---
title: Researching competitors' app ads (Meta Ads Library, SocialPeta)
slug: competitor-ad-research-for-apps
summary: How to find long-running (i.e. profitable) competitor app ads in Meta Ads Library and SocialPeta, what to log for each, and how to read competitors' channel mix and creative patterns.
domain: mobile-apps
tags: [user-acquisition, ad-creative, competitor-research, meta-ads, tools]
related: [app-ad-creative-concepts, paid-social-creative-testing-framework, meta-ads-readiness-checklist]
sources: [yt:2jH64ziB7uM, yt:WaOrPQVLz08]
updated: 2026-10-23
---

# Researching competitors' app ads

## TL;DR
- **Longevity = signal.** An ad running for months is probably profitable — study those first.[^1]
- Free: **Meta Ads Library** (all ads → advertiser → active ads, sorted by impressions).[^1]
- Paid: **SocialPeta** — cross-network view (Meta, YouTube/Google, Apple Ads…), weekly trending creatives, competitors' **channel and country spend mix**, AI video breakdown.[^2][^3]
- Research direct competitors **and** complementary apps / apps with the same audience.[^4][^5]
- Log each ad: start date, hook, demo, end card.[^4]

## Details
**Meta Ads Library walkthrough (Oct 2026):** search the advertiser (Steve used Cal AI) → active ads, sorted by impressions → find ads started long ago (one had run since June 3, ~4 months) → "See summary" and watch.[^1] That Cal AI ad was 9 seconds: hook "best way to track calories" with food, app in use, App Store end card.[^6]

**What to save:** for a calorie tracker, also look at MyFitnessPal or Strava. Note the hook and the audience problem, the demo, the start date, and the end slide with App Store badge.[^4]

**SocialPeta features Steve uses (Sep 2026, sponsored):**[^2][^3]
- *Advertisers → Top advertisers* — who spends most; short-drama apps dominated, a sign that category is ad-driven, not ASO-driven.[^7]
- *Ad creatives → Weekly trending* — top 1%/10% creatives per week by creative score; filter by country, OS, network (e.g. YouTube).[^8]
- *Display ads tool* — filter category (Health & Fitness), country, iOS; sort by impression share / duration; download video and cover.[^9]
- *Advertiser analysis → channel analysis* — e.g. ~90% of Cal AI's spend on Meta, a little on Apple Ads, ~60% in the US (last 30 days).[^10]
- *Creative analysis* — video vs image share; most-used copy phrases (Cal AI: "time", "limited time", "free trial").[^11]
- *AI tools → Video analysis* — upload a downloaded ad, get hook/structure breakdown (see [[app-ad-creative-concepts]]).[^12]

**Adjacent audiences.** If your audience overlaps (e.g. women 30–40s, the short-drama audience), mine that category for hooks even if you're a fitness app.[^5]

## Disagreements / caveats
- SocialPeta sponsored the video; Meta Ads Library covers most needs for Meta-only advertisers.
- Long run time ≠ guaranteed profit; it's a heuristic.

## See also
- [[app-ad-creative-concepts]]
- [[paid-social-creative-testing-framework]]

[^1]: yt:2jH64ziB7uM @ 12:38 — Steve P. Young
[^2]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 06:06 — Steve P. Young
[^3]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 07:00 — Steve P. Young
[^4]: yt:2jH64ziB7uM @ 14:28 — Steve P. Young
[^5]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 07:00 — Steve P. Young
[^6]: yt:2jH64ziB7uM @ 13:30 — Steve P. Young
[^7]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 06:06 — Steve P. Young
[^8]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 08:35 — Steve P. Young
[^9]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 10:13 — Steve P. Young
[^10]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 12:07 — Steve P. Young
[^11]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 13:11 — Steve P. Young
[^12]: yt:WaOrPQVLz08 @ 14:22 — Steve P. Young