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Google Ads API

The Google Ads API is Google's programmatic interface to Google Ads, which lets software read an account's reports and settings and change its campaigns.

How it works

An app signs in through OAuth with a Google account and sees the accounts that person can open. Reading and writing share one scope, so the person’s role alone sets the limit. The app requests reports in GAQL and sends changes as mutate requests. The API replaced the AdWords API, set to switch off on 27 April 2022.

Developer tokens were retired on 9 September 2026. The access level now belongs to the Google Cloud project that owns the app’s OAuth credentials:

LevelAllows
Testtest accounts only; granted when you enable the API
Explorer2,880 operations a day on live accounts
Basic15,000 a day; requires brand verification
Standardunlimited, after a review of about 10 business days

Stores use the API for product-level reporting, exports and automation. Google Ads automation for online stores covers which decisions to automate.

Where you see it

  • Google Cloud Console: the Google Ads API Overview page shows the project’s access level and the next level to apply for.
  • Google Ads change history: edits made through the API, labelled “Google Ads API” or the tool’s name.

Example

Example store, not client data.

The tableware shop’s nightly export runs 6 SearchStream queries, and each counts as one operation: 6 a day, within Explorer. An agency tool running the same 6 queries for 500 stores needs 6 × 500 = 3,000 a day, above Explorer’s 2,880, so its project needs Basic.

Not to be confused with

  • Google Ads scripts — JavaScript run inside Google Ads, for custom logic without your own server.
  • Merchant API — the interface to Merchant Center product data, not to campaigns.

Right and wrong readings

  • Wrong: “The app asked only to read, so it cannot change campaigns.” Right: the scope is the same for both; only an account with the Read only role rules changes out.
  • Wrong: “To start, we need a manager account and a developer token.” Right: you now request access in the Google Cloud Console, and the API ignores a token sent with calls.

Sources