TikTok Ads Library: scrapers and the official API, compared

Route map

Each line is one way to get TikTok Ads Library data; each stop is a field you probably need. Green lines are catalogue Actors, ranked by the published formula.

Field matrix: who returns what

Every tool with a published output schema, against the 5 fields most TikTok Ads Library jobs need. A dot means the field name appears in the schema; rows can still leave it empty.

Field dictionary: the exact keys

The same core field has a different key in each Actor's output. Map these before you merge datasets; a dash means the published schema has no matching key. Need a field that is not listed here, such as email? Search every TikTok Ads Library Actor by field.

Download this comparison: CSV · JSON (every tool with a published schema, matching keys per core field, price and score).

All 10 tools, scored

Catalogue Actors link to their detail pages; the score (0 to 100) is the published formula, identical for every tool. Other Store tools follow in their own table, for reference. Price is the published primary-result rate per 1,000 (the Free-plan rate where the price is tiered; higher Apify plans pay less); start events and platform usage are excluded.

Other Store tools, for reference

Scored with the same published formula and listed for comparison only; this site does not link or recommend them.

What to check before you choose

Teams use TikTok advertising transparency records to study advertiser activity, compare creative themes and examine reported reach. Keeping the source and record type with each ad helps preserve context when combining results. Approved research access suits work that meets the official eligibility and permitted-use requirements. A scraping route needs closer inspection of the library it covers and whether its output supports creative research, reach analysis or both.

Checklist

• Check source and recordType before combining results; confirm which library and record categories the Store listing covers.
• Distinguish adImpressions from adImpressionsMin and adImpressionsMax, and confirm how the tool represents reported reach.
• For creative research, check whether adTitle and adUrl are sufficient; the published schema does not explicitly list a market column or direct media URL.

Where the data is incomplete

The published schema also does not explicitly identify a market column, so geographic coverage needs confirmation before comparing markets.

Check missing values and the meaning of impression ranges before comparing advertiser performance.

Official API route

Terms and personal data

Check TikTok's terms and the permitted uses attached to the relevant transparency or research product before collecting or reusing records. This is general information, not legal advice.

Read TikTok Ads Library's terms. Keep to public data, do not bypass logins or access controls, and check whether personal data is involved before you collect it. The can-I-scrape checklist walks through it.

How to start

1. Choose a narrow supported query and keep the initial search focused on the record category you need.
2. Review source, recordType, advertiser identity, dates and available creative links in the resulting dataset before collecting a broader sample.

Call TikTok DSA Ads Transparency Library Scraper from code

The example input uses the Actor's published defaults; set your own TikTok Ads Library query before you run it. You need an Apify API token.

from apify_client import ApifyClient

client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>")
run_input = {
    "mode": "library",
    "keyword": "Nike",
    "adIds": [],
    "startUrls": [],
    "region": "DE",
    "sortBy": "last_shown_date,desc",
    "adType": "all",
    "adStatus": "active",
    "age": [],
    "gender": "all",
    "uniqueReach": "all",
    "exactPhrase": False,
    "includeDetails": False,
    "countOnly": False,
    "maxItems": 3,
    "ccCountry": "US",
    "ccPeriod": "30",
    "ccOrderBy": "for_you",
    "ccObjective": "all",
    "ccIndustry": "all",
    "ccLanguage": "all",
    "ccSweep": False,
    "ccIncludeDetails": False
}

run = client.actor("vexaloom-labs/tiktok-dsa-ads-transparency-library-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)
if run is None:
    raise RuntimeError("The Actor run was not found.")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

import { ApifyClient } from "apify-client";

const client = new ApifyClient({ token: "<YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>" });
const input = {
    "mode": "library",
    "keyword": "Nike",
    "adIds": [],
    "startUrls": [],
    "region": "DE",
    "sortBy": "last_shown_date,desc",
    "adType": "all",
    "adStatus": "active",
    "age": [],
    "gender": "all",
    "uniqueReach": "all",
    "exactPhrase": false,
    "includeDetails": false,
    "countOnly": false,
    "maxItems": 3,
    "ccCountry": "US",
    "ccPeriod": "30",
    "ccOrderBy": "for_you",
    "ccObjective": "all",
    "ccIndustry": "all",
    "ccLanguage": "all",
    "ccSweep": false,
    "ccIncludeDetails": false
};

const run = await client.actor("vexaloom-labs/tiktok-dsa-ads-transparency-library-scraper").call(input);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
console.log(items);

curl -X POST "https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/vexaloom-labs~tiktok-dsa-ads-transparency-library-scraper/run-sync-get-dataset-items"   -H "Authorization: Bearer $APIFY_TOKEN"   -H "Content-Type: application/json"   -d '{"mode":"library","keyword":"Nike","adIds":[],"startUrls":[],"region":"DE","sortBy":"last_shown_date,desc","adType":"all","adStatus":"active","age":[],"gender":"all","uniqueReach":"all","exactPhrase":false,"includeDetails":false,"countOnly":false,"maxItems":3,"ccCountry":"US","ccPeriod":"30","ccOrderBy":"for_you","ccObjective":"all","ccIndustry":"all","ccLanguage":"all","ccSweep":false,"ccIncludeDetails":false}'

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apify": {
      "url": "https://mcp.apify.com?tools=vexaloom-labs/tiktok-dsa-ads-transparency-library-scraper",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <YOUR_APIFY_TOKEN>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Questions people ask

More on TikTok Ads Library

• Topic groupSearch and ads data: every website compared
• ToolWhich TikTok Ads Library route fits your job?
• ToolTikTok Ads Library cost by Apify plan, rows and runs

Related websites

• TikTok17 Actors
• Meta Ad Library2 Actors
• Snapchat13 Actors

Sources

• TikTok DSA Ads Transparency Library Scraper on Apify Store
• TikTok Commercial Content Library / Research API documentation
• TikTok Ads Library terms