10 Best PPC Spying Tools for Competitor Analysis

Introduction 

A recent study shows that PPC advertising gives an average return on investment (ROI) of 200%. This high return is why PPC spy tools are very important. Every advertiser wants to know how much their competitors are spending. These days, you can’t hide anything.

With PPC spy tools, you can find out which keywords your competitors are bidding on, what their ads look like, and even estimate their budget.

In simple terms, there are no secrets anymore. In this blog post, I will talk about 15 tools you can use to learn everything about your competitors. 

Benefits of using PPC spying tools 

PPC spying tools provide valuable insights and data that can help you refine and improve your advertising efforts. Here are five benefits of using PPC spying tools: 

• Competitor insights 
• Keyword ideas 
• Ad copy inspiration 
• Cost management 
• Trend identification 

1. Competitor insights

PPC spying tools let you see what your competitors are doing with their ads. You can check which keywords they use and how their ads look. This helps you understand their strategies and find ways to improve your own ads by learning from what they do right or wrong.

2. Keyword ideas

These tools show you successful keywords that other businesses are using. By finding these good keywords, you can add them to your own ads. This helps bring more relevant visitors to your site and increases the chances of getting more customers. It also saves you time from doing a lot of keyword research yourself.

3. Ad copy inspiration

Good ad copy is important to attract clicks and customers. PPC spying tools let you see which ad copies are working well for others. This gives you ideas for writing your own ads. By seeing which headlines, descriptions, and calls to action work well, you can make your ads more appealing and effective.

4. Cost management

Managing costs well is crucial in PPC advertising. PPC spying tools help you find the best keywords and ads used by your competitors. This helps you spend your money more wisely by focusing on what works best. You can avoid wasting money on keywords that don’t work and invest in those that do, getting better results for your budget.

5. Trend identification 

Staying updated with the latest trends in your industry is very important. PPC spying tools let you see what’s currently popular and effective in advertising. This helps you adjust your strategy to match the latest trends and keep your ads relevant. By staying ahead of the curve, you can ensure your ads remain effective and competitive. 

10 Best PPC spying tools for competitor analysis 

Spy on your competitors with these top 15 PPC spying tools that can give you the edge you need: 

• Google Ads Account 
• SpyFu 
• SEMrush 
• Serpstat 
• Ahrefs 
• SimilarWeb 
• WooRank 
• BuiltWith 
• Crayon 
• SE Ranking 

1. Google Ads Account 

Your Google Ads account is the primary tool for PPC management. By analyzing your own performance data, you can gain insights into what’s working and what needs improvement. It also provides Auction Insights to see how you compare with competitors.

Features

• Performance data analysis: Provides detailed insights into your ad performance, helping you understand what works and what doesn’t.
• Auction insights: Allows you to compare your performance with that of your competitors.
• Keyword planner: Helps in finding new keywords and getting search volume and forecasts.
• Ad customization: Offers a variety of ad formats and customization options.

Why is it best?

• Direct access to Google’s data.
• Essential for managing and optimizing PPC campaigns.
• Real-time performance tracking and adjustment capabilities.

Cost

• Free to create an account.
• Paid based on your ad spend. Costs vary depending on the bidding strategy and competition.

2. SpyFu 

SpyFu allows you to see the keywords your competitors are buying on Google Ads. It provides detailed reports on their ad spend, keywords, and the ad copy they are using. This tool is excellent for uncovering the strategies of your competitors. 

Features

• Competitor keyword analysis: See the keywords your competitors are buying on Google Ads.
• Ad spend reports: Detailed reports on competitors’ ad spend and ad copy.
• Backlink analysis: Uncover competitors’ backlink strategies.

Why is it best? 

• Provides a comprehensive look into competitors’ PPC strategies.
• Helps identify profitable keywords and ad copy ideas.

Cost

• Plans start at $39/month.

3. SEMrush 

SEMrush is a comprehensive digital marketing tool that offers robust PPC competitor analysis features. It provides data on your competitors’ keywords, ad copy, and landing pages, helping you to refine your own PPC strategies. 

Features

• PPC competitor analysis: Data on competitors’ keywords, ad copy, and landing pages.
• Keyword research: Comprehensive keyword research tool.
• Advertising research: Insights into competitors’ ad strategies across various platforms.

Why is it best? 

• All-in-one tool for digital marketing.
• Robust data on both SEO and PPC.

Cost

• Plans start at $129.95/month.

4. Serpstat 

Serpstat is another powerful tool for PPC spying. It offers insights into your competitors’ keyword strategies and ad performance. You can use it to find the best-performing keywords and optimize your campaigns accordingly. 

Features 

• Keyword insights: Discover competitors’ keyword strategies and ad performance.
• Site audit: Perform a comprehensive audit of your website.
• Backlink analysis: Detailed backlink reports.

Why is it best? 

• Affordable and offers a wide range of features. 
• Useful for both SEO and PPC analysis.

Cost 

• Plans start at $69/month. 

5. Ahrefs 

Ahrefs is known for its SEO capabilities, but it also offers valuable PPC insights. By using Ahrefs, you can uncover your competitors’ paid search strategies, including their ad keywords and performance metrics. 

Features 

• PPC insights: Uncover competitors’ paid search strategies.
• Keyword explorer: Find profitable keywords for your campaigns.
• Site explorer: Analyze the organic and paid traffic of competitors.

Why is it best? 

• Known for accurate and comprehensive data.
• Combines SEO and PPC insights effectively.

Cost

• Plans start at $99/month.

6. SimilarWeb 

SimilarWeb provides a comprehensive view of your competitors’ online strategies, including their PPC activities. It offers data on traffic sources, top keywords, and more, helping you understand where your competitors are getting their traffic from. 

Features 

• Traffic analysis: Comprehensive view of competitors’ online strategies.
• Keyword insights: Data on top keywords and traffic sources.
• Industry benchmarks: Compare performance against industry standards.

Why is it best? 

• Provides a holistic view of competitors’ traffic sources.
• Valuable for strategic planning and benchmarking.

Cost

• Custom pricing based on needs; typically starts at around $200/month.

7. WooRank 

WooRank is an SEO and marketing tool that also provides PPC insights. It offers competitor analysis, allowing you to see which keywords your competitors are targeting and how their ads are performing. 

Features 

• PPC insights: Competitor analysis for PPC campaigns.
• Site optimization: Recommendations for improving website performance.
• SEO monitoring: Track SEO performance and keyword rankings.

Why is it best? 

• Combines SEO and PPC insights in one tool.
• Easy-to-use interface with actionable recommendations.

Cost

• Plans start at $79.99/month.

8. BuiltWith 

BuiltWith focuses on the technology stack of websites but can also be useful for PPC insights. By understanding the tools and platforms your competitors are using, you can gain a competitive edge in your PPC campaigns. 

Features 

• Technology stack analysis: Understand the tools and platforms competitors are using.
• Lead generation: Identify websites using specific technologies.
• Competitor tracking: Monitor changes in competitors’ technology stacks.

Why is it best? 

• Unique focus on technology stack insights.
• Useful for understanding competitors’ technical setups.

Cost

• Plans start at $295/month.

9. Crayon 

Crayon provides competitive intelligence across various digital channels, including PPC. It tracks competitors’ online activities, offering insights into their ad strategies, landing pages, and more. 

Features 

• Competitive intelligence: Track competitors’ online activities.
• Ad strategy insights: Detailed insights into competitors’ ad strategies and landing pages.
• Market analysis: Comprehensive market analysis and trends.

Why is it best? 

• In-depth competitive intelligence across digital channels.
• Helps in crafting better ad strategies based on competitors’ actions.

Cost

• Custom pricing based on needs; generally starts at around $2,000/year.

10. SE Ranking 

SE Ranking is a versatile tool for SEO and PPC analysis. It allows you to monitor competitors’ ad campaigns, analyze their keywords, and track their ad performance over time. 

Features

• PPC analysis: Monitor competitors’ ad campaigns and performance.
• Keyword tracking: Track keyword rankings and performance.
• Website audit: Comprehensive audits to improve site performance.

Why is it best?

• Versatile tool covering both SEO and PPC.
• Detailed insights into competitors’ strategies.

Cost 

• Plans start at $39/month.

Wrap up 

Enhance the impact of your research with these PPC spying tools. Keep in mind that what succeeds for your competitors might not suit your needs. Try out similar offers, designs, and ads to find out what appeals to your audience, then improve those ideas to make them even better.

It’s important not to become stagnant. Although tracking data can make you feel in control, the true benefit comes from taking practical steps based on that data.

At Revv Growth, we help businesses optimize their traffic sources and boost their conversion and sales rates. Get in touch with us today! 

FAQs 

1. What are PPC spying tools, and why are they important?

– PPC spying tools analyze competitors’ PPC campaigns, providing insights into keywords, ad copies, and strategy, crucial for optimizing your own campaigns and staying ahead.

2. How do PPC spying tools help improve my PPC campaigns?

– They offer competitor data on keywords, ad performance, and strategy, enabling better keyword selection, ad creation, and market positioning.

3. Are there any free PPC spying tools available, and how do they compare to paid ones?

– Free tools like Google’s Keyword Planner provide basic insights, but paid tools offer deeper data, advanced features, and better support.

4. What features should I look for in a PPC spying tool?

– Comprehensive keyword analysis, competitor ad insights, landing page analysis, historical data, integration, ease of use, reporting, and support.

5. Can PPC spying tools be used for other types of digital marketing analysis?

– Yes, tools like SEMrush and Ahrefs offer insights into SEO, content, social media, etc., aiding in overall digital marketing strategy development.