Google Ads MCP with write access
Google’s official Google Ads MCP server is strictly read-only: it can list accounts and run GAQL, but per Google’s own docs it “cannot modify bids, pause campaigns, or create new assets.” Pipeboard’s hosted Google Ads MCP adds the writes, creates everything paused by default, and works from Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any MCP client through one URL.
The short version
- Google’s server (self-hosted, documented at developers.google.com) exposes three tools —
list_accessible_customers,searchandget_resource_metadata— and no write operations at all. - Pipeboard’s server adds campaign, ad group, ad, keyword, bid, extension, audience and conversion writes, plus a GAQL tool for reads, behind one hosted URL:
https://google-ads.mcp.pipeboard.co/ - New campaigns, ad groups and responsive search ads are created PAUSED unless you ask for ENABLED, so an assistant can draft while you keep the final switch.
- You can run both: keep Google’s server for read-only reporting and add Pipeboard for changes. They do not interfere with each other.
Google’s read-only server vs. Pipeboard
The Google column quotes Google’s own documentation (last updated 2026-09-30). The Pipeboard column lists what the hosted server ships today.
| Capability | Google official MCP | Pipeboard Google Ads MCP |
|---|---|---|
| Create campaigns, ad groups, ads | No — "cannot … create new assets" | Yes, created PAUSED by default |
| Pause / enable campaigns, ads, keywords | No — "cannot … pause campaigns" | Yes |
| Change bids and budgets | No — "cannot modify bids" | Yes |
| GAQL reporting | Yes (search tool) | Yes (execute_google_ads_gaql_query + report tools) |
| Hosting | Self-hosted: stdio locally or Cloud Run | Hosted — add one URL |
| Credentials you manage | Google Cloud project ID + OAuth client or ADC | OAuth sign-in on pipeboard.co, nothing to host |
| Other ad platforms on the same connection | Google Ads only | Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Reddit, Snap, Microsoft via All Ads |
Write tools the AI can call through Pipeboard
These are the tool names your assistant sees in tools/list on the Google Ads URL. The All Ads URL re-lists each one under a google_ads_ namespace without repeating the brand, so create_google_ads_campaign becomes google_ads_create_campaign; that name is shown in grey. Read tools (campaign, ad group, keyword and search-term reports, auction insights, keyword ideas, GAQL) are not listed here; the main Google Ads MCP guide covers them.
Campaigns
create_google_ads_campaigngoogle_ads_create_campaigncreate_google_ads_pmax_campaigngoogle_ads_create_pmax_campaignupdate_google_ads_campaigngoogle_ads_update_campaignpause_google_ads_campaigngoogle_ads_pause_campaignenable_google_ads_campaigngoogle_ads_enable_campaignset_google_ads_geo_targetinggoogle_ads_set_geo_targetingset_google_ads_language_targetinggoogle_ads_set_language_targetingupdate_google_ads_network_settingsgoogle_ads_update_network_settings
Ad groups and ads
create_google_ads_ad_groupgoogle_ads_create_ad_groupupdate_google_ads_ad_groupgoogle_ads_update_ad_groupcreate_google_ads_responsive_search_adgoogle_ads_create_responsive_search_adpause_google_ads_adgoogle_ads_pause_adenable_google_ads_adgoogle_ads_enable_adupdate_google_ads_video_ad_textgoogle_ads_update_video_ad_textupdate_google_ads_pmax_asset_groupgoogle_ads_update_pmax_asset_groupcreate_google_ads_shopping_listing_group_treegoogle_ads_create_shopping_listing_group_tree
Keywords and bids
add_google_ads_keywordsgoogle_ads_add_keywordsremove_google_ads_keywordsgoogle_ads_remove_keywordspause_google_ads_keywordgoogle_ads_pause_keywordenable_google_ads_keywordgoogle_ads_enable_keywordupdate_google_ads_keyword_bidgoogle_ads_update_keyword_bidadd_google_ads_negative_keywordsgoogle_ads_add_negative_keywordsremove_google_ads_negative_keywordsgoogle_ads_remove_negative_keywords
Assets and extensions
upload_google_ads_assetgoogle_ads_upload_assetcreate_creatives_from_drive_foldergoogle_ads_create_creatives_from_drive_foldercreate_creatives_from_dropbox_foldergoogle_ads_create_creatives_from_dropbox_foldercreate_google_ads_sitelinkgoogle_ads_create_sitelinkcreate_google_ads_calloutgoogle_ads_create_calloutcreate_google_ads_structured_snippetgoogle_ads_create_structured_snippetcreate_google_ads_call_extensiongoogle_ads_create_call_extensionupdate_google_ads_extension_statusgoogle_ads_update_extension_statusremove_google_ads_extensiongoogle_ads_remove_extension
Audiences and conversions
create_google_ads_custom_audiencegoogle_ads_create_custom_audienceadd_google_ads_audience_to_campaigngoogle_ads_add_audience_to_campaignadd_google_ads_pmax_audience_signalgoogle_ads_add_pmax_audience_signalupload_google_ads_click_conversionsgoogle_ads_upload_click_conversionsupload_google_ads_conversion_adjustmentsgoogle_ads_upload_conversion_adjustments
Everything else
execute_google_ads_mutategoogle_ads_execute_mutate
Any Google Ads API mutate operation the named tools do not cover.
Write access without handing over the steering wheel
Every change goes through the standard Google Ads API under your own account access, so it shows up in Google Ads change history like any other edit. Pipeboard is also a Badged Meta Business Partner, the same company behind the Meta Ads MCP.
Paused by default
create_google_ads_campaign, create_google_ads_ad_group and create_google_ads_responsive_search_ad default status to PAUSED. Nothing spends until you flip it in Google Ads or ask the assistant to enable it.
Read-only tokens
Issue an API token with read-only permissions and the server refuses every write tool for that token, whatever the assistant tries.
Token permissionsTeam caps
On the Agency plan a team owner can cap individual members to read-only across every Pipeboard MCP; their tools/list no longer shows the write tools.
Team access controlsServer URL and setup
- 1
Create a Pipeboard account
Sign up — the free plan includes 30 AI commands per week and 2 ad accounts. - 2
Connect Google Ads with OAuth
Open pipeboard.co/connections and connect the Google login that has access to your accounts (manager accounts work too). No developer token, no Cloud project, nothing to host. - 3
Add the server URL to your AI client
https://google-ads.mcp.pipeboard.co/Running more than Google? Use the All Ads URL instead and every connected platform shows up on one connection:
https://ads.mcp.pipeboard.co/Client-by-client steps (Claude web and desktop, Claude Code, ChatGPT, Cursor, n8n) are in the Google Ads MCP guide.
Already running Google’s official server? Leave it in place. Add Pipeboard as a second MCP server and ask the assistant to use Pipeboard for anything that changes the account.
Prompts that only work with writes
“Create a Search campaign called "Spring Sale" with a $50 daily budget targeting the US, English, Search network only. Leave it paused.”
“Add these 12 keywords to ad group 987654 as phrase match, paused, with a $1.20 max CPC.”
“Pause every keyword in account 123-456-7890 that spent more than $40 in the last 30 days with zero conversions. List them first and wait for my OK.”
“Write three responsive search ads for ad group 987654 using our landing page copy, then create them paused so I can review the headlines.”
Frequently asked questions
Can the official Google Ads MCP server create or pause campaigns?
No. Google’s documentation says its Google Ads MCP server "is strictly read-only. It cannot modify bids, pause campaigns, or create new assets." It exposes three tools: list_accessible_customers, search (GAQL) and get_resource_metadata. To create, edit or pause anything from an AI assistant you need a write-capable server such as the Pipeboard Google Ads MCP.
What is the Google Ads MCP server URL for write access?
Pipeboard’s hosted Google Ads MCP is https://google-ads.mcp.pipeboard.co/ (Streamable HTTP). If you also run Meta, TikTok, LinkedIn or other platforms through Pipeboard, the single All Ads URL https://ads.mcp.pipeboard.co/ serves every connected platform. You sign in with your Pipeboard account; there is no server to deploy.
Which Google Ads changes can an AI assistant make through Pipeboard?
Create Search, Performance Max and Shopping campaigns and ad groups; write responsive search ads; add, pause, enable and remove keywords and negative keywords; change keyword bids; pause and enable campaigns and ads; set geo and language targeting and network settings; create sitelinks, callouts, structured snippets and call extensions; upload image and video assets; create custom audiences and attach them to campaigns; upload click conversions and conversion adjustments; and run any other Google Ads API mutate through an escape-hatch tool.
Is it safe to give an AI write access to my Google Ads account?
Pipeboard creates campaigns, ad groups and responsive search ads in PAUSED status unless you explicitly ask for ENABLED, so nothing spends until you review it in Google Ads. You can also issue read-only API tokens, and team owners on the Agency plan can cap individual members to read-only across every MCP. Changes go through the standard Google Ads API under your own account access, so they show up in the Google Ads change history like any other edit.
Do I need a Google Ads developer token or a Cloud project?
Not with Pipeboard: you connect your Google Ads account with OAuth at pipeboard.co/connections and add one URL to your AI client. Google’s self-hosted server, by contrast, asks you to supply a Google Cloud project ID and OAuth credentials (or application default credentials) and to run it yourself over stdio or on Cloud Run. Google’s docs note that developer tokens were sunset on September 9, 2026 and are no longer required for its server.
Can I use Google’s official MCP and Pipeboard at the same time?
Yes. They are separate MCP servers, so you can keep Google’s read-only server for GAQL reporting and add Pipeboard for writes. Pipeboard also exposes a GAQL query tool, so most teams end up using one server for both reading and writing.
Does the write-capable Google Ads MCP work with Claude, ChatGPT and Cursor?
Yes. It works with Claude (web, desktop and Claude Code), ChatGPT custom connectors, Cursor, n8n and any client that supports remote MCP servers over Streamable HTTP.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. The free plan includes 30 AI commands per week across up to 2 ad accounts. Paid plans add unlimited commands and more ad account slots; see pipeboard.co/pricing.