# Semrush Ad Research alternatives > Seven Semrush Ad Research alternatives for competitor ads and keywords, with what each does best and prices read off their own sites on 20 Oct 2026. - **Author**: Marxx - **Published**: 2026-11-06 - **Category**: Ad research tools - **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-alternatives/semrush-ad-research-alternatives --- The main Semrush Ad Research alternatives are SpyFu for competitor keywords on Google, Adbeat for display and native ads, Similarweb for ads inside a wider web suite, Foreplay for saving ads, and the free Google Ads Transparency Center and Meta Ad Library. Semrush's Advertising Toolkit lists Base at $99 a month and Pro at $220 a month (checked 2026-10-20). ## Why teams look for an alternative Semrush's Advertising Research shows positions, position changes, competitors and ad copies. Base adds competitor keyword analysis and Google Shopping ads research. Pro adds AdClarity, which Semrush lists as all competitor ads across display, video and social, plus competitor landing page views. It offers a free trial. Teams look elsewhere when they want a lower price, only need Google keywords, or want to save and brief ads. Say you want rivals' Google keywords and their Meta ads. SpyFu Basic at $39 plus Foreplay Basic at $59 is $98 a month on monthly billing, close to Semrush Base at $99. The two tools cover different channels, so match each tool to your channel. ## Quick comparison | Tool | Best for | Starting price | |---|---|---| | Semrush Advertising Toolkit | Google ad research, AdClarity on Pro | Base $99/month; Pro $220/month | | SpyFu | Competitor keywords and ads on Google | Basic $39/month | | Adbeat | Display, programmatic and native ads | Standard $249/month | | Similarweb | Ad data inside a web intelligence suite | $542/month billed yearly, $649 monthly | | Google Ads Transparency Center | A brand's Google ads | Free | | Meta Ad Library | A brand's live Meta ads | Free | | Foreplay | Saving ads and writing briefs | Basic $59/month | | Marxx | Competitor ads plus your own accounts | See [pricing](/pricing) | Prices read on each company's own site on 20 October 2026, in dollars. ## SpyFu Basic is $39 a month, or from $29 a month billed yearly, with one user and 10,000-row search results. Pro+AI is $59 for the first month, then $119 a month. Team/Agency is $249 a month. See [SpyFu alternatives](/alternatives/spyfu-alternatives). ## Adbeat Covers display, programmatic and native ads in 35 countries. Standard is $249 a month, or $200 a month billed yearly, with 90 days of data. Advanced is $399 a month with a year of data. Estimated ad spend sits on the Enterprise plan. ## Similarweb The self-serve package with Ad Intelligence lists creative and campaign insights, search and display insights and ad spend. It is $542 a month billed yearly, or $649 monthly. The plain Competitive Intelligence package is $125 a month billed yearly, or $199 monthly. See [Similarweb alternatives](/alternatives/similarweb-alternatives). ## Google Ads Transparency Center Free. Search by advertiser name or website, then filter by region and date. See [how to use it](/guides/how-to-use-google-ads-transparency-center). ## Meta Ad Library Free. It searches all ads currently running across Meta technologies, and an ad appears within 24 hours of its first impression. ## Foreplay Saves ads into a swipe file with a Chrome extension and turns them into briefs. Basic is $59 a month, or $49 billed yearly, with 7 days of free trial. Spyder competitor tracking starts on Workflow at $175 a month, or $149 billed yearly. ## Marxx We make Marxx, so weigh this. It tracks competitor ads on Meta and Google, with an AI search over 100M+ ads back to 2022. It reads Google Ads spend, campaigns and search terms through its connection, and your Meta ad account in full. See [competitor tracking](/features/competitor-tracking). ## How to choose 1. Name the channel: Google search, display, or Meta. 2. Try the free libraries first, so you know what you are paying to add. 3. Check whether the paid tool covers your country and your rivals. 4. Read [what an ad spy tool is](/glossary/ad-spy-tool) if the term is new. ## FAQ ### Does Semrush have a free plan for ad research? Its Advertising Toolkit pages show a "Try for free" button on both plans. They do not list a permanent free plan. ### Which alternative is cheapest for Google keyword research? SpyFu Basic at $39 a month is the lowest paid Google-focused price here. The Google Ads Transparency Center is free but shows ads, not keywords. ### Which alternative covers Meta ads? The Meta Ad Library is free. Foreplay keeps ads in a swipe file with a Chrome extension. --- - [More Ad research tools articles](https://marxx.ai/library-alternatives/category/ad-research-tools) - [All articles](https://marxx.ai/library-alternatives)