# How to see competitor ads on TikTok

> TikTok is blocked in India, so Indian brands study TikTok ads from other markets and use Meta and YouTube tools for ads at home. What to use and where to look.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-12
- **Category**: Competitor research
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-guides/how-to-see-competitor-ads-on-tiktok

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To see competitor ads on TikTok, use TikTok's own ad tools and check on TikTok's pages which countries each one covers. TikTok is blocked in India, so for ads your Indian buyers see, use the Meta Ad Library and the Google Ads Transparency Center.

## Where to look

| Where | What to use it for |
|---|---|
| TikTok's own ad tools | Ads from markets where TikTok runs. Start with [how to use TikTok Creative Center](/guides/how-to-use-tiktok-creative-center) |
| Meta Ad Library | Ads your Indian buyers see on Facebook and Instagram. See [how to search the Meta Ad Library by keyword](/guides/how-to-search-the-meta-ad-library-by-keyword) |
| Google Ads Transparency Center | Video ads on YouTube, using the platform and format filters. See [how to see competitor ads on YouTube](/guides/how-to-see-competitor-ads-on-youtube) |

## Step by step

1. **Start with TikTok's own tools.** Read [how to use TikTok Creative Center](/guides/how-to-use-tiktok-creative-center). On TikTok's own pages, check which countries and ad types each tool covers before you rely on it.
2. **Study other markets.** Brands in countries where TikTok runs show how the format is used. Treat what you find as ideas to test, not proof of what works.
3. **Check ads shown at home.** Search the same brands in the [Meta Ad Library](/guides/how-to-search-the-meta-ad-library-by-keyword) and, for video, the Google Ads Transparency Center with the **YouTube** platform filter.
4. **Log what you find.** Note the hook, angle, format and offer of each ad in a [competitor ad audit](/guides/how-to-run-a-competitor-ad-audit).
5. **Save the ads you want to study.** Take a screenshot or note the ad link, with the date you saw it.

Marxx's browser extension adds a Save button to the TikTok ad libraries, so you can keep ads you want to study. We make Marxx. See [competitor tracking](/features/competitor-tracking).

## A note for India

India banned TikTok on 29 June 2020 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censorship_of_TikTok), checked 2026-10-20). Government sources said in August 2025 that no order had been issued to lift the ban ([All India Radio](https://www.newsonair.gov.in/no-order-issued-to-lift-ban-on-tiktok-in-india-govt), checked 2026-10-20). So Indian brands use TikTok's tools to study other markets. For ads shown at home, use the [Meta Ad Library](/guides/how-to-search-the-meta-ad-library-by-keyword).

## Mistakes to avoid

- Copying a foreign ad word for word. Test your own version on your own audience
- Judging an idea by one ad
- Skipping the Meta and YouTube check, which shows what your own buyers see

## FAQ

### Can I see TikTok ads from India?

TikTok is blocked in India, and government sources said in August 2025 that no order had been issued to lift the ban. Study TikTok ads from other markets, and use the Meta Ad Library and YouTube filters for ads shown at home.

### Where can I see video ads that my Indian buyers see?

Use the Meta Ad Library for Facebook and Instagram, and the Google Ads Transparency Center with the YouTube platform and Video format filters. Both open without a login, except for age-restricted ads. See [how to see competitor ads on YouTube](/guides/how-to-see-competitor-ads-on-youtube).

### How do I keep the TikTok ads I find?

Take a screenshot or note the ad link, with the date you saw it. Then log the hook, angle, format and offer in a [competitor ad audit](/guides/how-to-run-a-competitor-ad-audit).

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