A spy tool is both a danger and a delight for affiliates. It is a danger for affiliates because it shows their competitors their ads and landing pages. Alternatively, it is a delight for those who use it because they can get ideas on how to promote their offers, the way their competitors do it. So if you want to dive deep into affiliate marketing, subscribing to a spy tool is one of your best investments.

Two reputable intelligence tools in the affiliate marketing industry are AdPlexity and Anstrex. Which is the better choice? Let’s find out.

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A Brief Background of AdPlexity and Anstrex​

AdPlexity was founded by Ziga, an affiliate marketer himself, in 2016. Anstrex, on the other hand, was completed just this year (2019). AdPlexity has seven types of spy tools (one of them in beta), while Anstrex only has two. For this reason, we will focus on the two types of spy tools that they both have: Native Ads Spy Tool and Push Ads Spy Tool.

AdPlexity vs Anstrex: A Comparison​

For this assessment, let us highlight the winning spy tool based on various categories.

AdPlexityAnstrex
Push Ads Spy Monthly Price$149
($129 for affLIFT members)
$79.99
Native Ads Spy Monthly Price$249
($169 for affLIFT members)
$59.99
Push Ads Countries82 countries92 countries
Push Ad Networks15 Push Ad Networks32 Push Ad Networks
Native Ads Countries32 countries64 countries
Native Ads Networks9 Native Ad Networks27 Native Ad Networks
Filters & Search Functions
  • Can search ads based on keywords on the landing page or the ad title and description
  • Can search for ads based on advertiser/ad network
  • Can search for ads based on publishing websites
  • Can search for ads based on the image (Native Ads Spy only)
  • Can search for ads based on placement (Native Ads Spy only)
  • Can filter search results based on duration, device type, country, traffic source, affiliate network, and tracking tool
  • Can search for ads based on keywords on the ad title and description
  • Can search for ads based on advertiser/ad network
  • Uses Boolean Search filter that allows you to combine parameters to narrow down to your exact niche or offer
  • Can filter search results based on ad gravity, ad strength, Alexa rank, duration, device type, country, traffic source, and tracking tool
Ad Information
  • Displays URL redirect chain
  • Displays ad networks based on the duration of the promotion
  • Displays percentage of traffic based on the ad network, publisher and device
  • Displays ad statistics in total, or based on country, connection, and device type
  • Displays ad creatives from the same advertiser in one page
  • Displays ad trend for the past 10 days
  • Displays ad trend based on days of the week
  • Displays top publishers by duration and volume
  • Displays URL redirect chain
  • Displays ad network sources and percentage of traffic from these sources
  • Displays countries where the ad is being promoted in, and the percentage of traffic each country receives
  • Displays ad creatives from the same advertiser in one page
  • Displays all landing pages from the same advertiser in one page
  • Displays ad trend for the past days, weeks or even months
  • Shows Ad Gravity, Ad Strength and Alexa Ranking
  • Displays CPC bids for certain ads
Landing Page
  • Can download landing page
  • Can download, edit and deploy landing page
  • Can import to LanderBolt
Push Ads InventoryCurrently has about 205,000 ads in its inventoryCurrently has about 300,000 ads in its inventory
Native Ads InventoryCurrently has about 9 million ads in its inventoryCurrently has about 18 million ads in its inventory

Conclusion on Push Spy Tool​

Anstrex Push works better in the sense that it provides more information per ad, and it offers more ways to find and filter ads.

Conclusion on Native Ads Spy Tool​

While AdPlexity is so much more expensive than Anstrex, the latter’s features and functions are quickly catching up to the former. The most important ad information that AdPlexity provides that Anstrex does not are the top publishing websites per ad and the affiliate network of the offer. Both spy tools allow you to download the landing page, but Anstrex takes it a step further and allows you to edit the LP in their WYSIWYG editor and deploy it immediately to your server. Pros in the affiliate marketing space would swear by AdPlexity, but beginners can opt for Anstrex for its cheap price and great features.

AdPlexity vs Anstrex: Final Thoughts​

The combined price for the two spy tools in Anstrex is $124.99), a $15 discount when you get both. AdPlexity does not offer combined pricing, though.

Spying on your competitors is one of the basic activities of an affiliate marketer. You can go the manual route and check on other people’s ads and landing pages by yourself, but this will likely take you hours – precious hours you would rather use for optimizing campaigns. Whether you choose AdPlexity or opt for Anstrex, what’s important is you make full use of the features offered so you can get your money’s worth.

BONUS! Check out our AdPlexity review for even more information about their spy tool.