# Facebook Ad Library Search API
Facebook · Ad Beta
Searches Meta's public Ad Library by keyword and returns the matching ads that ran on Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Threads and the Audience Network: the advertiser's page, the days the ad first and last ran, whether it is still active, where it ran, and each creative's headline, text, link, call to action, images and videos. Political and social-issue ads also carry the disclosed payer and Meta's impressions, reach and spend ranges. Filter by country, active status and the day an ad first ran; results come in the Ad Library's own order, most impressions first.
GET `https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/facebook/search_ads`
[Try it in the playground](https://staging.socialtap.dev/playground/?endpoint=facebook.search_ads) · [Quickstart](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md)
- From **1 credit** per page
- Pages of up to **10** ads, most impressions first
- Sources: Platform API
## Use cases
- Monitor competitors' ad creatives and offers
- Research ad copy in a market or niche
- Track political and issue ad spending
- Find the advertisers running ads on a topic
## Good to know
- Payer, impressions, reach and spend are disclosed only for political and social-issue ads; they are null for other ads.
- Dates are whole days (Meta reports the day an ad first and last ran, US Pacific time), so they are listed in approximate_fields.
- since and until filter by the day an ad first ran (first_shown_at); a filtered page can hold fewer ads than the page size, and that is not the end of the list.
- Ads that share one creative are grouped by Meta; each ad of a group is returned as its own item.
- Languages, targeting and EU reach by country are not part of the search results; those fields are empty or null.
## Example request
Send a `GET` request with your key in the `x-api-key` header.
cURL:
```shell
curl -G 'https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/facebook/search_ads' \
--data-urlencode 'country=US' \
--data-urlencode 'query=coffee' \
--data-urlencode 'status=all' \
-H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"
```
TypeScript:
```typescript
const params = new URLSearchParams({
country: "US",
query: "coffee",
status: "all",
});
const res = await fetch(`https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/facebook/search_ads?${params}`, {
headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.SOCIALTAP_API_KEY ?? "" },
});
const body = await res.json();
if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${body.error.code}: ${body.error.message}`);
const { data, page, meta } = body;
console.log(data, meta.credits_charged);
```
Python:
```python
import os
import requests
res = requests.get(
"https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/facebook/search_ads",
params={"country": "US", "query": "coffee", "status": "all"},
headers={"x-api-key": os.environ["SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"]},
)
body = res.json()
if not res.ok:
raise RuntimeError(f"{body['error']['code']}: {body['error']['message']}")
data, page, meta = body["data"], body["page"], body["meta"]
print(data, meta["credits_charged"])
```
Go:
```go
package main
import (
"encoding/json"
"fmt"
"log"
"net/http"
"net/url"
"os"
)
func main() {
q := url.Values{}
q.Set("country", "US")
q.Set("query", "coffee")
q.Set("status", "all")
req, err := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/facebook/search_ads?"+q.Encode(), nil)
if err != nil {
log.Fatal(err)
}
req.Header.Set("x-api-key", os.Getenv("SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"))
res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
if err != nil {
log.Fatal(err)
}
defer res.Body.Close()
var body struct {
Data json.RawMessage `json:"data"`
Page json.RawMessage `json:"page"`
Meta map[string]any `json:"meta"`
Error *struct {
Code string `json:"code"`
Message string `json:"message"`
} `json:"error"`
}
if err := json.NewDecoder(res.Body).Decode(&body); err != nil {
log.Fatal(err)
}
if body.Error != nil {
log.Fatalf("%s: %s", body.Error.Code, body.Error.Message)
}
fmt.Println(string(body.Data), body.Meta["credits_charged"])
}
```
## Parameters
| Name | Type | Description | Example |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `query` required | `string`
max 200 chars | Keywords matched against the ad's text, in any order. Wrap the query in double quotes ("cold brew") to match an exact phrase. | `coffee` |
| `country` optional | `string`
iso3166-1-alpha-2 | Region: an ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code such as US or BR (case-insensitive). Only ads delivered in this country. All countries when omitted. | `US` |
| `status` optional | `string` | Only ads that are still running (active), only ads that stopped (inactive), or both (all, the default).
One of `all`, `active`, `inactive` | `active` |
| `since` optional | `string`
date-time | Only items at or after this time: RFC 3339 (2026-10-01T12:00:00Z) or a date (2026-10-01, midnight UTC). On newest-first lists, paging stops when it is reached, so later pages are not fetched or charged. Filters by first_shown_at, the day the ad first ran. | `2026-10-01` |
| `until` optional | `string`
date-time | Only items before this time (exclusive): RFC 3339 or a date (midnight UTC). Filters by first_shown_at, the day the ad first ran. | `2026-10-08` |
| `limit` optional | `integer`
min 1
max 10 | Items per page, 1 to the endpoint's page size (the default and maximum; larger values are reduced). Reduces payload, not price: each page costs the same. | `10` |
| `cursor` optional | `string` | page.next_cursor from the previous response. Send the same other parameters; omit to start from the first page. | — |
Parameters not listed here are rejected (with a suggestion for a likely typo), so a misspelled one never silently changes nothing: see [Requests](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/requests/index.md).
`limit` and `cursor` page through the list: see Pagination.
Every endpoint also accepts [`max_age`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md#param-max_age), [`fields`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md#param-fields).
## Example response
A `200` response is `{data, page, meta}`: `data` is an array of up to 10 [ad](https://staging.socialtap.dev/resources/ad/index.md) objects, `page` says whether there are more (pagination), `meta` describes the request ([meta fields](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/index.md#response)).
200 OK:
```json
{
"data": [
{
"advertiser": {
"avatar_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/739782028_1533198008291919_1079542453788497101_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBED&…",
"display_name": "American Health Support Community",
"id": "966175593248497",
"is_verified": null,
"url": "https://www.facebook.com/61588018263996",
"username": null
},
"approximate_fields": [
"first_shown_at"
],
"audience_size": null,
"country_codes": [],
"creatives": [
{
"body": "My aunt called me a creep for putting a camera in Nana’s living room.\n\nNana called me practical.\n\nThen the camera caught something worse than a fall.\n\nI need to be clear about one thing before anyone decides what kind of grandson I am.\n\nNana asked for the camera.\n\nNot me.\n\nNot my…",
"cta_text": "Learn more",
"link_description": null,
"link_url": "https://shop.pipitea.com/hbt/kd/sp-nm",
"media": [
{
"alt_text": null,
"duration_ms": null,
"expires_at": null,
"height": null,
"thumbnail_url": "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/742001725_2100792434176297_9060645049521596104_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s600x600_tt6&_nc_cat=100&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBE…",
"type": "image",
"url": "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/742501415_1706621370582971_4085631001896338504_n.jpg?_nc_cat=103&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBED&oe=SCRUBBED",
"width": null
}
],
"title": "Natural Relief in Weeks"
}
],
"first_shown_at": "2026-07-18T07:00:00Z",
"id": "2619351891814847",
"impressions": null,
"is_active": true,
"is_political": false,
"languages": [],
"last_shown_at": null,
"paid_by": null,
"platform": "facebook",
"publisher_platforms": [
"facebook",
"instagram",
"audience_network"
],
"reach": null,
"spend": null,
"type": "image",
"url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=2619351891814847"
},
{
"advertiser": {
"avatar_url": "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/712623693_1599994994434095_1320701223312676781_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=110&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBED&…",
"display_name": "American Health Support Community",
"id": "966175593248497",
"is_verified": null,
"url": "https://www.facebook.com/61588018263996",
"username": null
},
"approximate_fields": [
"first_shown_at"
],
"audience_size": null,
"country_codes": [],
"creatives": [
{
"body": "I almost looked past the woman who saved my husband's life. She was seventy-nine, sitting alone at the booth next to ours at the Cracker Barrel off Highway 31. A glass of milk in front of her. She kept stirring it. She wasn't eating.\n\nIf I'd known, the night I leaned over and ask…",
"cta_text": "Learn more",
"link_description": "\"I've tried everything to support my kidney function naturally. Fish oil, CoQ10, cutting protein, stressing about every meal. Nothing moved the needle enough to satisfy my doctor. Hibiscus tea is the first thing that actually showed up in my numbers. It's been 3 months and my eGF…",
"link_url": "https://shop.pipitea.com/hbt/kd/sp",
"media": [
{
"alt_text": null,
"duration_ms": null,
"expires_at": null,
"height": null,
"thumbnail_url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/711729685_1717035472767079_186136568392095276_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s600x600_tt6&_nc_cat=104&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBED…",
"type": "image",
"url": "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/713729791_868879862958547_7409366389733397444_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBED&oe=SCRUBBED",
"width": null
}
],
"title": "Natural Relief in Weeks"
}
],
"first_shown_at": "2026-06-01T07:00:00Z",
"id": "1923645134954720",
"impressions": null,
"is_active": true,
"is_political": false,
"languages": [],
"last_shown_at": null,
"paid_by": null,
"platform": "facebook",
"publisher_platforms": [
"facebook",
"instagram",
"audience_network"
],
"reach": null,
"spend": null,
"type": "image",
"url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=1923645134954720"
},
{
"advertiser": {
"avatar_url": "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/712025330_1303417705276292_736671271727941526_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s60x60_tt6&_nc_cat=103&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBED&o…",
"display_name": "American Health Support Community",
"id": "966175593248497",
"is_verified": null,
"url": "https://www.facebook.com/61588018263996",
"username": null
},
"approximate_fields": [
"first_shown_at"
],
"audience_size": null,
"country_codes": [],
"creatives": [
{
"body": "I almost looked past the woman who saved my husband's life. She was seventy-nine, sitting alone at the booth next to ours at the Cracker Barrel off Highway 31. A glass of milk in front of her. She kept stirring it. She wasn't eating.\n\nIf I'd known, the night I leaned over and ask…",
"cta_text": "Learn more",
"link_description": "\"I've tried everything to support my kidney function naturally. Fish oil, CoQ10, cutting protein, stressing about every meal. Nothing moved the needle enough to satisfy my doctor. Hibiscus tea is the first thing that actually showed up in my numbers. It's been 3 months and my eGF…",
"link_url": "https://shop.pipitea.com/hbt/kd/sp",
"media": [
{
"alt_text": null,
"duration_ms": null,
"expires_at": null,
"height": null,
"thumbnail_url": "https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/711737708_4485707625086258_2353150069319301753_n.jpg?stp=dst-jpg_s600x600_tt6&_nc_cat=109&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBE…",
"type": "image",
"url": "https://scontent-atl3-2.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.35426-6/710755472_911440771966686_1736050619245168045_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=SCRUBBED&_nc_sid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ohc=SCRUBBED&_nc_oc=SCRUBBED&_nc_zt=14&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-2.xx&_nc_gid=SCRUBBED&_nc_ss=7b289&oh=SCRUBBED&oe=SCRUBBED",
"width": null
}
],
"title": "Natural Relief in Weeks"
}
],
"first_shown_at": "2026-06-01T07:00:00Z",
"id": "2140497416496021",
"impressions": null,
"is_active": true,
"is_political": false,
"languages": [],
"last_shown_at": null,
"paid_by": null,
"platform": "facebook",
"publisher_platforms": [
"facebook",
"instagram",
"audience_network"
],
"reach": null,
"spend": null,
"type": "image",
"url": "https://www.facebook.com/ads/library/?id=2140497416496021"
}
],
"page": {
"has_more": true,
"next_cursor": "c1.EXAMPLE_CURSOR",
"next_cursor_expires_at": "2026-10-26T12:00:00Z",
"end_reason": null
},
"meta": {
"request_id": "req_3f9c2a7d1e8b4c6a9f0e2d4b6a8c0e1f",
"platform": "facebook",
"source": "api",
"is_cached": false,
"credits_charged": 1,
"latency_ms": 0,
"fetched_at": "2026-10-25T12:00:00Z",
"input": null,
"credits_remaining": 9999,
"client_request_id": null,
"warnings": [],
"mode": "live"
}
}
```
Long arrays and strings are shortened for display; real responses are complete.
## Response fields
Each item of `data` follows the shared [Ad schema](https://staging.socialtap.dev/resources/ad/index.md), identical on every platform.
| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `data[].platform` | `string` | Library owner's platform ID (facebook for Meta's library, tiktok, google, linkedin). |
| `data[].id` | `string` | Library ad ID (string). |
| `data[].url` | `string` (uri) | Public library page of the ad. |
| `data[].advertiser` | `object` | The advertising page, business or account. |
| `data[].advertiser.id` | `string` or `null` | Platform-native account ID; null when only the handle is known. |
| `data[].advertiser.username` | `string` or `null` | Handle without the @; null when the account has none. |
| `data[].advertiser.display_name` | `string` or `null` | Display name shown on the profile. |
| `data[].advertiser.url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Canonical profile URL. |
| `data[].advertiser.avatar_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Profile picture URL. Platform CDN URLs can expire within hours. |
| `data[].advertiser.is_verified` | `boolean` or `null` | Platform verification badge; null where the platform has no badge. |
| `data[].paid_by` | `string` or `null` | Disclosed payer ("Paid for by"). |
| `data[].is_active` | `boolean` or `null` | True while the ad is running. |
| `data[].first_shown_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | First delivery, RFC 3339 UTC (often date-only: see approximate_fields). |
| `data[].last_shown_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | Last delivery, RFC 3339 UTC; null while active. |
| `data[].type` | `string` | Creative shape. New values may be added; treat unknown values as other.
One of `image`, `video`, `carousel`, `text`, `dynamic`, `other` |
| `data[].publisher_platforms` | `string[]` | Where it ran, lowercase IDs (facebook, instagram, messenger, audience_network, youtube, …); \[\] if not disclosed. |
| `data[].creatives` | `object[]` | The ad's creatives: one per card of a carousel and per variation of a dynamic or catalog ad, else one for the ad itself; \[\] if none are shown. |
| `data[].creatives[].title` | `string` or `null` | Headline. |
| `data[].creatives[].body` | `string` or `null` | Primary text. |
| `data[].creatives[].link_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Destination URL. |
| `data[].creatives[].link_description` | `string` or `null` | Link description text. |
| `data[].creatives[].cta_text` | `string` or `null` | Call-to-action label (e.g. Shop now). |
| `data[].creatives[].media` | `object[]` | Images and videos of this creative; \[\] if none. |
| `data[].creatives[].media[].type` | `string` | Kind of file. New values may be added; treat unknown values as other.
One of `image`, `video`, `audio`, `gif` |
| `data[].creatives[].media[].url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Direct file URL; null when the platform withholds it, or when the link would only work from SocialTap's network or with a login. Often signed and expiring: see expires_at. |
| `data[].creatives[].media[].expires_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When url stops working, RFC 3339 UTC, read from the platform's signed URL; null when unknown or when it does not expire. |
| `data[].creatives[].media[].thumbnail_url` | `string` (uri) or `null` | Poster or preview image URL. |
| `data[].creatives[].media[].width` | `integer` or `null` | Width in pixels. |
| `data[].creatives[].media[].height` | `integer` or `null` | Height in pixels. |
| `data[].creatives[].media[].duration_ms` | `integer` or `null` | Duration in milliseconds (video and audio only). |
| `data[].creatives[].media[].alt_text` | `string` or `null` | Accessibility text provided by the author or platform. |
| `data[].languages` | `string[]` | BCP-47 languages of the ad; \[\] if not disclosed. |
| `data[].country_codes` | `string[]` | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 countries where it was shown; \[\] if not disclosed. |
| `data[].is_political` | `boolean` or `null` | Categorized as a political or social-issue ad; false when the library files it under another category, null when it shows none. |
| `data[].impressions` | `object` or `null` | Impressions or times shown range; null when not disclosed. |
| `data[].impressions.lower_bound` | `integer` | Inclusive lower bound. |
| `data[].impressions.upper_bound` | `integer` or `null` | Inclusive upper bound; null when open-ended (e.g. ">1M"). Equal to lower_bound when exact. |
| `data[].reach` | `object` or `null` | Unique users reached range; null when not disclosed. |
| `data[].reach.lower_bound` | `integer` | Inclusive lower bound. |
| `data[].reach.upper_bound` | `integer` or `null` | Inclusive upper bound; null when open-ended (e.g. ">1M"). Equal to lower_bound when exact. |
| `data[].audience_size` | `object` or `null` | Estimated target audience size range; null when not disclosed. |
| `data[].audience_size.lower_bound` | `integer` | Inclusive lower bound. |
| `data[].audience_size.upper_bound` | `integer` or `null` | Inclusive upper bound; null when open-ended (e.g. ">1M"). Equal to lower_bound when exact. |
| `data[].spend` | `object` or `null` | Spend range; null when not disclosed. |
| `data[].spend.lower_bound` | `integer` | Inclusive lower bound, in whole units of currency. |
| `data[].spend.upper_bound` | `integer` or `null` | Inclusive upper bound in whole units of currency; null when open-ended. |
| `data[].spend.currency` | `string` | ISO 4217 currency code, uppercase (USD). |
| `data[].approximate_fields` | `string[]` | JSON paths of values that are rounded, date-only or parsed from display text; \[\] when all exact. |
## Pagination
Items come in pages, **most impressions first**. To get the next page, send **the same request plus `cursor`** set to `page.next_cursor` from the previous response. Keep every other parameter the same (limit, max_age and fields may change); anything else that differs is rejected. When `page.has_more` is `false` you have every item.
- **Order**: Most impressions first
- **Page size**: Up to 10 ads (the default; `limit` lowers it)
- **Cursor lifetime**: 1 hour; don't store cursors
- **Price**: Per page, 1 credit
### The `page` object
| Field | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `page.has_more` | `boolean` | True when another page exists; then next_cursor is set. An empty page with has_more true is not the end. |
| `page.next_cursor` | `string` or `null` | Pass as cursor, with the same other parameters, to get the next page; null at the end. |
| `page.next_cursor_expires_at` | `string` (date-time) or `null` | When next_cursor stops working, RFC 3339 UTC; null at the end. Don't store cursors. |
| `page.end_reason` | `string` or `null` | Why there are no more pages; null while has_more is true. end: the list ended, or reached since/until. platform_limit: the platform stops serving further pages although the list goes on. max_pages: SocialTap's cap on pages in one walk. New values may be added. A short or empty page is not the end: only has_more false is.
One of `end`, `platform_limit`, `max_pages` |
### Next page
cURL: next page:
```shell
curl -G 'https://staging.socialtap.dev/v1/facebook/search_ads' \
--data-urlencode 'country=US' \
--data-urlencode 'query=coffee' \
--data-urlencode 'status=all' \
--data-urlencode 'cursor=c1.EXAMPLE_CURSOR' \
-H "x-api-key: $SOCIALTAP_API_KEY"
```
- The price is per page: each successful page costs the same, whatever `limit` is and however many items it has. Empty pages are charged too (an empty page with `has_more: true` is not the end).
- A `limit` below 10 doesn't save credits: the next request serves the rest of the same platform page, which is fetched again and charged as a page each time, and items can shift between those requests if the platform changes the list. Omitting `limit` is the cheapest way to walk the list.
- Errors are free, including a rejected cursor.
- Pages served from the cache are free.
- An expired or altered cursor, or one sent with different parameters, fails with [`invalid_cursor`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_cursor) (HTTP 400): Repeat the original request without cursor to start the list again.
[Pagination guide](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/pagination/index.md)
## Pricing
You pay per successful page: every page costs the same whatever its number of items, empty pages included. Errors are free. The price depends on which source produced the result, reported as `meta.source`.
| Source | Price per successful page | Per 1,000 pages |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Platform API `api` | 1 credit | $0.50–$0.80 |
| meta.source | Source | What it means |
| --- | --- | --- |
| `api` | Platform API | The platform's public, logged-out API. |
Your balance must be at least **1 credit** to start a request; with less, it is refused with [`insufficient_credits`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) (HTTP 402) and costs nothing. Only that minimum is set aside when the request starts.
`meta.credits_charged` and the `x-credits-charged` header show what you paid. [How credits work](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/credits/index.md) · [Packs](https://staging.socialtap.dev/pricing/index.md)
## Errors
Errors cost nothing. Codes marked “Yes, later” under Retry can succeed on a later attempt; the others return the same answer every time.
| Code | HTTP | Retry | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `invalid_input` | 400 | No | The request parameters are missing or malformed, or the URL is not a supported link for this endpoint. | Fix the parameter named in param (the message says how); for a link of the wrong kind, call the endpoint the message names. |
| `invalid_cursor` | 400 | No | The cursor is malformed, expired, belongs to another endpoint, or the other parameters differ from the request that issued it. | Repeat the original request without cursor to start the list again. |
| `unauthorized` | 401 | No | The x-api-key header is missing, unknown or revoked (or, on the dashboard's routes, the session cookie is missing or expired). | Send a valid API key in the x-api-key header; without one, get a key at details.signup_url (AI agents: POST details.agent_signup_url). |
| `forbidden` | 403 | No | The API key is valid but may not make this request: its account is suspended, its scopes do not include the route, it is waiting for its owner's email confirmation, it is past its expiry, or the request came from an IP its allowlist does not include. | Do what details.reason says: if suspended, contact support; otherwise use a key whose scopes cover the route (details.required_scope), have the owner confirm the emailed link, create a new key, or call from an allowed IP. |
| `insufficient_credits` | 402 | No | The account does not have enough credits for this request. | Buy a credit pack, then repeat the request; do not retry automatically. |
| `spend_limit_reached` | 402 | No | The API key reached its spend limit for the current period; the account may still have credits. | Wait until details.resets_at or raise the key's spend limit (PATCH /v1/api_keys/{id}); do not retry automatically. |
| `rate_limited` | 429 | Yes, later | The account exceeded its runaway-protection ceiling: plans do not limit request rate, but a high per-account safety ceiling stops broken client loops. Support raises it on request. | Wait for the number of seconds in the retry-after header, then retry; ask support to raise the ceiling if your sustained traffic needs more. |
| `not_found` | 404 | No | The item does not exist or was deleted. | Check the URL or ID; do not retry. |
| `upstream_blocked` | 503 | Yes, later | The platform refused every attempt. | Retry later with backoff; failed requests are free. |
| `upstream_error` | 502 | Yes, later | The platform failed or returned something unexpected. | Retry with backoff; failed requests are free. |
| `overloaded` | 503 | Yes, later | SocialTap was momentarily at capacity and did not start the request: nothing was fetched or charged. | Retry after the number of seconds in the retry-after header; failed requests are free. |
| `internal` | 500 | Yes, later | Unexpected SocialTap error. | Retry with backoff; contact support with the request_id if it persists. |
not_found are item-level: the request was fine, the item can't be returned.
## Test mode
A key starting with `st_test_` gets recorded responses, free and the same every time ([test mode](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/test-mode/index.md)). These inputs return their recording; any other input returns the example above.
| Input | Answer |
| --- | --- |
| `groceries delivered`
with status=all | 200 OK |
| `coffee`
with country=US status=all Default | 200 OK |
| `"cold brew"`
with country=US status=active | 200 OK |
| `coffee`
with country=US since=2026-09-01T00:00:00Z status=all until=2026-10-01T00:00:00Z | 200 OK |
| `coffee`
with country=GB status=inactive | 200 OK |
| `zzqxjvbnmqwplkk`
with country=US status=all | 200 OK |
| `コーヒー`
with country=JP status=all | 200 OK |
| `voting information center`
with country=US status=all | 200 OK |
| `running shoes`
with since=2026-10-01T00:00:00Z status=all | 200 OK |
| `espresso`
with country=XX status=all | 400 [`invalid_input`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input) |
Magic inputs: send one of these as `query` to get that error.
| Error | Value |
| --- | --- |
| [`invalid_input`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_input) | `socialtap_test_invalid_input` |
| [`invalid_cursor`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#invalid_cursor) | `socialtap_test_invalid_cursor` |
| [`insufficient_credits`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#insufficient_credits) | `socialtap_test_insufficient_credits` |
| [`spend_limit_reached`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#spend_limit_reached) | `socialtap_test_spend_limit_reached` |
| [`rate_limited`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#rate_limited) | `socialtap_test_rate_limited` |
| [`not_found`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#not_found) | `socialtap_test_not_found` |
| [`upstream_blocked`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_blocked) | `socialtap_test_upstream_blocked` |
| [`upstream_error`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#upstream_error) | `socialtap_test_upstream_error` |
| [`overloaded`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#overloaded) | `socialtap_test_overloaded` |
| [`internal`](https://staging.socialtap.dev/docs/errors/index.md#internal) | `socialtap_test_internal` |
## FAQ
**How do I search for an exact phrase?**
Wrap the query in double quotes, for example "cold brew"; without quotes every word must appear, in any order.
**Which ads does it find?**
Every ad in Meta's public Ad Library whose text matches the query: active and inactive ads on all of Meta's apps, from any advertiser.
**How much does the Facebook Ad Library Search API cost?**
1 credit for platform api results (meta.source = api) per page of up to 10 items, charged for every successful page, empty pages included. SocialTap credits cost $0.50–$0.80 per 1,000 depending on the pack.
**How do I get the next page?**
Repeat the same request with cursor set to page.next_cursor from the previous response, keeping the other parameters. When page.has_more is false there are no more items. Cursors expire after 1 hour.
**Am I charged for failed requests?**
No. Requests that return an error cost 0 credits. Responses served from the cache are free too.
## Related
### More Facebook endpoints
- [Facebook Video Transcript API](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/facebook/transcript/index.md): Facebook video transcript (From 1 credit · `GET /v1/facebook/transcript`)
---
[HTML version](https://staging.socialtap.dev/apis/facebook/search_ads/) · [Docs index for AI agents](https://staging.socialtap.dev/llms.txt) · [All docs in one file](https://staging.socialtap.dev/llms-full.txt)