This isn’t just theory Nick Saraev built a fully automated FB Ad Spy Tool with n8n, and guess what? He’s selling similar systems for over $2,000. In this post, I’ll walk you through how it works, why it matters, and how you can set one up yourself.
Spoiler: It involves scraping Facebook’s Ad Library with Appify, analyzing video content with Gemini API, rewriting copy with GPT-4.5, and storing everything in Google Sheets. Pretty cool, right?
Let’s dive in!
Why Is the n8n Workflow for FB Ad Spy Tools Important?
If you're running ads or trying to compete in digital marketing, keeping an eye on your rivals is key. That’s where Facebook ad spy tools come into play. They help you see what’s working for others so you can adapt and improve.
But most commercial tools cost money, lock you into monthly fees, or limit your flexibility. That’s where n8n shines. As a node-based automation platform, it gives you full control over your data pipeline.
Here’s what makes the n8n workflow: FB Ad Spy Tool stand out:
- Fully automated from scraping to analysis
- Uses AI to rewrite and optimize ad copy
- Analyzes video content using Gemini API
- Stores structured data in Google Sheets
- Filters and routes data intelligently for accuracy
You’re not just copying ads you’re building a competitive intelligence engine that evolves with your needs. And thanks to n8n’s visual interface, even complex workflows become easy to manage.
How Does This FB Ad Spy Tool Work?
Let me break down how this system works based on Nick Saraev’s implementation. Here’s the general flow:
1. Scraping Facebook Ads with Appify
The first step is getting access to live Facebook ad data. The tool uses Appify, which acts as a browser-in-the-cloud to scrape Facebook’s Ad Library without triggering anti-bot measures.
In n8n, this is done by setting up a custom webhook that sends requests to Appify’s API. You can target specific keywords, domains, or competitors’ pages.
2. Categorizing Ad Types
Once the ads are scraped, the tool separates them into categories:
- Video ads
- Image ads
- Text-only ads
This helps in applying different analysis strategies depending on the format. For example, video ads get sent to Gemini API for detailed scene-by-scene breakdowns.
3. Rewriting Ad Copy with GPT-4.5
Next, the system sends the text portion of each ad to OpenAI’s GPT-4.5 for rewriting. The goal? To generate variations that maintain the original intent but may perform better with your audience.
This is super handy when you’re brainstorming new angles or A/B testing different messaging styles.
4. Storing Data in Google Sheets
All results from ad copy to video summaries get neatly stored in Google Sheets. Each row includes metadata like:
- Ad type
- Creative assets
- Original copy
- Rewritten copy
- Competitor name
- Timestamp
This makes it easy to sort, filter, and build dashboards later.
5. Intelligent Filtering and Dynamic Routing
One of the standout features is dynamic routing. Instead of dumping all data into one place, the n8n workflow routes ads based on performance signals, engagement metrics, or content quality.
For example, high-performing video ads might trigger a Slack alert or get flagged for deeper analysis.
Common Mistakes to Avoid with the n8N Workflow: FB Ad Spy Tool
Even though n8n is powerful, it’s easy to shoot yourself in the foot if you’re not careful. Here are some common mistakes I’ve seen (and made!) when building my own FB Ad Spy Tool:
Not Setting Up Rate Limits
Facebook doesn’t like bots, and neither do APIs like Appify. Make sure to add delays between requests and respect rate limits. Use n8n’s Wait node to space out your calls.
Hardcoding API Keys
Never expose sensitive keys in your workflow. Use n8n credentials or environment variables instead. Trust me you don’t want your OpenAI token leaked because you forgot to mask it.
Skipping Error Handling
Automated workflows fail it’s inevitable. Add Error nodes or fallback logic to handle timeouts, invalid responses, or missing fields gracefully.
Ignoring Legal and Ethical Boundaries
Just because you can scrape Facebook doesn’t mean you should. Always ensure you’re compliant with Facebook’s Terms of Service and data privacy laws. This tool is meant for ethical competitor research, not spamming or harassment.
Final Thoughts: Should You Build This FB Ad Spy Tool?
Absolutely especially if you're serious about advertising or helping clients win online. Building your own FB Ad Spy Tool with n8n gives you:
- Full control over data
- Customizable insights
- No recurring costs
- Scalability and flexibility
And the best part? There's a free template available via Gumroad to jumpstart your setup. So you don’t have to start from scratch.
If you're looking to monetize this, you can even package and sell your own version like Nick did for $2k+. Or offer customization services to agencies and marketers.
Want to Try It Yourself?
If you're ready to roll up your sleeves and start automating, here’s what you’ll need:
- n8n instance (local or hosted)
- Appify account for scraping
- OpenAI + Gemini API keys
- Google Sheets API access
- Optional: Hosting solution (like Docker or N8N Cloud)
I’d also recommend watching Nick Saraev’s YouTube walkthrough to see the tool in action before diving into your own build.
Finally
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Also, if you’ve built something cool with n8n, drop a comment below I’d love to hear about it! And if you found this helpful, go ahead and share it with a friend who’s into automation too 😄
