Brands and in-house teams
Google Ads audit template vs audit software
A template shows you how to look. Software does the looking each time you ask.
The direct answer
Use a template when you want a free, one-time check of your own account and you have the time to work through it. Use audit software when you want the same checks run again and again, or a read that also covers the market and competitors. Ad Prophet offers a free checklist and a Free Growth Read.
At a glance
| Audit template | Audit software (Ad Prophet) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best job | A one-time check you run yourself | A repeatable read you can run again |
| Starts from | Your own account and your own notes | Your domain, then your connected account |
| Effort | You work through each item | The software runs the checks and you review |
| Cost | Free checklist on this site | Free Growth Read is free, no card. See our pricing page for plans. |
| Covers market and competitors? | Only if you add them | Yes, in the read |
| Changes your account? | No | No. Ad Prophet reads and recommends. |
Competitor facts come from each company's own public pages, checked on October 13, 2026. Check their pricing pages for current prices.
When to use each
Job 1: run a one-time check yourself
When you own the account and want to learn what to look for, a template is a good start.
Audit template
Work through the checklist against your account, settings, and results. Our free Google Ads audit checklist is one place to start.
Job 2: run the same read again and again
When you check many accounts or check often, hand work becomes the limit.
Ad Prophet
The Free Growth Read starts from your domain and returns a read of the business, buyer, market, competitors, and a first campaign opportunity in about 5 minutes. The connected audit gives first insights in under 2 hours and a full analysis within 48 hours.
Audit template
Keep the checklist as your own review step on top of the software's read.
What each tool does well
Audit template
Free, simple, and teaches you what a good account looks like.
Fits best: One-time checks by someone who knows the account.
Audit software
Runs the same checks each time and adds the market and competitor view.
Fits best: Teams that want a repeatable read. Ad Prophet reads and recommends. It does not run campaigns.
Common questions
Is a Google Ads audit template enough?
For a one-time check of an account you know well, often yes. If you check often, or want the market and competitors covered, software saves time.
Where can I get a Google Ads audit template?
Ad Prophet publishes a free Google Ads audit checklist in its resources section. Use it to review your account yourself.
Does Ad Prophet change my Google Ads campaigns?
No. Ad Prophet reads and recommends. Its analysis does not change anything in the account. Your team decides what to change.
Sources and method
Each fact about another company comes from that company's own public page. We left out anything we could not check. Products change, so check each site before you buy.
- Ad Prophet: Google Ads audit checklist (checked on )
- Ad Prophet: Free Growth Read (checked on )
- Ad Prophet: pricing (checked on )