What is the Pinterest Ads Library?
The Pinterest Ads Library is an open, searchable repository of all active ads that people are viewing in the European Union right now. Pinterest created this space so there can be transparency about who’s advertising, what they’re advertising, and how they’re reaching people.
It’s like a behind-the-scenes, real-time look at what brands are actually advertising — with creative assets and targeting information in sight.
Search for it here: ads.pinterest.com/ads-repository
Even without engagement metrics (no clicks, repins, or saves), it keeps you updated:
- Ad creatives (images, videos, carousels)
- Advertiser information
- Ad duration
- Targeting data: location, age, sex, interests, keywords, and excluded keywords
Why You Should Use the Pinterest Ads Library
The Pinterest Ads Library is a goldmine of competitive intelligence and creative inspiration.
- Competitor ad tracking: Check out what your competition is offering, how they build their creatives, and whom they are marketing to.
- Inspiration for creativity: Bring new ideas on images, content, designs, and calls-to-actions.
- Check what seasonal and niche trends are being used: See what campaigns other firms are releasing around holiday seasons or popular topics.
- Ad targeting optimization: Check what target audience and interest categories others are using to optimize your own strategy.
- Sign-up not needed & completely free: Use it immediately even without a Pinterest business account.
How to Access & Use It
Go to Pinterest Ads Library. No login needed.
Filter by:
- Advertiser name
- Date range
- Country
- Ad category (e.g., fashion, food, wellness)
- Age and gender
Click on any ad to view its creative and targeting data. It’s a clean, pretty interface just right to browse and research, of course.
What You’ll See in Each Ad
Each listing has:
- Advertiser name
- Dates the ad was published
- Visuals (video or image)
- Targeting information: country, gender, age, interests, keywords, and negative keywords
This is an up-close look at how major brands construct their ads — and how you can too.
Restrictions to Know
- EU-only ads: You won’t see EU-targeted ads. U.S.-only campaigns won’t be visible unless they’re also advertising in the EU.
- No performance data: There are no saves, ROI, or CTR metrics. But you can estimate effectiveness by repeated ads or copied creatives.
- Standard filters: Filtering by ad type (image vs. video) is not supported, and keyword search isn’t supported yet. Most of the ads aren’t in English either (but Google Translate or ChatGPT can decode them).
How to Reverse Engineer High-Performing Ads
Learn the best from this information to make the most out of your Pinterest approach:
- Find trend-leading brands in your niche: Investigate leading brands like Patagonia (sustainable fashion), Rare Beauty (beauty businesses), or IKEA (furniture). Check how often they launch new advertisements and which items they display.
- Check visual trends: Pinterest is a visual site. Analyze color schemes, text, photography, human versus product usage, lifestyle versus studio photography, and text overlays.
- Be friends with the hook: Deal? Discount, free shipping, new arrival? Take a good look at copy and value prop. Use that to optimize your CTAs.
- Check the targeting: Who are they targeting? Who are the people, interests, and keywords they are targeting? Use their strategy and apply that to your community.
- Be sensitive to seasonal timing: Notice when ads come up. Are brands preparing for back-to-school in August or Black Friday in early November? Organize your calendar around it.
- Notice repeating creatives: If a look or appearance is repeating on different ads or for weeks consecutively, it is likely doing well. Notice what is repeating.
Bonus Tools to Use in Addition to the Pinterest Ads Library
To get even more insight, use the Ads Library in combination with:
- Pinterest Trends: Check out which keywords and subjects are currently trending.
- Tailwind: Great for scheduling, creating content, and tracking performance.
- Minea / PowerAdSpy: Track Pinterest ads in the global world outside the EU and on other platforms, sometimes with estimated performance.
Final Thoughts
The Pinterest Ads Library might go unnoticed, but it’s a treasure trove for anyone looking to scale with Pinterest ads. From competitor and creative insights to targeting insights, it’s got everything you’ll need to make your strategy smarter — and better.
Whether you’re testing out your first campaign or scaling up to five-figure ad budgets, the Ads Library gives you the tools to do it smarter — and better.
