Google Ads vs Google Ads Manager MCP
A side-by-side look at the Google Ads and Google Ads Manager MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Google Ads for marketing work as a local process; choose Google Ads Manager MCP for marketing. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Google Ads when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Marketing domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKEN, GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_ID, GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRET, GOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKEN, GOOGLE_ADS_CUSTOMER_ID, GOOGLE_ADS_LOGIN_CUSTOMER_ID. - You want tools like
gads_run_gaql, gads_list_accounts, gads_account_info.
Choose Google Ads Manager MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Marketing domain.
- You have the keys it needs:
GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_ID, GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRET, GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKEN, GOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKEN, GOOGLE_ADS_CUSTOMER_ID, GOOGLE_ADS_LOGIN_CUSTOMER_ID. - You want tools like
list_accessible_customers, search_gaql, get_campaigns.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Marketing | Marketing |
| Quality signal | 52/100 · Good | 45/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | — |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKENGOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_IDGOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRETGOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKENGOOGLE_ADS_CUSTOMER_IDGOOGLE_ADS_LOGIN_CUSTOMER_ID | GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_IDGOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRETGOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKENGOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKENGOOGLE_ADS_CUSTOMER_IDGOOGLE_ADS_LOGIN_CUSTOMER_ID |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 22 | 16 |
| Full listing | View Google Ads | View Google Ads Manager MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Google Ads tools 22
gads_run_gaqlRun any raw GAQL query — escape hatch for custom reportsgads_list_accountsList all accessible Google Ads accountsgads_account_infoName, currency, timezone, manager flag, statusgads_list_campaignsCampaigns with status, channel type, bidding strategygads_campaign_performanceImpressions, clicks, CTR, CPC, cost, conversions, CPA, ROASgads_ad_group_performanceAd group metrics with campaign contextgads_keyword_performanceKeywords with match type, quality score, cost, conversionsgads_search_terms_reportActual user queries that triggered ads — find negatives and opportunitiesgads_conversions_by_campaignConversions × conversion action per campaigngads_list_conversion_actionsAll conversion actions with category, type, counting methodgads_list_rsasRSAs with all headlines, descriptions, Ad Strength, approval statusgads_rsa_asset_performancePer-asset performance labels: BEST / GOOD / LOW / PENDING / LEARNING- +10 more on the listing page
Google Ads Manager MCP tools 16
list_accessible_customerswhich accounts this refresh token can reachsearch_gaqlrun any raw GAQL `SELECT` queryget_campaignscampaigns with status, budget, and core metricsget_ad_groupsad groups (optionally filtered to a campaign) with metricsget_keywordskeyword criteria with match type, status, and metricsget_search_termsactual search terms that triggered your ads, for finding negative keyword candidatescreate_campaignnew campaign + budget, created `PAUSED` unless you say otherwiseupdate_campaign_statusenable / pause / remove a campaignupdate_campaign_budgetchange an existing campaign's daily budgetadd_keywordsadd keyword criteria to an ad groupcreate_ad_groupnew ad group inside an existing campaignupdate_ad_group_statusenable / pause / remove an ad group- +4 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Google Ads
{
"mcpServers": {
"google-ads-4": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"google-ads-mcp"
],
"env": {
"GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKEN": "YOUR_GOOGLE_ADS_DEVELOPER_TOKEN_HERE",
"GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_ID_HERE",
"GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_GOOGLE_ADS_CLIENT_SECRET_HERE",
"GOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKEN": "YOUR_GOOGLE_ADS_REFRESH_TOKEN_HERE",
"GOOGLE_ADS_CUSTOMER_ID": "YOUR_GOOGLE_ADS_CUSTOMER_ID_HERE",
"GOOGLE_ADS_LOGIN_CUSTOMER_ID": "YOUR_GOOGLE_ADS_LOGIN_CUSTOMER_ID_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Google Ads Manager MCP
No confirmed install command for Google Ads Manager MCP yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
Google Ads is categorized under Marketing and uses a local stdio subprocess. Google Ads Manager MCP belongs to Marketing and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick Google Ads for marketing work and Google Ads Manager MCP for marketing.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client. Google Ads Manager MCP has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Google Ads has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Google Ads Manager MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add google-ads-4 and google-ads-manager-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Google Ads has a quality signal of 52/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Google Ads Manager MCP has 45/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.