BigSpy is an excellent ad intelligence tool for marketers. With its extensive database, real-time tracking, and powerful analytics, it helps businesses monitor competitors, optimize ads, and discover trends. It’s an invaluable resource for improving ad performance across multiple platforms.
- Extensive ad database
- Real-time tracking
- Powerful analytics
- User-friendly interface
- Competitor insights
- Can be expensive
Price: $47/year
As a digital marketer running a small e-commerce business, I’m always on the lookout for tools that can give me an edge over the competition.
In the fast-paced world of online advertising, understanding what works—and what doesn’t—can make or break a campaign. That’s where BigSpy, an ad spy tool launched in 2018, entered my life.
After months of struggling with lackluster ad performance and spending hours manually scouring social media for inspiration, I stumbled across BigSpy.
With its promise of a massive ad database, multi-platform coverage, and affordable pricing, I was intrigued.
Below, I’ll share my detailed experience with BigSpy, from signing up to explaining its features, and explain why it’s become an indispensable part of my marketing toolkit.
I’ll also break down its pricing plans and recommend which ones suit different types of users, based on my journey and insights.
Discovering BigSpy: The Spark of Inspiration
My story with BigSpy began about six months ago when I was launching a new line of fitness apparel for my e-commerce store.
I’d been running ads on Facebook and Instagram, but my return on ad spend (ROAS) was dismal.
I knew I needed to understand what my competitors were doing differently, but manually scrolling through social media feeds or checking the Facebook Ad Library was time-consuming and inefficient.
A colleague recommended BigSpy, touting its ability to provide deep insights into competitor ad strategies across multiple platforms.
Intrigued by the idea of accessing over 1 billion ad creatives and spying on what was working for others, I decided to give it a try.
I started with BigSpy’s Free Plan, which costs $0 per month and offers limited access to its features. This was perfect for dipping my toes into the platform without committing financially.
The Free Plan allows 5 daily queries, 20 daily downloads, and the ability to switch industries up to three times per month, focusing solely on Facebook ads.
As a beginner, I found this plan a great way to explore BigSpy’s interface and get a feel for its capabilities. The user-friendly dashboard immediately caught my attention—it was clean, intuitive, and packed with search options.
I could filter ads by keywords, categories, countries, and even engagement metrics like likes and shares.
Within minutes, I was browsing fitness apparel ads from brands in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, analyzing their visuals and copywriting styles.
However, the Free Plan’s limitations quickly became apparent. With only 5 daily queries, I couldn’t dive deep into competitor strategies or explore multiple niches.
The inability to access other platforms like Instagram, TikTok, or YouTube was also a drawback, as I knew my target audience was active across these channels.
Still, the Free Plan gave me enough of a taste to see BigSpy’s potential, and I was hooked.
I decided to upgrade to the Pro Plan, which offered a 3-day trial for just $1—an absolute steal to test the full suite of features.
Diving Deep With the BigSpy’s Pro Plan
The Pro Plan, priced at $99 per month, unlocked a whole new world of possibilities.
It offers unlimited queries, 250 daily downloads, access to multiple platforms (including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, Yahoo, AdMob, and Unity), and advanced features like landing page insights and Facebook page tracking.
For me, this was a game-changer. Here’s how I used BigSpy’s features to transform my marketing campaigns:
1. Massive Ad Database and Multi-Platform Coverage
BigSpy’s claim of cataloging over 1 billion ad creatives across 9 major platforms isn’t just marketing hype—it’s real.
I could search for ads by entering keywords like “fitness leggings” or specific competitor brand names, and BigSpy would pull up thousands of relevant creatives.
For example, I found a competitor’s TikTok ad campaign featuring a short, engaging video showcasing their workout gear in action. The ad had high engagement, with thousands of likes and comments.
By analyzing the ad’s copy (“Move Freely, Feel Confident!”) and its vibrant visuals, I crafted a similar video ad for my brand, which boosted my click-through rate by 20%.
The multi-platform coverage was particularly valuable. My audience spans Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, and BigSpy allowed me to compare ad strategies across these channels.
I discovered that Instagram ads with carousel formats performed better for fashion brands, while TikTok’s short-form videos were ideal for capturing younger audiences.
This insight helped me allocate my ad budget more effectively.
2. Competitor Ad Tracking and Analysis
BigSpy’s competitor tracking feature is like having a spy in my rivals’ marketing departments.
I used the “Favorites” feature to track specific competitors’ Facebook pages and monitor their ad activity in real-time.
For instance, I noticed a competitor was running a limited-time discount campaign with a “Buy One, Get One Half-Price” offer.
By mimicking this strategy (with my own twist), I saw a 15% increase in conversions over two weeks.
BigSpy also provides detailed analytics, such as ad posting times, audience demographics, and engagement metrics, which helped me understand when and how my competitors were reaching their audiences.
3. Niche Market Research
One of BigSpy’s standout features is its ability to uncover niche market trends. I used the “Ad Ideas” feature to explore trending fitness products, filtering by social engagement and timeframes.
This led me to discover a rising trend in sustainable, eco-friendly workout gear.
I pivoted my campaign to highlight my brand’s use of recycled materials, which resonated strongly with my environmentally conscious audience and increased sales by 10%.
4. Creative Library and Inspiration
BigSpy’s Creative Library is a goldmine for inspiration. It curates daily selections of top-performing ads, which I used to spark ideas for my own campaigns.
For example, I found a high-performing ad with a minimalist design and a bold call-to-action (“Shop Now, Transform Your Workout!”).
I adapted this style for my Instagram ads, resulting in a cleaner, more professional look that boosted my brand’s credibility.
5 pre-order ad campaigns for my e-commerce store. The ability to analyze ad performance across 71 countries and 23 languages was also a huge plus, as I was planning to expand into international markets like the UK and Australia.
Challenges and Drawbacks
While BigSpy has been a game-changer, it’s not without its flaws. The Free Plan, while great for testing, is too restrictive for serious marketers.
With only 5 daily queries, it’s hard to conduct thorough research, and the lack of multi-platform access limits its usefulness.
Even with the Pro Plan, I occasionally encountered minor bugs, such as slow loading times when filtering large datasets.
The learning curve was also steeper than expected—new users might need a few hours to master the advanced filters and analytics.
Another drawback is the cost of higher-tier plans. The Pro Plan at $99/month is a significant investment for small businesses or solo entrepreneurs, and the VIP Enterprise Plan (starting at $2,000/year) is out of reach for most individuals.
Some advanced analytics, like predictive AI tools or influencer marketing insights, are missing, which competitors like Minea offer.
However, BigSpy’s comprehensive database and multi-platform coverage more than make up for these shortcomings for my needs.
BigSpy Pricing Plans: Which One Suits Whom?
BigSpy offers five pricing plans, each tailored to different user needs and budgets. Based on my experience, here’s a breakdown of each plan and who it’s best suited for:
1. Free Plan ($0/month)
Features: 5 daily queries, 20 daily downloads, Facebook-only access, 3 industry switches per month, page analysis.
Who It’s For: Beginners, casual users, or small businesses with limited budgets who want to test BigSpy’s interface and explore basic ad spying. This plan is ideal for those just starting out or running small-scale campaigns on Facebook. However, the limited queries and platform access make it unsuitable for in-depth research.
My Take: I started with the Free Plan to get a feel for BigSpy, and it was perfect for that purpose. It’s a great way to explore without committing, but serious marketers will quickly outgrow it.
2. Basic Plan ($9/month)
Features: 20 daily queries, 25 daily downloads, access to Facebook and Instagram ads, limited filtering options.
Who It’s For: Solo marketers, freelancers, or small e-commerce businesses with tight budgets who need more access than the Free Plan but don’t require advanced features. It’s great for those focused on Facebook and Instagram campaigns.
My Take: The Basic Plan is a cost-effective option for small-scale marketers, but the query and download limits can be restrictive if you’re analyzing multiple competitors or niches.
3. Pro Plan ($99/month)
Features: Unlimited queries, 250 daily downloads, access to 9 platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, TikTok, Yahoo, AdMob, Unity), landing page insights, Facebook page tracking, online support.
Who It’s For: Professional marketers, small to medium-sized businesses, or e-commerce sellers running multi-platform campaigns. This plan is ideal for those who need in-depth competitor analysis and creative inspiration across multiple channels.
My Take: This is the plan I use, and it’s been worth every penny. The unlimited queries and multi-platform access allowed me to scale my campaigns and optimize my ad creatives effectively. The $1 trial for 3 days is a fantastic way to test it out.
4. Group Plan ($249/month)
Features: Same as Pro Plan but with 5 user seats, making it ideal for collaborative research.
Who It’s For: Small marketing teams or agencies managing multiple client accounts. This plan is perfect for teams needing to share access and collaborate on ad strategies.
My Take: I haven’t used this plan, but I can see its value for agencies or teams. The cost is reasonable when split among multiple users, making it a cost-effective option for collaborative work.
5. VIP Enterprise Plan ($3,000+/year)
Features: Unlimited queries, downloads, and ad tracking across all platforms, multi-account seats, priority support, dedicated account managers, API access.
Who It’s For: Large agencies, corporations, or businesses with extensive ad budgets needing comprehensive ad intelligence and tailored support. This plan is best for those scaling campaigns globally or requiring advanced analytics.
My Take: This plan is overkill for my small business, but I can see why large firms would invest in it. The unlimited features and personalized support make it ideal for high-stakes campaigns.
Why BigSpy Stands Out?
What sets BigSpy apart from competitors like AdSpy or Minea is its balance of affordability, comprehensive coverage, and ease of use.
The platform’s massive database (over 1 billion ads) and support for 9 major platforms give it an edge over tools like AdSpy, which focuses primarily on Facebook and Instagram.
While Minea offers advanced store analytics and influencer marketing tools, BigSpy’s broader platform coverage and intuitive interface make it more versatile for multi-channel campaigns.
The user reviews I found online echo my experience—marketers praise BigSpy for saving time, boosting ROI, and providing actionable insights.
For example, one user noted, “BigSpy’s technology is a must-have tool for the advertising industry.
My UA team must create many high-quality ads to achieve a high ROI. BigSpy is an amazing tool with a reasonable price, comparing other tools.
SAVE MONEY & TIME, REACH HIGH ROI!” This resonates with me, as BigSpy has slashed the time I spend on market research and helped me craft ads that resonate with my audience.
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Final Thoughts: Is BigSpy Worth It?
After six months of using BigSpy, I can confidently say it’s transformed my approach to digital marketing.
From uncovering competitor strategies to finding creative inspiration, BigSpy has helped me boost my ad performance and stay ahead of market trends.
The Pro Plan, while a significant investment, has paid for itself through improved campaign results and time savings. For anyone serious about digital marketing, e-commerce, or content creation, BigSpy is a must-have tool.
If you’re a beginner or on a tight budget, start with the Free Plan to explore the platform. For solo marketers or small businesses, the Basic Plan offers a cost-effective entry point.
The Pro Plan is ideal for professionals needing in-depth insights, while the Group and VIP Enterprise Plans cater to teams and large organizations.
Visit BigSpy’s pricing page to choose the plan that fits your needs and start spying on winning ads today!
