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Frequently Asked Questions

Technical

Can I use this in serverless environments?

Yes! That's exactly what Riddle is designed for. Lambda, Cloud Functions, Workers - any environment where you can't run headless Chrome can use our API.

What API do you offer?

One unified endpoint: POST /v1/run

It accepts four input modes:

  • url - Single screenshot
  • urls - Batch screenshots (multiple URLs in one job)
  • steps - JSON steps for multi-step flows (ideal for AI agents)
  • script - Full Playwright code for complex logic

Results are returned directly (sync by default). Use sync: false for long-running jobs that need polling.

Which input mode should I use?

url/urls: Simple screenshots, no interaction needed.

steps: Multi-step flows, AI agents generating actions. Your agent outputs JSON, not code. Safer for LLM-generated actions, no syntax errors.

script: Complex logic, loops, try/catch, custom Playwright code.

Can I pass authentication headers?

Yes! The API passes through headers you provide. You can also inject cookies via options.cookies and localStorage via options.localStorage for session-based and SPA authentication. See Authenticated Pages for details.

How long are screenshots stored?

24 hours. Screenshots are automatically deleted after 1 day. This is a fixed policy - there's no option to extend retention.

Download your screenshots promptly after job completion. If you need long-term storage, save files to your own S3 bucket or local storage.

What's the execution timeout?

30 minutes maximum per request. Most screenshots complete in 5-30 seconds.

Getting Started

How do I get started?

  1. Create an account at riddledc.com/register
  2. Confirm your email to receive 5 minutes of free browser time (~10 screenshots)
  3. Generate an API key from your dashboard
  4. Make your first request!

Where can I find documentation?

API documentation is available at riddledc.com/docs. We provide curl examples, code samples, and detailed endpoint references.

Do you offer support?

Yes! Email us at support@riddledc.com for technical questions, billing issues, or feature requests.

Billing & Pricing

What's the "30 second minimum"?

We advertise a "30 second minimum" as a simplified message. Here's how it breaks down:

  • Compute: 29 seconds minimum (~$0.0040)
  • Egress: All downloads billed separately (~$0.00014 per 1.5MB)
  • Storage: Free up to 10MB for 24 hours

For a typical screenshot (~1MB, downloaded once), you pay 29s compute + ~1s egress ≈ 30s total.

When would I pay more than 30 seconds?

You'll pay more when:

  • Job runs longer: Actual time if over 29 seconds
  • Large downloads: Each 1.5MB costs ~1 second
  • Multiple downloads: Every download costs egress
  • Large files: Over 10MB incurs a storage charge

Why do you bill in seconds?

We bill by the second at ~$0.00014 each (a fraction of a cent). This is more precise than rounding to the nearest cent, which would overcharge you on small transactions.

A $5 purchase gets you 36,000 seconds (10 hours of browser time).

Do credits expire?

Yes, credits expire 12 months after purchase.

Is there a free trial?

Yes! When you confirm your email, you receive 5 minutes of free browser time (~10 screenshots). This lets you test the API before purchasing credits.

Do you offer refunds?

No. All credit purchases are final. We recommend using your free trial credits first to ensure the service meets your needs before purchasing.