How Do I Compare Two Date Ranges in Ads Manager?

Ads Manager has a built-in way to set two periods side by side. You switch it on from the date filter at the top of the table, choose the two ranges, and Meta says the table then shows each range’s data with the change and the percentage of change. This entry gives Meta’s steps, what has to be true first, and what to check before you trust the comparison, as checked on 2 Oct 2026.

What do you need before you start?

Meta lists three things:

• An active Ads Manager account.
• A campaign that ran across more than one date range.
• The two date ranges you want to compare.

How do you compare two date ranges?

1. Select the date filter dropdown at the top of the table.
2. Click the toggle next to Compare to enable the feature.
3. Select the two date ranges you want to compare, then click Update.
4. Click more information next to your metric.
5. Read the table, which shows the data for each date range, the change in data and the percentage of change.
6. Hover over specific dates in the graphs to compare metrics.

Meta adds that, depending on your view, the graphs in the performance pane also show more information about the two date ranges in a visual format.

What should you check before you trust the comparison?

• Did the ad run in both ranges? Meta lists a date range that covers a period when your ad was not running as one reason you may see no data.
• Did the ad only just start running? Meta says an ad that has just started running may not have metrics yet because of a short delay, and calls these delays normal. The reporting delay entry linked below covers this.
• Are the two periods alike? Meta’s guide to comparing results says the value of each metric may vary greatly with the reach of a campaign, so compare campaigns of similar size. It also tells you to factor in seasonal trends, such as higher CPMs at popular times like December.
• Are the two ranges the same length? The help page cited here does not say whether they must be, so check the two lengths yourself before you read the percentage change.

Is this the same as comparing attribution settings?

No. Meta has a separate option for that. Under Columns: Performance, you scroll down and select Compare attribution settings, then choose the settings to compare. Meta says it lets you compare reported conversions over settings including 1-day view, 1-day click, 7-day click and 28-day click, with a few exceptions. Meta’s attribution page also says that if a campaign hasn’t been live for at least 28 days, the 28-day click view only gives partial data, covering the length of the campaign.

FAQ

What if my campaign did not run in both date ranges?

Meta lists a campaign that ran across more than one date range as something you need first. It also says a date range covering a period when the ad was not running is one reason you may see no data. Pick ranges in which the campaign delivered.

Can I compare more than two periods?

The help page cited here describes two date ranges at a time and does not mention more. For a wider benchmark, its guide to past campaigns picks a custom date range, filters by objective and reads the aggregated results in the bottom row of the table.

Where do I see the percentage change?

After you turn on Compare, pick the two ranges and click Update, click more information next to your metric. Meta says the table then shows the data for each range, the change in data and the percentage of change.