# Add a competitor

> **Title:** Add a competitor — Rival Ads Docs
> **Description:** Complete the Track a competitor flow with accurate examples for websites, locations and all four supported channels.
> **Canonical URL:** https://www.rivalads.io/docs/add-competitor
> **Note:** This is the markdown twin of https://www.rivalads.io/docs/add-competitor. Append `.md` to any Rival Ads page URL to get markdown.

---

Owners and admins can create monitors from **Monitors**. Each selected channel creates one monitor and uses one plan slot.

## Before you begin

Decide:

- Which project should contain the competitor.
- Which countries matter to the research.
- Which channels the competitor uses.
- The correct Facebook page, domain or advertiser name if automatic detection cannot find it.

For LinkedIn, the workspace Owner should first complete [Connect LinkedIn](/docs/connect-linkedin).

## Step 1: open Track a competitor

1. Open **Monitors**.
2. Select **Add competitor**.
3. In **Track a competitor**, enter **Competitor website**.
4. Select **Find their ads**.

A root website such as `example.com` is the best starting point. A Facebook or Instagram URL also works when you only have a social profile.

Rival Ads checks the public homepage for likely Meta and Google details. If the site cannot be read, the next screen still lets you enter every channel manually.

## Step 2: confirm the competitor and project

Review:

- **Competitor name** — the name shown beside the channel icon.
- **Project** — the client or brand grouping for access and reporting.

Use the same competitor name across channels. For example, “Acme” on Meta and “Acme” on Google creates two clear monitors with different icons.

## Step 3: choose Locations to monitor

Choose up to five countries. The first pill is marked **Default** and becomes the starting **Location** filter on the monitor.

Select another location pill to make it the default. Remove a secondary location with its remove action. TikTok accepts only countries covered by its public Commercial Content Library; the form warns when another location is selected.

Example: an agency serving a UK client could use United Kingdom as default and add United States, Ireland and Canada for comparison.

## Step 4: choose Channels to track

Under **Channels to track**, select one or more:

### Meta · Facebook & Instagram

Enter a Facebook page URL or Meta Ad Library URL. Examples:

- `https://www.facebook.com/examplebrand`
- A Meta Ad Library URL opened on the correct advertiser

If only an Instagram handle was found, check the suggested Facebook page before starting.

### Google · Search, Display & YouTube

Enter the root website domain, for example `example.com`. Do not include a product path or tracking parameters.

### TikTok · Commercial Content Library

Enter the advertiser name as it appears publicly, for example `Gymshark`.

### LinkedIn · Ad Library

Enter the company or advertiser name, for example `Notion`. The form reminds you that syncing uses **Settings → Integrations**.

## Step 5: check plan usage and start

The dialog shows how many monitor slots the selection uses. If the selection exceeds the remaining allowance, choose fewer channels or follow **Upgrade for more**.

Select **Start tracking** for one channel or **Start tracking all** for several. Each successful monitor appears under its project and begins fetching. First results typically arrive within a minute or two.

## Verify the first results

1. Open each new monitor.
2. Confirm the advertiser and **Location** are correct.
3. Use **Open in source library** on a result to compare it with the public source.
4. If a match is wrong, select **Edit** and correct the source before building history.

The first check creates a baseline and does not send **Instant new-ad alerts**. Later checks can identify Started, Stopped and Continued ads.

For channel limitations, see [Supported channels](/docs/channels). If results are empty or incorrect, follow [Troubleshoot a sync](/docs/troubleshooting).