Google Ads Standard vs Admin: What an Agency Should Request
Standard access is enough to build and edit campaigns. Admin is for users, billing, and account settings. Ask for the smaller grant unless the SOW says otherwise.
Updated October 10, 2026
Google Ads “Access and security” is where agencies lose a day. The client sees Admin, Standard, Read only, and email payments. They pick Admin because it sounds like “the agency can work,” or they pick Read only because Admin sounds dangerous.
Standard is the campaign grant
You can build, edit, pause, and report. You cannot add users or change billing. If that matches the SOW, write Standard in the request. Do not write “full access.”
Admin is account control
Users, billing, and settings. Need it when you operate the MCC relationship, fix billing profiles, or the client has no one internally who will click those screens. It is not a shortcut for “so we do not have to ask again.”
MCC is not a permission
A manager account links client accounts. Each client account still has its own users and roles. Getting linked via MCC with Standard on that account is enough for media. The Google Ads guide covers the click path.
Email payments and Read only
Read only is reporting. Email payments is a billing inbox, not campaign access. Neither ships ads.
Use the access-level tool (Google + “run and edit campaigns” → Standard) if you want a page the client can open without logging into AuthHub.
Frequently asked questions
Is MCC the same as Admin?
- No. A manager account (MCC) is a container. Access on each client account is still Standard, Admin, or another Google role. Linking an MCC does not automatically grant billing Admin.
Can I run campaigns with Standard access?
- Yes. Standard can create and edit campaigns and view reports. You cannot manage users or billing. That is the usual agency grant.
When do I need Admin?
- When the SOW includes user management, billing changes, or account-level settings the client will not click themselves.
How should the client invite us?
- Tools and settings → Access and security → users. They add the agency Google account with Standard. The full click-path is in the Google Ads access guide.