# How to tell if a competitor's ad is working

> You cannot see their dashboard, but public clues show which competitor ads are working. A checklist of six signs, and the traps to avoid.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-10-22
- **Category**: Competitor research
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-guides/how-to-tell-if-a-competitor-ad-is-working

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You can tell a competitor's ad is probably working when it has run for weeks, has several versions live and keeps coming back. No single clue proves it, but three together are a strong sign.

## The checklist

| Sign | Where to look | Strong when (rule of thumb) |
|---|---|---|
| Long run time | Meta Ad Library "Started running on" | Live 30+ days |
| Multiple versions | "This ad has multiple versions" | 3 or more |
| Spread to other formats | The brand's other active ads | Same hook in video and static |
| Relaunched | New start date, same creative | Seen twice or more |
| Real comments | The ad's post | Questions about price, size, delivery |
| Same offer for months | Ad text and landing page | Offer unchanged for 6+ weeks |

## Why run time is the best clue

Paid ads cost money every day. A brand that sees a poor return tends to switch the ad off. An ad that survives a month has passed many of the brand's own checks.

## Traps

- **Brand ads.** Big brands sometimes run awareness ads for months regardless of sales.
- **Forgotten ads.** A small brand may leave an ad on by accident. Check if the brand is active elsewhere.
- **Boosted posts.** High likes can come from boosts with cheap engagement goals.
- **Seasonal timing.** An ad that ran only during a sale tells you about the sale, not the idea.

## A worked example

Say a competitor's video "My dentist asked what I changed" has run 74 days, with 5 versions, and the same hook appears in two static ads. It is very likely working. A second ad, with 3,000 likes but only 6 days live, is a test, and you cannot tell yet.

## FAQ

### Can a tool tell me for sure?

No tool sees a competitor's sales. Good tools sort ads by these same signals so you do not have to check by hand.

### How many competitors should I watch?

Five to ten direct competitors, plus two or three brands outside your category that you admire.

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- [More Competitor research articles](https://marxx.ai/library-guides/category/competitor-research)
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