This is the question I get asked most by new clients, and the honest answer is: it depends on whether you're capturing demand or creating it.
Google Ads works on intent
Someone searching "PPC expert in Indore" already knows what they want — your job is to show up and win the click. That makes Google the right starting point for services and products people actively search for: urgent repairs, local services, anything with a clear "I need this now" trigger.
Meta Ads works on interruption
Nobody opens Instagram looking for your product — you're earning attention mid-scroll. That makes Meta stronger for visual products, awareness building, and — critically — retargeting people who've already shown interest through Google or your website.
My usual recommendation
For a new account with a limited budget, start where buying intent already exists. Once your pixel has enough data from that traffic, layer in Meta for retargeting and lookalike audiences. Running both platforms from day one with a small budget often means neither gets enough data to optimize well.
When this flips
If your product is highly visual and impulse-driven — think home décor, fashion, food — that calculation can flip, and Meta earns the first rupee instead. The deciding question isn't "which platform is better" — it's "does my customer already know they want this, or do I need to show them?"
