Google Ads has no read-only scope, so this MCP server writes changes to a file instead
Less-Entertainer5163 · reddit · 2026-09-20
The Google Ads API ships exactly one OAuth scope — "see, edit, create and delete" — with no read-only variant, which is risky when the token holder is an LLM sitting next to your monthly budget.
The author's workaround:
- The MCP server never touches a mutate endpoint; all 13 tools are reporting-only (accounts, campaigns, search terms, wasted spend, before/after comparisons)
- To stop something, it outputs a negative-keywords file you import into Google Ads Editor, preview, and apply yourself — "the assistant proposes, Editor commits"
- Setup: add adsmcp.dev/mcp as a custom connector, sign in with your existing Google account; no developer token, no local install, 50 free tool calls monthly
- Caveat: Google hasn't verified the app yet, so you'll need to click through the "unverified app" Advanced warning
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