# Google Ads Transparency Center vs Meta Ad Library

> Meta's Ad Library lists all active ads across Meta. Google's Transparency Center shows verified advertisers' ads for a year. What each shows and hides.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-08
- **Category**: Tools
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-compare/google-ads-transparency-center-vs-meta-ad-library

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The Meta Ad Library lists all active ads across Facebook, Instagram and other Meta apps. The Google Ads Transparency Center shows ads from verified advertisers on Search, YouTube, Maps, Shopping and Play, for one year after each ad last ran. Use Meta's for current creative. Use Google's for a year of search and video messages.

## Side by side

| | Meta Ad Library | Google Ads Transparency Center |
|---|---|---|
| Covers | All active ads across Meta technologies, plus branded content with a paid partnership label | Verified advertisers' ads on Search, Play, Maps, Shopping and YouTube |
| Time window | Active ads | One year from the date an ad was last shown |
| Search by | Any term, name or Page | Advertiser name or website, with a region filter |
| New ads appear | Not stated | After 48 to 72 hours |
| Extra detail | Ads about social issues, elections or politics, and ads delivered to the UK, EU and associated territories | Ads in Europe and Türkiye, and political ads |
| Click through to the landing page | Not stated | No. Google says ads are no longer clickable |
| Sign-in | Anyone can search. Downloading a search needs a Facebook login | Needed only for age-restricted ads |

Sources: Meta's [About the Meta Ad Library](https://www.facebook.com/business/help/2405092116183307) and Google's [Ads Transparency Center FAQ](https://adstransparency.google.com/faq), both checked 2026-10-20.

## Things to know about Google's center

- It covers verified advertisers. Unverified advertisers in Europe and Türkiye are also included.
- Election ads in supported regions stay for up to seven years.
- It shows the advertiser's name, not the agency that made the ad, plus the payer's name if different.
- It shows up to five common variations of an ad.
- Impression ranges are published after a 90-day delay, where they are shown.

## Things to know about Meta's library

- Anyone can search by term, name or Page, with no account needed to view.
- It carries active branded content that has a paid partnership label.
- Age-restricted ads, such as alcohol or gambling, do not show to under-age or logged-out viewers.
- An Ad Library API covers social issue, electoral and political ads, and ads that deliver to the EU.

## A worked example

Say you sell home insurance and want to study a rival.

1. In Meta's library you search their Page. You see 24 active ads. Three started this week and eight share one offer. Save them, since this view is of what is active now.
2. In Google's center you search their site, set India and look at search ads. You see 9. Five lead with price, so that is their tested search message.

Now you know what they push on social today and what they say on search. For a longer look at the Google side, see [how to use the Google Ads Transparency Center](/guides/how-to-use-google-ads-transparency-center). For the Meta side, see [what the Meta Ad Library is](/glossary/meta-ad-library).

To date a rival's ad, read [how to find out how long an ad has been running](/guides/how-to-find-out-how-long-an-ad-has-been-running).

Marxx tracks competitor ads on Meta and Google, and has an AI search over 100M+ ads back to 2022. Its browser extension adds a Save button to the Meta Ad Library. We make it, so weigh that. See [competitor tracking](/features/competitor-tracking).

## FAQ

### Which one shows how well an ad performed?

Neither page we read lists clicks or sales. Google shows impression ranges for some ads, after a 90-day delay. Use how long an ad has run as a weak hint.

### Can I download from either?

Meta says you can download Ad Library searches when logged in and you agree to its terms. Google's center shows ads for viewing and does not click through to landing pages.

### Does the Google center show Display ads?

Google's FAQ lists Search, Play, Maps, Shopping and YouTube. It does not list Display.

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