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How to track competitor paid advertising on Ahrefs

intermediate 8 min read Updated 2026-03-30
Quick Answer

Track competitor paid advertising on Ahrefs by using the Site Explorer tool to analyze their PPC keywords, ad copy, and landing pages. Access the Paid Search section to view historical ad data, keyword performance, and advertising spend estimates.

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Prerequisites

  • Active Ahrefs subscription
  • Basic understanding of PPC advertising
  • Knowledge of competitor domains
  • Familiarity with Ahrefs interface

Step-by-Step Instructions

1

Access Site Explorer and enter competitor domain

Log into your Ahrefs account and navigate to Site Explorer from the main dashboard. Enter your competitor's domain in the search bar (without www or http) and click Search. Wait for Ahrefs to load the domain overview data.
Use the exact root domain for best results, such as 'example.com' rather than subdomains
2

Navigate to the Paid Search overview

In the left sidebar menu, click on Paid Search to expand the section. Select Overview to see the main PPC metrics including estimated monthly ad spend, number of paid keywords, and traffic volume. Review the Paid search positions chart to understand their advertising trends over time.
Check the data freshness indicator to ensure you're viewing recent advertising activity
3

Analyze paid keywords and positions

Click on Paid keywords in the Paid Search section. This shows all keywords your competitor is bidding on, along with their estimated Position, CPC, and Traffic volume. Use the filters to sort by Volume or CPC to identify their most valuable keywords. Export this data using the Export button for further analysis.
Focus on keywords with high volume and consistent positioning to identify their core advertising strategy
4

Review competitor ad copy and creatives

Navigate to Ads under the Paid Search section to view actual ad copies your competitor has used. Examine the Headline, Description, and Display URL for each ad. Note the First seen and Last seen dates to understand their campaign duration and testing patterns.
Look for recurring themes and messaging patterns across different ads to understand their value propositions
5

Examine landing pages and user experience

Click on Pages in the Paid Search section to see which landing pages receive paid traffic. Review the Traffic and Keywords columns to identify their highest-performing landing pages. Click the external link icon next to URLs to visit and analyze the actual landing pages.
Screenshot or save competitor landing pages as they may change frequently during campaign optimization
6

Track advertising spend and budget allocation

Return to the Paid Search Overview and examine the Estimated monthly traffic cost graph. Use the date range selector to analyze spending patterns over different time periods. Compare monthly variations to identify seasonal campaigns, budget changes, or market expansion efforts.
Cross-reference spend increases with new keyword acquisitions to understand campaign scaling strategies
7

Set up competitor monitoring alerts

Navigate to Alerts from the main Ahrefs dashboard and click New alert. Select Mentions or create a Keywords alert for your competitor's brand terms. Configure the alert frequency and notification preferences to receive updates when their advertising activity changes significantly.
Set up multiple alerts for different competitors to create a comprehensive competitive intelligence system
8

Compare multiple competitors side by side

Use the Batch Analysis tool under More in the main menu. Enter multiple competitor domains and select Paid search metrics to compare their advertising performance. Export the comparison data and create a competitive landscape analysis showing market share, keyword overlap, and advertising intensity.
Include your own domain in the comparison to benchmark your performance against competitors

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

No paid search data showing for competitor

Ensure the competitor actually runs paid ads and try checking different geographic locations in the Target location dropdown. Some competitors may only advertise in specific regions.

Ad copy data appears incomplete or outdated

Ahrefs updates ad data periodically. Check the Last updated timestamp and consider that some competitors may have paused campaigns or changed their advertising strategy recently.

Keyword data shows very high CPC estimates

CPC estimates are averages across different match types and competition levels. Use the data as a relative comparison rather than exact bidding guidance, and cross-reference with Google Keyword Planner for additional context.

Cannot access certain paid search metrics

Verify your Ahrefs subscription level includes paid search features. Some advanced PPC metrics require higher-tier plans. Check your Account settings to confirm feature availability.

Prices mentioned in this guide are pulled from current plan data and may change. Always verify on the official Ahrefs website before purchasing.
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