# The best ad intelligence platforms

> Ad intelligence platforms compared: what each one tracks, which ad platforms it covers and what it costs, with prices checked 20 Oct 2026.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-10-27
- **Category**: Ad research tools
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-best/best-ad-intelligence-platforms

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An ad intelligence platform shows what other brands advertise and how those ads change over time. Foreplay and Atria suit creative teams, BigSpy and AdSpy suit wide searches on a budget, and Sensor Tower's Pathmatics tracks estimated spend with custom pricing.

## Quick comparison

| Tool | Best for | Platforms | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreplay | Creative teams | Spyder tracks Meta ads. Lens reports on your own ads | Basic $59/month ($49 billed yearly) |
| Atria | Research plus analytics | Meta and TikTok | Core $129/month, billed yearly |
| BigSpy | Wide search across platforms | Up to 11 | Free plan. Starter $69/month ($49 billed yearly) |
| AdSpy | Facebook and Instagram search | Facebook, Instagram | $149/month |
| Motion | Your own ad accounts | Your accounts | Starter $999/month |
| Sensor Tower | Estimated spend, share of voice | See its site | Custom, not listed publicly |

Prices read on each company's own site on 20 Oct 2026, in US dollars.

An [ad spy tool](/glossary/ad-spy-tool) searches ads. A platform also tracks brands over time and adds tags, briefs or analytics.

## Foreplay

Swipe File, Discovery search, Spyder tracking, Briefs and Lens analytics. Its extension saves ads from the Meta, TikTok and LinkedIn ad libraries. The Agency plan costs $459/month ($389 billed yearly) for 10 users. Every paid plan has a 7-day trial that needs a card.

## Atria

An AI creative platform for Meta ads that also supports TikTok. Core includes 5 seats, 50 followed brands and 5 ad accounts. Plus is $479/month billed yearly and Business is $959. Atria offers an MCP server for Claude and ChatGPT. You can start free with 1,000 credits and no card. See [Atria alternatives](/alternatives/atria-alternatives).

## BigSpy

The free plan allows 10 searches a day on Facebook ads. Growth ($159/month, $119 billed yearly) adds Google Ads, YouTube, X and TikTok. Ultimate lists all 11 platforms. BigSpy's homepage says it covers 80+ countries and 26 languages.

## AdSpy

One plan, listed as an introductory $149/month, on Facebook and Instagram ads. It has no separate pricing page.

## Motion

Motion reads your own ad accounts. It offers creative analytics, an ad leaderboard, benchmarks and MCP access. Starter includes unlimited seats for up to $50k monthly ad spend. Pro and Growth prices are not listed publicly.

## Sensor Tower

Its Pathmatics product describes ad activity, estimated spend and impressions, and share of voice. The pricing page says plans are customised for each customer.

## How to choose

1. **Count the brands you follow.** Say you want to follow 40 competitors. Atria Core follows 50 for $129/month billed yearly. Foreplay's plan cards list Spyder at 10+ brands on Workflow ($149 billed yearly) and 50+ on Agency ($389 billed yearly). Its comparison table shows higher numbers on annual billing, so confirm before you buy.
2. **Check the platforms.** Meta only, or Meta plus TikTok and Google?
3. **Test your market.** Search three brands you know before you pay.
4. **Start free.** The platforms' own libraries cost nothing. See the [best free ad spy tools](/best/best-free-ad-spy-tools).

Agencies should also compare seats and client separation in the [best ad spy tools for agencies](/best/best-ad-spy-tools-for-agencies).

We make Marxx. It tracks competitor ads on Meta and Google with [keyword tracking](/features/competitor-tracking) and an AI search over 100M+ ads back to 2022. It also reads your own Meta ad account, so rivals sit next to your results.

## FAQ

### What is the difference between an ad spy tool and an ad intelligence platform?

A spy tool searches ads. A platform also tracks brands over time and links what you find to briefs or your own results.

### Which platform covers the most ad networks?

BigSpy's Ultimate plan ($499/month, $399 billed yearly) lists all 11 platforms, including Pinterest, Yahoo and Unity. Foreplay and Atria focus on Meta and TikTok.

### Do these tools show how much a competitor spends?

Ad libraries do not show spend for most ads. Sensor Tower describes estimated spend and impressions. Check each other tool before you buy if spend matters.

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