly from their page. Not their exact bidding data, but gives you a solid idea of what they're targeting.

I used this combo during my own affiliate Google Ads tests and it was enough to get started. For deeper spy data (actual keywords + bid history + ad longevity) you'd still need SEMrush or SpyFu. But if you're in early testing phase and want to keep costs low, this free combo is underrated.
 
Using a combo of free tools can definitely get you started with competitor research, and the Google Ads Transparency Center is a goldmine for ad copy inspiration. I've seen people get decent results with just the Keyword Planner and Transparency Center, especially when they're just starting out and don't want to shell out for paid tools. What's also important is to keep an eye on your competitors' landing pages, as that's where the real conversion magic happens. In my experience, AdBeat is still one of the best tools for getting a comprehensive view of a competitor's ad strategy, but it's not always necessary if you're on a tight budget. SpyFu is a decent alternative, and Semrush has its uses, but it's all about finding what works for your specific needs and budget. For early-phase testing, the free combo can be enough to get you moving in the right direction.
 
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