mcp-reddit-ads
# mcp-reddit-ads
MCP server for Reddit Ads API v3 -- campaign management, ad creation, performance reporting, and audience targeting via Claude.
## Features
- **18 tools** covering full CRUD for campaigns, ad groups, and ads
- Performance reports with daily breakdowns
- Subreddit, interest, and geographic targeting
- Bulk pause/enable operations
- Safe by default: all new entities created in PAUSED status
- Budget inputs in dollars (auto-converts to Reddit's microcurrency format)
## Installation
```bash
npm install mcp-reddit-ads
```
Or clone the repository:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/mharnett/mcp-reddit-ads.git
cd mcp-reddit-ads
npm install
npm run build
```
## Configuration
**Security:** Never share your `.mcp.json` file or commit it to git -- it may contain API credentials. Add `.mcp.json` to your `.gitignore`.
### 1. Reddit OAuth App
Create a Reddit OAuth app at [reddit.com/prefs/apps](https://www.reddit.com/prefs/apps):
- Select "script" type
- Note the client ID and client secret
- Obtain a refresh token with `adsread adsedit read` scopes
### 2. Environment Variables
Set credentials via environment variables:
| Variable | Description |
|---|---|
| `REDDIT_CLIENT_ID` | OAuth app client ID |
| `REDDIT_CLIENT_SECRET` | OAuth app client secret |
| `REDDIT_REFRESH_TOKEN` | OAuth refresh token with ads scopes |
| `REDDIT_ADS_MCP_WRITE` | Set to `true` to enable mutating tools (create/update/pause/enable). Unset = read-only (default). |
### Read-only by default
As of v1.1.0 the MCP starts in **read-only mode**. The 10 read/report/targeting tools are always exposed, but the 8 mutating tools (create/update campaigns, ad groups, ads, and bulk pause/enable) are hidden from the tool list and refused at call time unless `REDDIT_ADS_MCP_WRITE=true` is set in the server's environment. This guards against a casual chat message accidentally mutating live ad spend. Enable writes deliberately, for the sessions where you actually intend to ship changes.
### 3. Config File
Copy `config.example.json` to `config.json` and fill in defaults:
```json
{
"reddit_api": {
"base_url": "https://ads-api.reddit.com/api/v3",
"auth": {
"client_id": "",
"client_secret": "",
"refresh_token": "",
"user_agent": "reddit-ad-mcp/1.0"
}
},
"defaults": {
"account_id": "",
"business_id": "",
"report_metrics": ["impressions", "clicks", "spend", "ctr", "cpc", "ecpm"],
"date_range_days": 7
}
}
```
Environment variables take precedence over config file values.
## Usage
### Claude Code (.mcp.json)
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"reddit-ads": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/mcp-reddit-ads/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"REDDIT_CLIENT_ID": "$(security find-generic-password -a reddit-ads-mcp -s REDDIT_CLIENT_ID -w)",
"REDDIT_CLIENT_SECRET": "$(security find-generic-password -a reddit-ads-mcp -s REDDIT_CLIENT_SECRET -w)",
"REDDIT_REFRESH_TOKEN": "$(security find-generic-password -a reddit-ads-mcp -s REDDIT_REFRESH_TOKEN -w)"
}
}
}
}
```
**Claude Desktop:** Add to `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (macOS) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows).
## Tools
### Context
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `reddit_ads_get_client_context` | Get account info and verify API connectivity |
| `reddit_ads_get_accounts` | List all ad accounts accessible to the authenticated user |
### Read
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `reddit_ads_get_campaigns` | List campaigns with optional status filter |
| `reddit_ads_get_ad_groups` | List ad groups for a campaign |
| `reddit_ads_get_ads` | List ads for an ad group |
| `reddit_ads_get_performance_report` | Aggregated performance metrics for campaigns/ad groups/ads |
| `reddit_ads_get_daily_performance` | Day-by-day performance breakdown |
### Write: Campaigns
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `reddit_ads_create_campaign` | Create a new campaign (PAUSED by default) |
| `reddit_ads_update_campaign` | Update campaign name, budget, objective, or status |
### Write: Ad Groups
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `reddit_ads_create_ad_group` | Create a new ad group with targeting (PAUSED by default) |
| `reddit_ads_update_ad_group` | Update ad group bid, targeting, or status |
### Write: Ads
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `reddit_ads_create_ad` | Create a new ad with headline, body, URL, and media (PAUSED by default) |
| `reddit_ads_update_ad` | Update ad creative or status |
### Bulk Operations
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `reddit_ads_pause_items` | Pause multiple campaigns, ad groups, or ads at once |
| `reddit_ads_enable_items` | Enable multiple campaigns, ad groups, or ads at once |
### Targeting
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| `reddit_ads_search_subreddits` | Search for subreddits by keyword for targeting |
| `reddit_ads_get_interest_categories` | List available interest categories for targeting |
| `reddit_ads_search_geo_targets` | Search for geographic targeting options (countries, regions, metros) |
## Key Conventions
- **Spend values** are returned from the API in microcurrency (1 dollar = 1,000,000 microcurrency units). Divide by 1,000,000 to get dollar amounts. Budget inputs accept dollars and auto-convert.
- **Dates and times** use ISO 8601 format (`YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ`).
- **New entities default to PAUSED** status. Explicitly set status to `ACTIVE` to go live.
- **Report metrics** default to the set configured in `config.json` but can be overridden per request.
## Architecture
- **Resilience**: Uses [cockatiel](https://github.com/connor4312/cockatiel) for retry policies and circuit breaking on API calls
- **Logging**: Structured logging via [pino](https://github.com/pinojs/pino)
- **Response truncation**: Large API responses are truncated at 200KB to stay within MCP message limits
- **Auth**: OAuth 2.0 refresh token flow with automatic access token renewal
## License
MIT -- see [LICENSE](LICENSE).
## Author
Built by Mark Harnett / [drak-marketing](https://github.com/drak-marketing).
TDQS
Scored across 10 tools
Each tool targets a distinct resource or action, such as accounts, ad groups, ads, campaigns, performance, and targeting options. There is no overlap in functionality, and descriptions clearly differentiate them.
All tools share the 'reddit_ads_' prefix, and most use 'get_' followed by the resource name. Two tools use 'search_' instead, and there is a slight inconsistency between 'get_daily_performance' and 'get_performance_report', but the overall pattern is clear and predictable.
With 10 tools, the server covers the main areas of Reddit Ads: account info, campaign/ad group/ad listing, performance reports, and targeting options. The number feels appropriate for the scope without being overwhelming or too sparse.
The tool set is entirely read-only, offering only retrieval operations. Missing capabilities for creating, updating, or deleting campaigns, ad groups, or ads, which are essential for full ads management. This is a significant gap for a tool advertised as a Reddit Ads server.