Join DiscordToolkit

Should I rip competitor ads or make my own? Everyone says different things.

Most polarizing creative question — both sides are partially right

Both sides are correct, and the answer depends on your stage and goal.

What ripping actually does: Ripping a competitor's ad and running it directly gives you speed and a baseline test. If the ad is already converting for them, you know the angle works. What it does NOT give you: differentiated positioning, lower CPMs over time, or a sustainable creative library. When you're using the exact same visuals as a competitor, Meta's algorithm may serve your ad to people who've already seen it — causing CPM inflation and reduced novelty effect.

What making your own does: Original creative takes longer but compounds. Your angles can be more specific to your persona. Your visuals are unique. Your CPMs tend to be lower because the audience is fresh. Your compliance risk drops significantly.

The practical hybrid (what operators who are printing actually do): Rip to validate the angle. Once you confirm an angle converts, invest in original creative around that angle. The rip is a proof of concept. The original creative is the scalable version.

See this in practice: Image Ads

More on Creatives

← Back to All FAQsExplore the full operator library →
Original content by First Sale Society — . Free, no paywall.