Foreplay vs SellTheClick
Foreplay is an ad research and creative workflow platform used to save, search and organize ads, track competitors and brief creators. SellTheClick is a diagnosis tool for Meta ads that tells you why your ad isn't converting and whether your ad versions are too similar to test.
They cover different stages of the same job. Foreplay helps you decide what to make. SellTheClick checks what you made, before and after it spends. Many teams use both.
What is Foreplay used for?
- Swipe file: save ads from Meta Ad Library, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube Shorts before they disappear.
- Ad discovery: search a shared library Foreplay says holds 200M+ ads, sorted by longest-running.
- Competitor tracking (Spyder): watch competitors' Meta ads around the clock, with up to 3 years of history.
- Creative analytics (Lens): connect your ad account for reports, creative scores and a testing dashboard.
- Briefs: turn saved ads into scripts, storyboards and creator briefs.
What is SellTheClick used for?
- Pre-launch similarity check: upload your ad versions and see which ones Meta is likely to treat as the same ad.
- Where-it-breaks diagnosis: paste your Ads Manager numbers or a screenshot and learn whether the ad fails before the click, after it, or on price.
- Competitor comparison: see your ad next to a competitor's longest-running live ad, quoted word for word.
- Next angles: get three new angles built from your own ad and page, each with an opening line, the proof it needs and a test plan.
Who uses each
- Foreplay: creative strategists and agencies who research the market every day, and teams briefing many UGC creators.
- SellTheClick: DTC founders and media buyers running Meta ads who need to know why an ad isn't selling, and lean teams that can't afford to waste test budget on near-duplicates.
Direct comparison
| Feature | Foreplay | SellTheClick |
|---|---|---|
| Core purpose | Ad research and creative workflow | Ad diagnosis and pre-launch checks |
| Primary interface | Swipe file, ad library search, Chrome extension | Upload an ad, paste a few numbers |
| AI capabilities | AI search, script generator, emotion and persona detection | Similarity check, where-it-breaks read, angle generation |
| Competitor tracking | Yes, Spyder (Workflow plan and up) | One competitor's longest-running ad, side by side |
| Your own ad performance | Lens, connected to your ad account | From numbers you paste, no account connection |
| Similarity check before launch | Not in its plan comparison | Yes, every plan |
| Platforms | Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube Shorts | Meta (Facebook and Instagram) |
| Free option | 7-day trial, card required | Free diagnosis with no account, 1,000 credits on signup |
| Pricing | $49, $149 or $389 a month; Enterprise custom | $29, $79 or $149 a month |
Foreplay plans and features from foreplay.co/pricing, checked October 21, 2026. SellTheClick plans on the pricing section.
When to choose Foreplay
- You need ideas, not answers: you're short on references and want a big, searchable ad library.
- You watch competitors weekly: Spyder shows you what they launch.
- You brief lots of creators: scripts, storyboards and asset collection live in one place.
- You advertise beyond Meta: saving works across TikTok, LinkedIn and YouTube Shorts.
When to choose SellTheClick
- An ad is spending but not selling: find out whether the problem is the ad, the landing page or the price.
- You're about to launch variations: cut the ones Meta will treat as one ad before you pay to find out.
- You want a next test, not more inspiration: get angles built from your own ad, with a test plan.
- You want to try it first: no card and no account needed.
Using both: research and save references in Foreplay, build your versions, check them in SellTheClick, then diagnose the live ads once they spend. More on the checks on the ad creative testing page.
Questions
What is Foreplay used for?
Saving, searching and organizing ads, tracking competitors' Meta ads, analyzing your own ads through Lens, and writing creator briefs.
Is SellTheClick a Foreplay alternative?
For diagnosing your own Meta ads, yes. For ad research and creator briefs, Foreplay does more. Many teams use both.
How much does Foreplay cost?
$49 (Basic), $149 (Workflow) or $389 (Agency) a month, plus custom Enterprise pricing. Annual plans are about 15% off, and extra users are $20 each. Checked October 21, 2026.
Does Foreplay have a free plan?
No. It has a 7-day free trial that needs a credit card, with a 14-day money-back guarantee after the first charge.
Can Foreplay tell if my ad versions are too similar?
It isn't in Foreplay's plan comparison. SellTheClick runs that check on every plan, comparing the images and whether the ads say the same thing.
See what SellTheClick finds in your ad
No account or card needed to try it.