You can set up Hunch Light before paying for anything. This article explains what's available right away, what needs a connected Meta channel, and what unlocks when you choose a plan.
What you can always do
You can always create a Hunch catalog. It doesn't matter whether you've connected Meta or chosen a plan yet. You can set up your catalog, configure it, and explore the product.
You can build templates. Image and video templates can be created and edited on any plan, or with no plan at all.
You can claim an existing Meta catalog once your Meta channel is authorized, even before choosing a plan. Nothing changes in Meta until you assign a template collection to it, which needs Template Collections. See Claiming an existing Meta catalog.
Who can choose a plan
Before you add a payment method, make sure your business is eligible:
Plans are for businesses only. You subscribe on behalf of your company, and invoices are issued to that company.
Your business must be in a supported country. Plans are available in countries where our payment provider, Stripe, can calculate tax, based on your business's billing address. Check Stripe's list of supported countries, in the Your customer location column.
Prices are shown before VAT. Tax is calculated at checkout and shown on every invoice. For prices, see catalogvideo.ai.
If your business isn't eligible, you can still create catalogs and build templates, but you can't choose a plan, so syncing and publishing stay unavailable.
What needs a connected Meta channel and a plan
Syncing a catalog and publishing both need two things:
An authorized Meta channel. Connect and authorize your Meta account from your settings. See Platform Authorisation. This is required on both plans, even if you plan to use enriched feeds on Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest or Reddit.
An active plan with a payment method on file. Add a card and choose Enriched Feeds or Template Collections. You can have one plan at a time.
If either one is missing, your catalog stays in setup mode: it exists, but it won't sync and you can't publish from it.
Your situation | Create a catalog | Schedule or run sync | Publish |
Meta not connected, no plan | Yes | No | No |
Meta connected, no plan | Yes | No | No |
Plan active, Meta not connected | Yes | No | No |
Meta connected and plan active | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Messages you might see
If you create a catalog before connecting Meta, you'll see this message in Hunch:
Your catalog is created, but it can't sync until you connect and authorize a Meta channel. Meta authorization is required to sync catalogs and publish.
If you create a catalog before choosing a plan, you'll see this message in Hunch:
Your catalog is created, but it won't sync and you can't publish yet. Add a payment method and choose a plan to schedule sync and start publishing.
When you choose a plan
As soon as your Meta channel is authorized and your plan is active, scheduled sync and publishing unlock. You're billed for your first period at that point, because Hunch Light bills in advance.
You'll also be pointed to the claim catalog flow. If you already have a catalog on Meta, claiming it is usually the fastest way to get started, because you create a new Hunch catalog from your existing one instead of building from scratch. It also keeps the catalog's learning and performance in Meta, so you skip the ramp-up a new catalog needs. See Claiming an existing Meta catalog.
When your plan is active, you'll see this message in Hunch:
You're all set — publishing and sync are now enabled. Tip: the fastest way to get started is to create a new Hunch catalog using the claim feature.
Common questions
Is there a free trial? No. Instead of a limited-time trial, setting up is free with no time limit, and syncing and publishing are what need a plan.
Will anything go live before I subscribe? No. Nothing syncs to Meta and nothing is published until both your Meta channel and your plan are in place. Claiming a catalog doesn't change it either: it keeps syncing from its original feed.
Which plan do I need for which platform? Template collections are available for Meta only. Enriched feeds work on Meta, Snapchat, TikTok, Pinterest and Reddit, and both plans include 2 enriched feeds per Hunch catalog. See Template collections and Enriched feeds.
Do I need Meta if I only advertise on other platforms? Yes. An authorized Meta channel is required to sync and publish on both plans.
Can I subscribe as an individual? No. Hunch Light plans are available to businesses only.
My country isn't supported. Can I still use Hunch Light? You can create catalogs and build templates, but you can't choose a plan, so syncing and publishing aren't available. Stripe adds countries over time, so check the list again later.
Checkout says my country isn't supported, but it's on the list. Check that your billing address is your business's address and that its country is right. If it still doesn't work, email us at [email protected].