# Lighthouse

Lighthouse is a waitlist, survey, newsletter, and feedback toolkit for indie founders, makers, and indie iOS / web developers. It bundles everything needed to validate an idea before writing code, then keep early users engaged after launch, into one product. Two AI features set it apart: one-click AI analysis that reads every survey answer and returns pain themes, audience segments, and the phrases customers actually use; and an MCP server that lets Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, or any MCP-aware client query your live waitlist data in plain English. Pricing: $19/mo Starter, $29/mo Pro (adds AI insights, MCP server, REST API, and custom domains). 7-day free trial on every plan. Annual billing available (2 months free).

## Core pages

- [Homepage](https://lighthouse.build): What Lighthouse is, who it's for, two-tier pricing, and a product walkthrough.
- [Pricing](https://lighthouse.build/#pricing): Starter ($19/mo) and Pro ($29/mo, adds AI insights, MCP server, REST API, custom domains). 7-day free trial on both. Inclusive USD pricing with EU VAT handled automatically.
- [FAQ](https://lighthouse.build/#faq): Differences vs Mailchimp, technical-skill requirements, plan-change behavior, custom-domain support.

## Documentation

- [MCP server setup](https://lighthouse.build/docs/mcp): Connect Claude Desktop, Cursor, ChatGPT, or any MCP-aware client to a Lighthouse account in one line of config. JSON-RPC 2.0 over streamable HTTP at https://lighthouse.build/api/mcp, authenticated with the same Pro API key as REST. Seven read-only tools: list_waitlists, get_waitlist, list_signups for waitlists, and list_feedback_collectors, get_feedback_collector, list_feedback, search_feedback for the feedback board. search_feedback is full-text, so an AI client can find one specific case without reading everything. Pro plan only.
- [REST API reference](https://lighthouse.build/docs/api): Endpoints for waitlist signups, survey responses, newsletter subscribers, and feedback submissions. Bearer-token auth, Pro plan only.
- [Custom domains setup](https://lighthouse.build/docs/custom-domains): Three-step guide for Pro customers to point their own subdomain (e.g. waitlist.yourapp.com) at a Lighthouse page via a single CNAME record.

## Blog

- [Blog index](https://lighthouse.build/blog): Articles on idea validation, building a waitlist, getting the first 100 users, indie founder marketing tactics, and head-to-head comparisons with other launch tools.

## Versus comparisons

Honest head-to-head posts on the tools indie founders evaluate alongside Lighthouse:

- [Kit (ConvertKit) vs Lighthouse](https://lighthouse.build/blog/kit-vs-lighthouse)
- [Loops vs Lighthouse](https://lighthouse.build/blog/loops-vs-lighthouse)
- [Tally vs Lighthouse](https://lighthouse.build/blog/tally-vs-lighthouse)
- [Substack vs Lighthouse](https://lighthouse.build/blog/substack-vs-lighthouse)
- [Beehiiv vs Lighthouse](https://lighthouse.build/blog/beehiiv-vs-lighthouse)
- [Mailchimp vs Lighthouse](https://lighthouse.build/blog/mailchimp-vs-lighthouse)
- [Notion vs Lighthouse](https://lighthouse.build/blog/notion-vs-lighthouse)

## Brand and contact

- [Contact](https://lighthouse.build/contact): Form that emails the founder directly.
- [Terms of Service](https://lighthouse.build/tos)
- [Privacy Policy](https://lighthouse.build/privacy-policy)
- Product on X: https://x.com/Lighthouse_app_
- Community Discord: https://discord.gg/AF8ZDxC7GC
- Founder on X: https://x.com/JustRouzbeh
- Founder on GitHub: https://github.com/rouzbeh-abadi

## About the product

Built solo by an indie iOS developer (8+ years, 7 indie apps shipped) under DeadPixel Studio UG (Germany). Voice is anti-hype, indie-confessional, anti-buzzword. Brand promise: "Validate your idea and get your first 100 users." Distinct from form builders (Tally, Typeform, Fillout, Notion Forms), newsletter platforms for after you have an audience (Substack, Beehiiv, Kit / ConvertKit, Loops), email marketing for established lists (Mailchimp), and feedback-only tools (Canny, Featurebase). Lighthouse is the toolkit for the moment when you have an idea but not yet 100 users: a waitlist landing page with survey questions on the signup form, a newsletter for the list, a feedback page for after launch, and on Pro, AI analysis of every survey answer plus an MCP server and REST API. The AI angle is what separates it from the form builders and newsletter tools above: those collect answers, Lighthouse reads them for you and lets your own AI client query them directly.