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Google Ads Migration Guide

DataForSEO Google Ads API is based on the latest version of Google Ads API that has replaced legacy Google AdWords API.

Google Ads API is the latest programmatic interface to the Google Ads platform that offers new features and improvements while also deprecating some of the concepts of the preceding Google AdWords API. This Migration Guide is aimed at helping you make sense of these changes and make the transition as smooth and convenient as possible.

Preparing for migration takes three simple, but nonetheless crucial steps:
 

1. Configure the client

 
If you’re using our recommended PHP client, you have to change the search engine parameter in the URLs of POST and GET requests.
Just replace google with google_ads in the string.

2. Modify your POST requests

 
Aside from changing URL parameters, you may also have to modify parameters in your POST requests.
While all the required fields remain unchanged, there are a few new features you can implement.

3. Check new and deprecated response fields

 
The new version introduces a number of new fields in each endpoint. However, you will see that some fields from the old version are now deprecated.
You will find more information in this guide, as well as on our blog

4. Test and iterate

 
This is not an incremental update, so you may need to run a few tests and iterate the POST data parameters to achieve the desired results.
We offer a free Sandbox feature to facilitate the process.
 
Below you will find the description of differences between the old DataForSEO Google Adwords API and its new Google Ads API counterpart.
 

Major changes

Change Reference Notes
Higher limits read more

New version allows getting from 1,000 to 20,000 keywords in a single request
Date ranges read more Specify the dates to get data for a certain period of time
Strict keyword requirements read more The new version has strict requirements for the keywords you can and cannot specify, e.g., keywords with UTF-8 symbols are not allowed
Sorting parameters read more You can now apply the sort_by parameter to sort the results
New traffic estimation read more Ad Traffic By Keywords now returns stats for the specified forecasting time period

Deprecated endpoints

Endpoint Reason Notes
Ad traffic by Platforms Platforms not supported Google Ads API provides data aggregated for all platform types
Keywords for Category Categories not supported Google Ads API has no alternative for categories
Categories Categories not supported Google Ads API has no alternative for categories

Deprecated Request Parameters

Parameter Endpoint Notes
keywords_negative Keywords For Site,
Keywords For Keywords
negative keywords are not supported for now, but will be added in the nearest future
closely_variants Keywords For Keywords closely variants are not supported in the new version

Deprecated Response Parameters

Parameter Endpoint Notes
cpc Search Volume
Keywords For Site
Keywords For Keywords
cpc data is not supported in the new version
categories Search Volume
Keywords For Site
Keywords For Keywords
categories are not supported in the new version
ad_position_min Ad Traffic By Keywords the concept of ad positions is deprecated
ad_position_max Ad Traffic By Keywords the concept of ad positions is deprecated
ad_position_average Ad Traffic By Keywords the concept of ad positions is deprecated
cpc_min Ad Traffic By Keywords only average cpc historically paid for the keyword is supported
cpc_max Ad Traffic By Keywords only average cpc historically paid for the keyword is supported
cpc_average Ad Traffic By Keywords average cpc historically paid for the keyword is represented by average_cpc
daily_impressions_min Ad Traffic By Keywords only impressions for the specified time period are supported
daily_impressions_max Ad Traffic By Keywords only impressions for the specified time period are supported
daily_impressions_average Ad Traffic By Keywords only impressions for the specified time period are supported
daily_clicks_min Ad Traffic By Keywords only clicks for the specified time period are supported
daily_clicks_max Ad Traffic By Keywords only clicks for the specified time period are supported
daily_clicks_average Ad Traffic By Keywords only clicks for the specified time period are supported
daily_cost_min Ad Traffic By Keywords cost for the specified time period is represented by cost_micros
daily_cost_max Ad Traffic By Keywords cost for the specified time period is represented by cost_micros
daily_cost_average Ad Traffic By Keywords cost for the specified time period is represented by cost_micros

Core Google Ads/Adwords API parallels

Google AdWords Google Ads
Search Volume
Live Google Search Volume Live Google Ads Search Volume
Set Google Search Volume Tasks Set Google Ads Search Volume Tasks
Get Google Search Volume Completed Tasks Get Google Ads Search Volume Completed Tasks
Get Google Search Volume Results by id Get Google Ads Search Volume Results by id
Keywords For Keywords
Live Google Keywords for Keywords Live Google Ads Keywords for Keywords
Set Google Keywords for Keywords Tasks Set Google Ads Keywords for Keywords Tasks
Get Google Keywords for Keywords Completed Tasks Get Google Ads Keywords for Keywords Completed Tasks
Get Google Keywords for Keywords Results by id Get Google Ads Keywords for Keywords Results by id
Keywords for Site
Live Google Keywords for Site Live Google Ads Keywords for Site
Set Google Keywords for Site Tasks Set Google Ads Keywords for Site Tasks
Get Google Keywords for Site Completed Tasks Get Google Ads Keywords for Site Completed Tasks
Get Google Keywords for Site Results by id Get Google Ads Keywords for Site Results by id
Ad Traffic by Keywords
Live Google Ad Traffic By Keywords Live Google Ads Ad Traffic By Keywords
Set Google Ad Traffic By Keywords Tasks Set Google Ads Ad Traffic By Keywords Tasks
Get Google Ad Traffic By Keywords Completed Tasks Get Google Ads Ad Traffic By Keywords Completed Tasks
Get Google Ad Traffic By Keywords Results by id Get Google Ads Ad Traffic By Keywords Results by id

Note


In order to keep your software functional and avoid any issues that might occur when Google sunsets its Google AdWords API, we recommend fully migrating by April 2022. DataForSEO is committed to helping all its customers transition to the new version as soon as possible. Please, don’t hesitate to contact our support team if you have any questions or require assistance with the migration process.