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The Google Ads API is used for managing large or complex Google Ads accounts and campaigns. You can build software that manages accounts from the customer level down to the keyword level. Some typical use cases include:
Automated account management
Custom reporting
Ad management based on inventory
Manage smart bidding strategies
Is the Google Ads API the right product for me?
Google provides multiple products to help automate Google Ads accounts. Here are some common scenarios and the list of Google products that might best fit your needs.
Scenario
Recommendation
I am a developer who wishes to build my own software product, or integrate with Google Ads API. I am comfortable writing code, managing software infrastructure including servers and database.
Use the Google Ads API.
I am a developer who is comfortable writing code, but prefer not to manage my own software infrastructure.
Developer token: This token lets your app connect to the Google Ads API. Each developer token is assigned an API access level which controls the number of API calls you can make per day with as well as the environment to which you can make calls.
Google API Console project: The Google API Console project is used for generating OAuth 2.0 credentials for your app. The app will then use these credentials to authenticate the user and obtain user authorization to manage their Google Ads accounts. This authorization is later used by your app to make API calls to the Google Ads account. The project also enables the API to accept calls.
Google Ads client account: This is the account you're making API calls against. You need necessary permissions to operate on this account, such as fetching reports or making changes to campaigns.
You also need the 10-digit account number of the account you're making API calls to. This is displayed in the Google Ads web interface in the form 123-456-7890. This account number is passed as a parameter to the Google Ads API call without the hyphens: 1234567890.
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Missing the information I need","missingTheInformationINeed","thumb-down"],["Too complicated / too many steps","tooComplicatedTooManySteps","thumb-down"],["Out of date","outOfDate","thumb-down"],["Samples / code issue","samplesCodeIssue","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-20 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eThe Google Ads API is designed for managing large or complex Google Ads accounts programmatically, enabling tasks like automated account management, custom reporting, and inventory-based ad management.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eGoogle offers alternative solutions like Google Ads scripts, BigQuery Data Transfer service, automated rules, bulk uploads, and Google Ads Editor depending on user technical expertise and needs.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo use the Google Ads API, you'll need a Google Ads manager account, a developer token, a Google API Console project, and access to a Google Ads client account with necessary permissions.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eBefore making API calls, ensure you have the required details, including the 10-digit Google Ads client account number (without hyphens) and support tools or client libraries.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["The Google Ads API is used for managing large or complex Google Ads accounts and\ncampaigns. You can build software that manages accounts from the customer level\ndown to the keyword level. Some typical use cases include:\n\n- Automated account management\n- Custom reporting\n- Ad management based on inventory\n- Manage smart bidding strategies\n\nIs the Google Ads API the right product for me?\n\nGoogle provides multiple products to help automate Google Ads accounts. Here are\nsome common scenarios and the list of Google products that might best\nfit your needs.\n\n| Scenario | Recommendation |\n|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|\n| I am a developer who wishes to build my own software product, or integrate with Google Ads API. I am comfortable writing code, managing software infrastructure including servers and database. | Use the Google Ads API. |\n| I am a developer who is comfortable writing code, but prefer not to manage my own software infrastructure. | Use [Google Ads scripts](/google-ads/scripts). |\n| I am not a developer, but am willing to invest some time learning programming to automate Google Ads. | Use [Google Ads scripts](/google-ads/scripts). |\n| I am a data analyst (or similar role) who wants to download Google Ads reports for further analysis. | Use [BigQuery Data Transfer service](//cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/dts-introduction). Support is available for [Google Ads transfers](//cloud.google.com/bigquery/docs/google-ads-transfer). |\n| I want to manage Google Ads in bulk, but don't want to write any code. | Use [automated rules](//support.google.com/google-ads/answer/2472779), [bulk uploads](//support.google.com/google-ads/answer/10702932), or [Google Ads Editor](//support.google.com/google-ads/editor/answer/2484521). |\n\nPrerequisites \n\nTo make a Google Ads API call, you should have the following details. The rest of this\ntutorial teaches you how to obtain each of these items.\n\n- [**Google Ads manager account**](//support.google.com/google-ads/answer/7459399): You need a Google Ads manager account to apply for the Google Ads API.\n- [**Developer token**](/google-ads/api/docs/get-started/dev-token): This token lets your app connect to the\n Google Ads API. Each developer token is assigned an API access level which\n controls the number of API calls you can make per day with as well as the\n environment to which you can make calls.\n\n- [**Google API Console project**](/google-ads/api/docs/get-started/oauth-cloud-project): The Google API Console project is used\n for generating OAuth 2.0 credentials for your app. The app will then use\n these credentials to authenticate the user and obtain user authorization to\n manage their Google Ads accounts. This authorization is later used by your app\n to make API calls to the Google Ads account. The project also enables the API\n to accept calls.\n\n- [**Google Ads client account**](/google-ads/api/docs/get-started/select-account): This is the account you're making API\n calls against. You need necessary permissions to operate on this account,\n such as fetching reports or making changes to campaigns.\n\n You also need the 10-digit account number of the account you're making API\n calls to. This is displayed in the Google Ads web interface in the form\n `123-456-7890`. This account number is passed as a parameter to the Google Ads API\n call without the hyphens: `1234567890`.\n- [**Support tools and client libraries**](/google-ads/api/docs/get-started/download-tools-libraries): This set of tools can help\n you integrate with the API more quickly."]]
