The Proxy Blog

Guides and playbooks for researching competitor ads across Meta, Google, LinkedIn, and TikTok, inside the AI tools you already use.

Ad Strategy

Can You Use a Competitor's Logo in Your Ad? (2026)

Can you use a competitor's logo in your ad? Usually no, it's a trademark, and the law and ad platforms both restrict it. The one exception, explained.

July 28, 2026·10 min read
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Ad Strategy

How to block competitors ads without wasting your budget

The honest answer to how to block competitors' ads: you can't delete their ad, but you can stop their clicks, guard your placements, and defend your brand.

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Ad Libraries

How to use the Meta Ad Library to check competitor ads

Learn how to use the Meta Ad Library to check competitor ads: every search mode, filter, and the honest limits, plus a faster way to pull them with AI.

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Competitor Research

Which AI Ad Generator Offers the Best Competitor Analysis?

Which AI ad generator offers the best competitor analysis? Honestly none alone, so pair a generator with a tool like Proxy to read rivals' live ads.

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Competitor Research

How to Monitor Competitor Ads and Promotions (2026)

The fastest way to monitor competitor ads and promotions is a weekly cadence across the Meta, Google, and LinkedIn ad libraries. Here's the free system.

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Ad Strategy

How to Target Competitor Audiences on Google Ads (2026)

Yes, you can target competitor audiences on Google Ads. Use custom segments, YouTube placements, and brand bidding. Here's the current, correct setup.

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Competitor Research

How to See Competitors' Google Ads Keywords (Free & Paid)

You can't see competitors' Google Ads keywords exactly, but you can get close. Here are the real estimator tools, free Google signals, and the fastest AI way.

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Competitor Research

How to Do Competitor Analysis in Google Ads (Free Guide)

Do competitor analysis in Google Ads the free-first way: read Auction Insights right, pull rivals' live ads, and see why spend numbers are only estimates.

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Ad Strategy

Can you mention competitors in ads? What's legal and what gets you sued

Yes, you can mention competitors in ads in the US, within limits. The truthfulness, trademark, Google, and Meta rules that keep you out of a lawsuit.

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Ad Strategy

How to Target a Competitor's Audience on Facebook Ads

You can't target a competitor's audience on Facebook ads directly, but lookalikes, interest proxies, and broad creative reach the same buyers. Here's how.

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Ad Strategy

How to Check Competitors' Google Ads Budget (Free)

Can you see a competitor's exact Google Ads budget? No, but you can estimate it free. Here's the honest method to check a rival's Google Ads spend.

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Ad Strategy

Can you use competitor brand keywords in Google Ads? Yes, with one big caveat

Yes, you can bid on competitor brand keywords in Google Ads, but not use their trademark in your ad copy. The rule, the cost, exceptions, and 2025 change.

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Competitor Research

How to Spy on Competitors Ads: Free 2026 Guide

Want a competitor's live ads across Meta, Google, and LinkedIn free? Here's the manual method, what the libraries can't show, and a faster way to spy.

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Competitor Research

How to Check Competitors' Google Ads (Free and Fast)

The fastest way to check competitors' Google ads free is the Google Ads Transparency Center. See any rival's live ads in minutes, plus an even faster way.

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Competitor Research

How to See Competitors Facebook Ads: 6 Steps (Free)

See competitors' Facebook ads free in the Meta Ad Library in 6 steps. Then a faster way to pull the live ads and hook breakdown inside your AI chat.

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Competitor Research

How to Spy on Competitors' Google Display Ads (Free)

Spy on competitors' Google display ads free in the Ads Transparency Center. See what it can't show you, then pull the creatives faster in your AI chat.

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Competitor Research

How to See Competitors’ LinkedIn Ads (Free, No Login)

See competitors' LinkedIn ads free in the LinkedIn Ad Library, no login. Here's the method, what it hides (spend, targeting), and a faster way to check.

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Competitor Research

How to See Competitor Instagram Ads: Free, No Login

Competitor Instagram ads live in the free Meta Ad Library, no login. See any brand's active ads step by step, plus a faster free way to read them all.

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Competitor Research

How to See Competitors’ YouTube Ads (Free, 5 Steps)

Competitor YouTube ads live in the free Google Ads Transparency Center. Find any brand's in 5 steps, plus a faster way to read every video ad in minutes.

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Meta

Instagram Ad Library: How to Find Any Brand's Ads (Free)

There's no separate Instagram ad library. Instagram ads live in the free Meta Ad Library, no login needed. See any brand's live ads in under a minute.

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Meta

How to Use the Facebook Ad Library: 6 Steps (Free)

Learn how to use the Facebook Ad Library to find a competitor's live ads free, no login. See exactly what data you can pull in 6 steps, plus a faster way.

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Google

Google Ads Transparency Center: How to See Rival Ads

Use the Google Ads Transparency Center to pull a competitor's live ads free. See what it shows, what it hides, and a faster way to read them all.

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Meta

How to set up a Meta Ads MCP in Claude or ChatGPT (2026)

What does a Meta Ads MCP do, and how do you set one up in Claude or ChatGPT? The official-vs-third-party map, install steps, and the ban-risk answer.

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