Frequently asked questions

Needle Directory is a curated catalog of products on Needle. You can browse listings, vote, and submit your own with a public page, logo, and media. Submitting a listing does not require a paid Search plan. See Needle Directory in the docs.

You complete steps for Details, Media (logo required), Trust & visibility (free backlink verification, optional paid verification skip, optional featured placement), then Preview and submit. Listings are reviewed before publication.

Featured placement is an optional one-time paid boost: a limited featured window (about 30 days; exact dates appear in checkout and on your listing) for extra visibility where we surface featured picks. It is not a subscription and does not auto-renew. If a featured window is already active, checkout for a new boost is blocked until it ends.

Verification skip is a separate one-time add-on that waives automated backlink verification for that draft listing. It does not include featured placement.

Manual search is a one-off run you start: you enter a query for that run, pick timeframe and platforms, and results stream live. It counts toward your plan’s manual search run limits.

Auto Search uses the saved setup for your brand in Settings (keywords/phrases, platforms, how often Needle runs again, and lookback). Needle runs scheduled passes automatically; those passes do not use your manual search quota. Paid plans support up to 3 brand profiles depending on your tier (Solo and Growth include 1 brand, while Scale includes up to 3 brands, with Enterprise upgrades available for more).

Digest alerts (optional, plan-dependent) notify you when Auto Search finds new posts since the last digest. Connect destinations and cadence under Dashboard → Settings. Supported channels vary by plan - see Pricing for the current list. Manual search does not send scheduled digests.

Sentiment summarizes emotional tone (for example frustration versus enthusiasm). Buying intent estimates how close someone is to action - comparing tools, asking for recommendations, or describing urgent pain. Together they help you open the highest-leverage threads first.

When you save competitors for a brand in Settings, Needle can call out when those names appear in a post - helpful for comparisons and switching intent. Only public posts are analyzed.

Trending Problems surfaces active pain and demand signals across communities, scored for strength and urgency, with Global and US views. Use it to validate language and timing before you double down on a niche.

When you find a strong thread, Needle can suggest short replies from your brand context - tone (casual, professional, witty) and how directly you mention your product. You edit and post yourself; there is no blind auto-posting or unsolicited DMs.

Search the problem, not your product name - for example people comparing tools or asking for alternatives. Try 3-20 descriptive words, iterate on wording, and revisit the same phrasing over time instead of one-off tab hopping.

Manual Search counts toward plan limits (runs and max results per run). Automatic Auto Search runs do not consume that manual quota. Time windows and caps differ by plan. See Pricing and Plans and limits.

We analyze public conversations. Your account, searches, Auto Search results, and brand settings are treated as yours; we do not sell your data or use it for third-party ad targeting. See the Privacy policy.

We collect what we need to run the product - account details (such as email and name), billing handled by our payment provider, and your in-app activity (search text you run, Auto Search settings and results, and settings you choose). Retention follows our privacy and data policies.

No forever-free tier for Search. Solo, Growth, and Scale are paid subscriptions. 7-day free trial on all plans (Solo, Growth, and Scale; card required; one trial per account). See Pricing for current plans, limits, and platform access.

Choose a plan on Pricing, complete checkout, and add a payment method. You get full plan access for 7 days without being charged for the subscription period. If you end the trial or cancel before day 7, you are not charged for that plan. After day 7, your card is charged for the plan and billing cycle you selected unless billing fails. Promo codes apply to your first paid invoice after the trial, not the $0 trial window. One trial per account - if you already subscribed or used a trial, checkout starts billing immediately. Full terms are on Pricing.

Needle offers Solo, Growth, and Scale, with monthly and annual billing options where offered. Compare features, limits, and platform access on Pricing.

Each plan caps manual search volume, results per run, history depth, exports, digest channels, and related features so the service stays fast and fair. Paid tiers support up to 3 brand profiles depending on plan (Solo/Growth: 1 brand, Scale: up to 3 brands, with Enterprise upgrades available for more). Full limits are on Pricing and Plans and limits.

You can change plans over time. Cancel at period end (access until the end of the paid window) or immediately - immediate cancel ends access now without refund for the current period. You can subscribe again from Pricing after a full cancellation. Billing questions: Refund policy and support@useneedle.net.

Today Needle is per account. Teams usually use individual subscriptions; shared billing for seats may come later based on demand.

Needle works best when buyers discuss products in public communities (Reddit, Hacker News, Stack Overflow, etc.). Pure B2C brands often get stronger signal from consumer research tools. If your buyers show up in technical or founder communities, Needle can still help - see Who is Needle for?.

ChatGPT and Perplexity synthesize answers from training data and the web. Needle finds live public threads where buyers compare tools, rank them by intent and fit, and can monitor your brand on a schedule. Use AI assistants for general research; use Needle when you need specific conversations to join or track.

Solo and Growth plans include 1 brand profile. The Scale plan includes up to 3 brand profiles. For Enterprise tiers or custom brand capacity needs, contact support at support@useneedle.net to upgrade.

Yes! Each brand profile has its own dedicated settings workspace. You can configure unique lookback windows, Auto Search phrases, target communities, and notification channels (Slack, Discord, Google Chat, Teams webhooks) per brand.

Use the brand selector dropdown at the top of the dashboard or settings page. Switching the brand instantly scopes your dashboard view, Auto Search results, and configurations to that specific brand.

Yes. Go to Dashboard → Settings → Brands, open the brand, and choose Delete. This permanently removes the brand and its saved Auto Search history, and its website becomes available for another account to claim. You must keep at least one brand on your account, so if it is your only one, add a new brand first.

No. Auto Search runs automatically in the background on your configured schedule and does not consume your manual search runs quota. Only on-demand searches run via the Manual Search tab consume your manual search limit.

Yes. On Growth and Scale plans, you can save competitor websites and keywords. Needle will automatically flag when those competitors are mentioned in matching public posts.

Join our Discord community or email support@useneedle.net. We typically respond within about one business day.