Step 1: Connect your ad accounts
Sign up with email or Google, no credit card needed. A short setup then walks you through connecting Meta and Google Ads, each through the platform's own sign-in. Skip either one and connect it later.
- Sign in through OAuth: Sidestep never sees your Meta or Google password
- Choose which ad accounts to add, including client accounts under a Google Ads manager account
- Access tokens are encrypted at rest, and you can disconnect any account at any time
Step 2: Create ads and watch every account
Build Meta ads one at a time or up to 100 in a batch, and turn a Google ad group's keywords into a search ad, published paused for your review. Then follow Meta and Google performance side by side, from every account down to a single ad.
- Image, video and carousel Meta ads, up to 100 per publish
- Pause, enable and change budgets on both platforms
- Alerts when a metric crosses a threshold you set
Step 3: Optimize with Sidestep AI
Sidestep AI works from your live performance, each account's goal and target CPA, brand context scanned from your website, and recent account changes. It finds wasted search terms, suggests stronger search-ad copy and drafts on-brand ads. Changes apply only when you approve them.
- Review keyword and search-ad suggestions, then apply them to Google Ads in one click
- On-brand ad copy written from your brand context and the creative itself
- Ask Sidestep AI about any account's performance in plain English
Invite teammates when you're ready
Whoever signs up owns the workspace. Invite everyone else by email and give each person a role; you all work on the same ad accounts, tasks and notes.
- Admin — Manages the team, workspace settings and connected accounts
- Editor — Creates and manages campaigns and ads, and uses the AI tools
- Viewer — Read-only access to campaigns, ads and performance
- Team seats: Starter 1 seat, Pro 3 seats, Agency 10 seats
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a credit card to start?
No. The 14-day free trial includes full Pro access with no card. You add payment only when you choose a plan.
What happens when the trial ends?
Choose Starter, Pro or Agency to keep using Sidestep; your workspace and data stay as you left them. If you're a first-time paying customer, your first subscription payment is then covered by a separate 30-day money-back guarantee.
Does AI change my campaigns without asking?
No. Keyword Optimizer and Search Ad Analyzer suggestions apply only after you approve them, and the Google Search Ad Builder publishes ads paused. Ask Sidestep AI reads your data but never edits your accounts. Automations act only on rules you write.
