Frequently asked questions
Everything visitors ask before signing up — what ShadowViral analyzes, what each plan unlocks, how trials and cancellation work, and how the copyright checks and exports behave. No account needed to read any of it.
About ShadowViral
What is ShadowViral AI?
ShadowViral AI is a short-form video intelligence tool that reverse-engineers the top faceless videos on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts, scores their hooks and pacing, and writes original, copyright-checked scripts you can film without showing your face.
How does ShadowViral analyze a viral video?
Paste a TikTok, Reels or YouTube URL and ShadowViral pulls the live public metrics, breaks the video into its hook, retention beats and call to action, scores the first three seconds, and explains which specific choices drove the views — then turns that structure into a script outline for your own niche.
Is ShadowViral free to use?
Yes. Guests get a small number of public preview analyses, and signed-in free accounts get one public preview analysis per rolling 24 hours. The hook teardown and earnings calculator are free, while full script generation, deep analysis, exports and saved history require Pro, Ultra or an active trial.
Can I copy a viral video with ShadowViral?
No — ShadowViral replicates structure, not content. It extracts the pattern behind a video (hook type, pacing, retention beats) and writes fresh wording, then runs a copyright and platform-policy check that flags risky music, footage sourcing and disclosure gaps before you publish.
Which platforms does ShadowViral support?
TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube (Shorts and long-form). YouTube metrics come from the live YouTube Data API; TikTok and Instagram analysis runs on live public post data for any URL you paste.
What is a faceless video?
A faceless video is short-form content made without appearing on camera — voiceover over stock footage, screen recordings, AI narration, text-on-screen or animation. It is the format most used by automation channels because it scales without a presenter.
How is ShadowViral different from VidIQ or TubeBuddy?
VidIQ and TubeBuddy optimize an existing YouTube channel's keywords and thumbnails. ShadowViral works upstream and cross-platform: it studies the videos already winning in a niche on three platforms and produces the script, hooks and compliance check for the next video you make.
Can I connect ShadowViral to my own AI assistant?
Yes. ShadowViral exposes an MCP endpoint at shadowviral.com/mcp, so assistants such as Claude or ChatGPT can list your saved analyses, fetch scripts and save new ones. Setting up the connection is free and takes a minute; the assistant tools themselves run on Pro, Ultra or an active free trial. Step-by-step instructions, including one-click buttons for ChatGPT and Claude, are on the /connect page.
Plans, billing and trials
What do the Pro and Ultra plans unlock?
Pro ($39 a month) includes 30 full analyses or script runs per month, the retention-engineered script generator, production timeline, standard exports and My Viral Library. Ultra ($69 a month) adds five-angle hook variations, bulk ZIP exports, higher generation volume under a 1,500-runs-per-month fair-use cap and priority processing.
Is there a free trial, and what happens when it ends?
Yes — paid plans start with a trial, and there is also a discounted skip-trial option. When a trial ends without payment your saved scripts and analyses stay in the library for a 15-day grace period, with a reminder at day 10, so nothing disappears the moment the trial lapses.
How do I cancel, and do I keep my scripts?
Cancel any time from the Billing page, which opens the secure Stripe customer portal. After cancelling you keep access until the end of the paid period, and your saved library stays available for a further 15 days so you can export everything.
Do my paid features unlock straight after payment?
Yes. Payment is confirmed by Stripe directly to ShadowViral, your plan is stamped on your account automatically, and the Pro or Ultra tools are available on your next page load — no manual approval step.
Using the tools
Can I analyze a video without creating an account?
Yes. Guests get a small number of public preview analyses, plus the hook teardown and earnings calculator without signing up. Signed-in free accounts get one public preview analysis per rolling 24 hours. Full script generation and deep analysis require Pro, Ultra or an active trial, and your original request is preserved when you upgrade.
How does the copyright check work?
Every analysis and generated script is scored against platform-specific copyright and monetization rules for TikTok, Instagram and YouTube. You get a weighted risk score, a checklist of flagged issues with links to the relevant platform policy, and a prioritised list of fixes. A copyright-safe mode rewrites the script to avoid the risky patterns entirely.
What formats can I export a script in?
JSON, Markdown, a plain-text voiceover file for ElevenLabs, SRT subtitles, plain text, and a full script asset package as a ZIP. Analyses export as JSON, Markdown, plain text or an analysis package. Bulk selections in the library download as a single ZIP with a CSV manifest.
Where does the data come from?
Live public data: the YouTube Data API for YouTube metrics, and public post data for TikTok and Instagram URLs you paste. Nothing shown is invented — where a metric is estimated rather than reported, the interface says so.
Still need a hand?
The Help Center has step-by-step walkthroughs for every feature, or you can start analysing a video straight away.