NEW! Meta Business Suite vs Ads Manager (2025) | Which One Should You Use for Facebook Ads?

Meta Business Suite vs. Ads Manager: What’s the Difference?

Hey everyone, today we’re diving into a frequently asked question by digital marketers and small business owners: What’s the difference between Meta Business Suite and Facebook Ads Manager? While both tools are designed by Meta, they serve different purposes. Depending on your needs, one may be a better fit than the other. Let’s break it down.

What is Meta Business Suite?

Meta Business Suite is an all-in-one platform for managing your business presence on Facebook and Instagram. Here are its main features:

• Create and Schedule Posts: Easily post and schedule content across Facebook and Instagram.
• Manage Messages and Comments: Handle interactions from a single inbox.
• Access Insights: View post engagement and audience data.
• Create Basic Ad Campaigns: Launch simple ad campaigns directly from the interface.

Ideal Use Case

Meta Business Suite is beginner-friendly and is particularly well-suited for content planning, making it a great choice for solo entrepreneurs or small teams looking for a consolidated workspace.

What is Ads Manager?

Ads Manager is Meta’s dedicated advertising platform, designed for running more complex and strategic ad campaigns. Here’s what you can do with it:

• Detailed Campaign Objectives: Set specific goals like traffic, conversions, app installs, and lead generation.
• Advanced Targeting Options: Utilize lookalike audiences, custom audiences, and website retargeting.
• Customization of Ad Placements: Choose where your ads will appear across Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and the Audience Network.
• A/B Testing: Split test your ads to determine the best-performing variations.
• In-Depth Performance Tracking: Track key metrics such as Return on Spend (ROS), cost per conversion, and funnel metrics.

Ideal Use Case

Ads Manager is for advertisers seeking complete control and flexibility, especially those working with larger budgets or complex campaigns.

Comparing Features

Ease of Use

• Meta Business Suite: Beginner-friendly interface.
• Ads Manager: More technical and designed for advanced users.

Posting Capabilities

• Meta Business Suite: Supports creating stories and posts.
• Ads Manager: Focuses exclusively on ads.

Ad Creation

• Meta Business Suite: Guided process with basic setup.
• Ads Manager: Offers full customization options.

Targeting Options

• Meta Business Suite: Basic targeting like age, location, and interests.
• Ads Manager: Advanced targeting capabilities, including lookalike audiences.

Budget and Bidding Control

• Meta Business Suite: Simple budget management.
• Ads Manager: Detailed bidding controls, including manual bidding and Campaign Budget Optimization (CBO).

Pixel and Conversion Setup

• Meta Business Suite: Limited options.
• Ads Manager: Fully integrated pixel setup.

Analytics and Reporting

• Meta Business Suite: Basic performance stats.
• Ads Manager: Comprehensive analytics and reporting.

Summary

• If you’re boosting posts or running simple campaigns, Meta Business Suite is sufficient.
• If you’re focused on optimizing funnels, testing creatives, or scaling your ads, Ads Manager is the go-to tool.

Case Scenarios for Both Platforms

Use Meta Business Suite If:

• You’re a small business owner managing content and running ads in one place.
• You want to boost posts, promote events, or gain page likes.
• You’re not yet ready for a sophisticated ad strategy.

Use Ads Manager If:

• You’re executing lead generation or e-commerce campaigns.
• You’re collaborating with a marketing agency or an ads expert.
• You need to track conversions or utilize custom audiences.

How They Work Together

Both tools can complement each other. Meta Business Suite is excellent for daily content management and light advertising, while Ads Manager should be used for more detailed advertising strategies. The two platforms are interconnected, allowing data to flow seamlessly between them.

Which Should You Choose?

• For Beginners: Start with Meta Business Suite for its simplicity. It’s powerful enough for local promotions or online offers.
• For Growth-Focused Marketers: Use Ads Manager to unlock full potential and scale profitability, especially for e-commerce.
• For Hybrid Users: Create posts and run basic ads in the Business Suite, then monitor and optimize using Ads Manager as you grow.

Conclusion

To recap, Meta Business Suite is best for simplicity, convenience, and basic ad management, while Ads Manager offers advanced targeting, full control, and deeper reporting.

Let us know in the comments which tool you prefer and why! If you’re interested in detailed tutorials for either platform, check the description for links to those videos. Thanks for reading! Don’t forget to like and subscribe for more marketing tips. See you next time!