Competitor Ad Analysis

Playad lets you browse competitor ads across platforms, follow specific advertiser accounts, save references you want to revisit, and move directly from a competitor example into a creation conversation. The workflow runs across two features: Inspiration handles discovery and saving, and Chat handles research questions and creative direction.

What you can do

Follow competitor accounts

In Inspiration, open the Following tab and use Manage Competitors to search for a competitor by name, select the matching advertiser account, and save it. Playad keeps that account's ads refreshed so new creative appears as it becomes available.

Browse competitor ads by platform

After selecting a competitor in Following, choose a platform to filter the feed to that advertiser's ads on a specific channel. This lets you focus on the exact placements relevant to your own campaigns.

Search ads by keyword

Enter a keyword in the Following tab to search across ads by message or theme instead of by advertiser. Keyword search and competitor selection are separate modes — entering a keyword clears any selected competitors, and vice versa.

Save competitor references

Use the Save action on any ad or its detail view to store it in the Inspired tab. Ads with multiple media items let you save individual assets or all at once. Saved references remain accessible even when live discovery previews are restricted by your plan.

Clone a competitor ad into a new brief

When Clone or Clone this ad is available on a saved reference, selecting it opens Chat with that ad as context and a prompt to create an equivalent ad for your brand. Image references guide style and layout; video references guide scene structure, pacing, and framing. Google video ad cloning is not supported.

Ask Chat for competitor research

In Chat, use the Research suggested task or write a specific request such as asking Chat to summarize the creative patterns visible in saved competitor references. Chat can also answer questions about how to use Inspiration controls or interpret what you are seeing.

How it works

1. Open Inspiration and select your brand

Select the correct team and brand from the sidebar, then open Inspiration. This ensures any saved references and competitor selections are stored under the right brand context.

2. Add competitors in the Following tab

Go to the Following tab and choose Manage Competitors. Search for the competitor by name, select the advertiser account that matches, and save it. Your plan may limit how many competitors you can follow at once.

3. Browse and filter competitor ads

With a competitor selected, choose a platform to narrow the feed. Review the ad creative and available advertiser details by opening individual ads. If no results appear, check that the selected competitor has active ads on the chosen platform.

4. Save references you want to reuse

Use the Save action on ads you find useful. Saved items move to the Inspired tab. Open Inspired at any time to preview saved references, upload a reference from your device using Upload New, or remove items you no longer need.

5. Clone a reference or ask Chat to analyze

From a saved reference, choose Clone or Clone this ad to open Chat with that creative as a starting point. Alternatively, open a New Chat, select the Research suggested task, and describe the competitive question you want answered.

6. Review and refine in Chat

In the Chat conversation, review the proposed direction and answer any questions the assistant raises. Use follow-up messages to specify what to keep from the reference, what to change, and who the intended audience is before proceeding to generation.

Using Playad: product screens

Example request

Look at the competitor ads I have saved in Inspired and summarize the main creative patterns — what hooks, formats, and calls to action appear most often.

Hypothetical example: a fitness brand reviewing competitor video ads

Illustrative example — not a product screenshot or customer result

A marketing manager opens Following, adds two competing fitness brands as followed competitors, selects a video platform, and browses the refreshed feed. They save three video ads that use a before-and-after structure.

They open one saved reference in Inspired, choose Clone this ad, and Chat opens with the video as context. The manager types: 'Create a 15-second video ad for our brand using a similar scene structure, but focused on our 30-day trial offer instead.' Chat proposes a flow and the manager reviews the Flow Preview before continuing.

Before you start

Google video ad cloning is not supported by the Clone action.

Available clone actions depend on the reference media type and provider — not all saved ads include a Clone option.

Keyword search and competitor selection in Following are mutually exclusive; entering a keyword clears selected competitors.

Your plan may limit the number of competitors you can follow simultaneously.

Inspiration shows available ads from connected sources; a competitor with no active ads on a selected platform will return no results.

Saved references are inputs for creative direction and are separate from final output files found in Creations.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I add a competitor to follow in Playad?

Open Inspiration, go to the Following tab, and choose Manage Competitors. Search for the competitor by name, select the matching advertiser account from the results, and save it. Playad then keeps that account's ads refreshed in your Following feed.

Can I search competitor ads by topic rather than by advertiser name?

Yes. In the Following tab, enter a keyword in the search field to find ads by message or theme. Note that entering a keyword clears any selected competitors, and selecting competitors clears the keyword — the two modes work separately.

What happens when I clone a competitor ad?

Choosing Clone or Clone this ad on a supported reference opens a Chat conversation with that ad as context and a prompt to create an equivalent ad for your brand. Image references guide style and layout; video references guide scene structure, pacing, and framing. The conversation does not publish an ad — you review and direct the output before any generation.

Are there limits on how many competitors I can follow?

Yes. Your plan may limit the number of competitor accounts you can follow at the same time. Check your current plan for the specific limit.

What if a competitor shows no ads in the Following feed?

If no results appear, verify that the selected competitor account is correct, check whether you have a platform selected that the competitor uses, and review any active filters. A competitor may simply not have matching ads for the current platform or filter combination.

Can I save a competitor ad and access it later even if I lose access to that discovery feed?

Yes. Once saved, references appear in the Inspired tab and remain accessible even when the live discovery preview is restricted by your plan. You can also add your own references using Upload New in Inspired.

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