AdSpy is Tolstoy’s built-in competitor ad research tool. It helps merchants search public Meta ads by brand or keyword, track competitor brands over time, and spot winning hooks, offers, products, and creative formats to inspire their own campaigns. There is no separate connector to install, and you do not need to connect a Meta ad account just to search ads. AdSpy is built into Tolstoy, but workspace access may depend on your current plan. AdSpy itself does not have a publishing step.
How to Set Up
There is no separate setup required for AdSpy.
Go to Ads > Get Started > Click Start from competitor.
Use the search bar to enter a brand name or keyword.
Select a brand to view its active ads.
Click Spy if you want to track that brand over time.
Open any ad to review its details, save it, or use Recreate ad to turn it into a new Studio workflow.
How to Publish
AdSpy is a research tool, so there is nothing to publish directly from AdSpy.
If you use Recreate ad, Tolstoy sends that ad into Studio so you can adapt it for your brand. From there, publishing happens in the next workflow or destination you choose, not inside AdSpy itself.
Best Practices
Search by both brand name and category keyword to find more useful competitor patterns.
Track a few direct competitors so you can compare repeated messaging and formats over time.
Save strong ads before recreating them in Studio.
Use AdSpy to look for patterns, not just one winning ad.
Troubleshooting / FAQs
Do I need to connect Meta Ads to use AdSpy?
No. AdSpy can search the public Meta Ad Library without a connected Meta ad account.
Why can’t I find the brand I’m looking for?
Try the exact Facebook page name, a broader brand term, or a keyword related to the product category.
Why am I seeing limited or no results?
Some brands may have fewer active ads, or your keyword may be too narrow. Try a broader search.
Why did “Recreate ad” fail?
Sometimes source ad media expires. Refresh the AdSpy results and try again.
Why can’t I refresh again right away?
AdSpy may temporarily limit refreshes. Wait a few minutes, then try again.
Where do I publish an ad after recreating it?
Publish it from the next tool you use, such as Studio or your connected ad/channel workflow. AdSpy itself does not publish content.