Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started takes less than 10 minutes: 1) Sign up at hookpulse.in and get your API key, 2) Make an API call to schedule your first webhook with your desired timing (cron, interval, or specific time), 3) We'll call your endpoint at the scheduled time. No infrastructure setup, no worker processes, no message brokers needed. Check out our /guides page for detailed tutorials.

HOOKPULSE works with ANY programming language because it's based on HTTP webhooks. Whether you use Python, Node.js, Ruby, Go, Java, PHP, .NET, or any other language that can receive HTTP requests, HOOKPULSE will work. We call your webhook endpoint via HTTP POST/GET, so as long as you can handle HTTP requests, you can use HOOKPULSE.

No! HOOKPULSE is a fully managed cloud service. You don't need to install any software, libraries, or dependencies. Just make HTTP API calls to schedule webhooks. There's no SDK required (though we provide code examples for popular languages). Your application just needs to expose an HTTP endpoint to receive the webhook callbacks.

Most developers integrate HOOKPULSE in 5-15 minutes. The process is: 1) Get your API key (1 minute), 2) Add one API call to schedule webhooks (5 minutes), 3) Create a webhook endpoint to receive callbacks (5-10 minutes). No complex setup, no infrastructure provisioning, no configuration files. Check our /guides page for step-by-step integration tutorials.

HOOKPULSE provides millisecond-precise timing for all scheduled webhooks. Our enterprise-grade infrastructure ensures webhooks execute at the exact scheduled time with minimal drift. For clocked schedules, execution happens within milliseconds of the specified timestamp. For cron and interval schedules, timing is precise to the second, with millisecond-level accuracy for execution start times. This precision is critical for time-sensitive applications like payment processing, trading systems, and IoT device synchronization.

Time-precise job scheduling means HOOKPULSE executes your webhooks at the exact time you specify, with millisecond accuracy. Unlike basic schedulers that may drift by seconds or minutes, HOOKPULSE maintains precise timing across all schedule types (cron, interval, clocked, solar). Our infrastructure uses synchronized clocks, optimized queues, and low-latency execution to ensure your webhooks fire exactly when intended. This is essential for applications requiring exact timing like financial transactions, automated trading, and synchronized IoT operations.

HOOKPULSE webhooks execute with millisecond precision. Clocked schedules (one-time future execution) are accurate to within milliseconds of the specified timestamp. Cron schedules execute at the exact minute/second specified in the expression. Interval schedules maintain precise intervals (e.g., every 5 minutes means exactly 5 minutes, not 5 minutes and 3 seconds). Solar event schedules use astronomical calculations for exact sunrise/sunset times. Our multi-region infrastructure with synchronized NTP clocks ensures consistent accuracy globally.

Yes! HOOKPULSE supports millisecond precision for all schedule types. When you schedule a clocked webhook for a specific timestamp (e.g., 2025-12-25T14:30:00.500Z), it executes at that exact millisecond. Our infrastructure is designed for enterprise-grade precision timing, making HOOKPULSE suitable for high-frequency trading, real-time synchronization, financial systems, and any application requiring exact timing. All execution logs include millisecond-precise timestamps for verification.

HOOKPULSE uses precise cron expression parsing and synchronized system clocks to execute cron schedules at the exact time specified. For example, a cron schedule '0 9 * * *' (daily at 9:00 AM) executes at exactly 9:00:00 AM in your specified timezone, not 9:00:03 AM or 9:01 AM. Our scheduling engine accounts for timezone conversions, daylight saving time transitions, and leap seconds to maintain accuracy. Execution happens within milliseconds of the scheduled second.

HOOKPULSE provides exact timing for all four schedule types: 1) Cron - executes at the precise minute/second specified in the cron expression (e.g., '0 14 * * *' = exactly 2:00 PM), 2) Interval - maintains exact intervals between executions (e.g., every 5 minutes means exactly 300 seconds), 3) Solar - calculates and executes at exact sunrise/sunset times using astronomical data, 4) Clocked - executes at the exact millisecond specified in the ISO 8601 timestamp. All schedules respect timezone settings and maintain millisecond precision.

HOOKPULSE supports all IANA timezone identifiers (e.g., Asia/Kolkata, America/New_York) and maintains precise timing regardless of timezone. When you schedule a cron webhook with timezone 'Asia/Kolkata', it executes at the exact local time in IST. Our system handles daylight saving time transitions automatically - a schedule for 9 AM EST will execute at 9 AM EST even when DST changes. Timezone conversions are precise to the millisecond, ensuring your webhooks fire at the correct local time for each timezone.

Absolutely! HOOKPULSE supports millisecond-precise scheduling for clocked (one-time) schedules. Specify your timestamp with millisecond precision (e.g., 2025-12-25T14:30:00.500Z), and HOOKPULSE will execute at that exact millisecond. This is perfect for time-critical applications like financial trading, synchronized device operations, and high-precision automation. All execution logs show millisecond-precise timestamps so you can verify exact timing.

HOOKPULSE maintains millisecond precision even at massive scale. Our cloud-native infrastructure with multi-region redundancy ensures consistent timing accuracy whether you're scheduling 100 webhooks or 10 million. We use synchronized NTP clocks, optimized execution queues, and load balancing to prevent timing drift. Enterprise customers process millions of precisely-timed webhooks monthly with consistent millisecond accuracy. Our 99.9% uptime SLA includes timing precision guarantees.

HOOKPULSE is built specifically for precise timing: 1) Synchronized NTP clocks across all regions, 2) Optimized execution queues with minimal latency, 3) Millisecond-precise timestamp handling, 4) Automatic timezone and DST handling, 5) Low-latency infrastructure. Unlike basic cron services that may drift by seconds, or self-hosted solutions with clock synchronization issues, HOOKPULSE guarantees millisecond precision. Our infrastructure is purpose-built for accurate scheduling, not adapted from general-purpose systems.

HOOKPULSE supports four schedule types: 1) Cron - recurring schedules using cron expressions (e.g., daily at 8 AM, every Monday), 2) Interval - recurring intervals (e.g., every 5 minutes, every 2 hours), 3) Clocked - one-time execution at a specific future date/time, 4) Solar - schedules based on sunset/sunrise (for IoT and location-based apps). All schedules support timezone configuration and execute with millisecond precision.

Yes! HOOKPULSE fully supports all IANA timezone identifiers (e.g., Asia/Kolkata, America/New_York, Europe/London). When you schedule a cron webhook, you can specify the timezone, and we'll execute it at the correct local time. For clocked schedules, use ISO 8601 format with timezone offset (e.g., 2025-12-25T14:30:00+05:30 for IST). This is perfect for global applications serving users in different regions.

HOOKPULSE includes built-in retry logic for failed webhooks. You can configure: 1) Number of retries (e.g., retry up to 3 times), 2) Retry delay in seconds (e.g., wait 5 minutes between retries). If your webhook returns a 5xx status code or times out, we automatically retry. We don't retry for 4xx errors (client errors). You can also enable Slack notifications to alert you when webhooks fail after all retries.

Yes! You can include custom HTTP headers with your webhook requests. This is perfect for authentication tokens, API keys, signature verification, or any custom headers your API requires. For example, you can send Authorization headers, custom X-API-Key headers, or HMAC signatures for security. All headers are sent securely over HTTPS.

HOOKPULSE supports all standard HTTP methods: GET, POST, PUT, PATCH, DELETE. Most users use POST for webhooks with JSON payloads, but you can use GET for simple health checks or status endpoints. You can also specify custom request bodies (JSON, XML, or plain text) and headers for complete flexibility.

Absolutely! That's the primary way to use HOOKPULSE. When a user performs an action in your app (e.g., signs up, abandons cart, creates a reminder), your backend code makes an API call to HOOKPULSE to schedule the webhook. For example, when a user signs up, you can schedule a welcome email webhook for 5 minutes later, a trial reminder for day 11, and a trial expiration webhook for day 14 - all programmatically via our API.

HOOKPULSE has transparent usage-based pricing with full control: Base subscription ₹100/month + charges based on actual usage. Webhook execution costs ₹0.03 per second (e.g., 0.5s webhook = 1.5 paise). Schedule creation: Interval ₹0.75, Crontab/Clocked ₹0.50, Solar ₹0.95. Unlike competitors with fixed unused credits, you pay ONLY for what you use. Our interactive calculator on /pricing shows your exact monthly cost based on your usage patterns.

With HOOKPULSE's usage-based pricing, YOU have control over your costs. Optimize your webhooks from 0.8s to 0.3s and save 60% on execution costs. No wasted money on unused fixed credits. No surprise tier jumps when you hit a limit. Costs scale linearly with your growth. Most platforms charge ₹3-5 per task with fixed packages. HOOKPULSE charges ₹0.015-0.15 per task (for 0.5s webhooks) - that's 20-300x cheaper. You benefit from writing efficient code!

Execution time is measured from when we send the HTTP request to your webhook until we receive a complete response. For example: if your webhook takes 0.43 seconds to respond, the cost is 0.43 × ₹0.03 = 1.29 paise. Faster webhooks = lower costs. This incentivizes you to write efficient webhook handlers and directly benefits your budget. You can see exact execution times for every webhook in your analytics dashboard.

Yes! New accounts start with free credits to test HOOKPULSE. No credit card required for signup. This is perfect for evaluating the service, running integration tests, and building your proof of concept. After the trial, you only pay for what you use with our transparent usage-based pricing starting at ₹100/month base.

Perfect! That's exactly when usage-based pricing shines. During slow months, you pay less. During busy months, you pay more - but only for actual usage. No wasted money on overprovisioned fixed plans. No scrambling to upgrade mid-month. Costs scale automatically with your business. Use our /pricing calculator with your peak and average usage to see the flexibility.

HOOKPULSE is significantly cheaper than self-hosting. A typical Celery/Sidekiq setup costs: Redis ($15-50/month) + Worker EC2 ($30-60/month) + Monitoring ($10-50/month) + Maintenance (4-8 hours × $50/hr = $200-400/month) = $255-560/month. HOOKPULSE starts at ₹100/month ($1.20) base + usage-based charges, typically $5-50/month for most use cases with ZERO maintenance time. You save 90-95% on infrastructure costs plus countless engineering hours.

We use Cashfree payment gateway for secure payment processing in India. All transactions are encrypted and secure. You can pay via UPI, credit card, debit card, or net banking. We also support international payments via Stripe. Invoices are generated automatically and sent to your email. You can view all your payment history in the dashboard.

HOOKPULSE is built for 99.9% uptime. We're deployed across multiple availability zones on Google Cloud Platform with automatic failover. Our database has daily backups stored in two regions for redundancy. We use highly available message queues and load balancing. Our infrastructure scales automatically to handle any load. Check our public status page for real-time uptime metrics and historical performance data.

HOOKPULSE supports multiple security methods: 1) Always use HTTPS webhook URLs (we support HTTPS only), 2) Add custom authentication headers (e.g., secret tokens, API keys), 3) Implement HMAC signature verification, 4) Use IP whitelisting (contact us for our IP ranges), 5) Implement rate limiting on your webhook endpoints. Check our /guides page for detailed security implementation tutorials with code examples.

If your webhook endpoint is down or returns a 5xx error, HOOKPULSE automatically retries based on your retry configuration. You can configure up to 10 retries with custom delay intervals. If all retries fail, we send you a Slack notification (if configured) so you can investigate. You can view all failed webhooks in your analytics dashboard with full error details and response times.

Yes! HOOKPULSE includes a comprehensive analytics dashboard showing: 1) All scheduled webhooks with status (active, completed, failed), 2) Execution logs with timestamps, HTTP status codes, response times, 3) Success/failure analytics with graphs, 4) Retry attempts and outcomes, 5) Performance metrics (average response time, good/average performance counts). You also get Slack notifications for failures.

You can configure timeout values for each webhook (default is 30 seconds). If your endpoint doesn't respond within the timeout, we mark it as failed and retry according to your retry configuration. Timeouts prevent hanging requests from blocking the queue. Set appropriate timeouts based on your endpoint's expected response time.

Yes! All data is encrypted in transit (HTTPS/TLS) and at rest. We follow security best practices including regular security audits, encrypted backups, access controls, and monitoring. We don't log sensitive data from your webhook payloads. Our infrastructure is hosted on Google Cloud Platform with enterprise-grade security. We're compliant with industry security standards.

HOOKPULSE is perfect for: Payment reminders (send before subscription expires), Abandoned cart recovery (follow-up emails after 1 hour, 24 hours), Daily/weekly reports (automated report generation), Trial expiration notifications (remind users before trial ends), Database backups (nightly automated backups), Social media post scheduling (publish at optimal times), Order fulfillment tracking (check status every 2 hours), Recurring invoices (monthly billing), Delayed notifications (send SMS/email after delays). Check /use-cases for 10+ detailed examples with code.

HOOKPULSE is a managed service - no infrastructure needed. Celery requires you to maintain Redis/RabbitMQ, worker processes, and monitoring. HOOKPULSE costs ₹500/month vs Celery's $255-560/month infrastructure + maintenance. HOOKPULSE works with any language (HTTP webhooks) while Celery is Python-only. HOOKPULSE setup takes 5 minutes vs hours for Celery. See /comparisons for detailed feature-by-feature comparison with code examples.

HOOKPULSE is dramatically simpler and cheaper. EventBridge requires IAM roles, Lambda functions, CloudWatch configuration - HOOKPULSE is one API call. For 200K webhooks, HOOKPULSE costs ₹2000/month ($24) vs EventBridge's $300+. HOOKPULSE has zero AWS lock-in (standard HTTP). Setup: 5 minutes vs 8 hours. No AWS expertise needed. See /comparisons for full cost analysis and code comparison.

HOOKPULSE is for developers (API-first, programmatic control) while Zapier is for non-technical users (GUI). HOOKPULSE costs ₹500/month for 50K operations vs Zapier's $299-999/month. HOOKPULSE schedules are version-controlled code, Zapier is point-and-click. HOOKPULSE gives unlimited flexibility (your custom code), Zapier has limited filters. Choose HOOKPULSE for developer workflows, Zapier for business automation. See /comparisons.

Yes, if your Sidekiq jobs can be converted to webhook calls! HOOKPULSE works with any language (not just Ruby) and costs much less (₹1000/month vs Sidekiq Pro's $179/month + infrastructure). For scheduled jobs, HOOKPULSE is perfect. For jobs needing tight Rails model integration, keep Sidekiq. Many teams use both: Sidekiq for immediate jobs, HOOKPULSE for scheduled/delayed jobs. See /comparisons and /guides/migrating-from-celery (similar concepts apply).

Absolutely! HOOKPULSE automatically scales to handle any load. We process millions of webhooks monthly for customers. Our Business plan supports 300K webhooks/month, and Enterprise plan is unlimited. Our infrastructure auto-scales based on load, ensuring consistent performance. We maintain 99.9% uptime even during traffic spikes. If you need > 1 million webhooks/month, contact us for custom enterprise pricing.

Solar event scheduling allows you to trigger webhooks based on sunrise and sunset times at any location. Perfect for: Smart home lighting (turn lights on at sunset), Agriculture irrigation (water crops at sunrise/sunset), Solar panel monitoring (check performance at sunrise/sunset), Security cameras (switch to night vision at sunset), Environmental sensors (collect data at optimal times). HOOKPULSE automatically calculates sunrise/sunset times based on latitude/longitude and adjusts for seasonal changes. See /use-cases/solar-schedule for detailed examples.

When you create a solar event webhook, you provide latitude and longitude coordinates. HOOKPULSE uses astronomical calculations to determine exact sunrise and sunset times for that location. Times automatically adjust throughout the year as day length changes. For example, sunset in Mumbai might be 6:30 PM in December but 7:15 PM in June - HOOKPULSE handles this automatically. No manual updates needed!

Yes! Each solar event webhook can have its own location. You can schedule different webhooks for different locations (e.g., multiple farm fields, different smart home locations, various solar installations). Each webhook will trigger at the correct sunrise/sunset time for its specific location. Perfect for managing distributed IoT devices or multi-location businesses.

Cron: Recurring schedules using cron expressions (e.g., 'every Monday at 9 AM', '1st of month'). Interval: Recurring intervals (e.g., 'every 5 minutes', 'every 2 hours'). Clocked: One-time execution at a specific future date/time. Solar: Triggers based on sunrise/sunset at a location (automatically adjusts for seasons). Choose cron for fixed recurring schedules, interval for regular intervals, clocked for one-time future events, and solar for location-based daylight-dependent automation. See /use-cases for examples of each.

HOOKPULSE uses precise astronomical calculations based on your exact latitude/longitude coordinates. Sunrise/sunset times are accurate to within 1-2 minutes, accounting for elevation, atmospheric refraction, and timezone. This is sufficient for all practical applications including smart home automation, agriculture, and IoT devices. Times update automatically as Earth's position changes throughout the year.

Yes! You can use multiple schedule types together. For example: Schedule a solar event webhook for sunset (turn lights on), then schedule an interval webhook to check light status every hour until sunrise, then schedule another solar event for sunrise (turn lights off). You can also combine cron schedules (daily reports) with solar events (location-based triggers) in the same application. Each webhook is independent and can use any schedule type.

HOOKPULSE handles polar regions correctly. Near the poles, there are periods of continuous daylight (midnight sun) or continuous darkness (polar night). During these periods, sunrise/sunset events won't trigger (which is correct behavior). For locations experiencing polar day/night, consider using cron or interval schedules instead, or contact support for custom solutions. Most users are in latitudes where daily sunrise/sunset occurs year-round.

Solar event scheduling triggers webhooks based on sunrise and sunset times at specific geographic locations. Unlike fixed-time schedules, solar events automatically adjust for seasonal changes in day length. Perfect for IoT devices, smart home automation, agriculture, renewable energy systems, and any application that needs to respond to daylight changes. HOOKPULSE calculates exact sunrise/sunset times using your latitude/longitude coordinates.

Create a solar event webhook by specifying: schedule_type: 'solar', solar_event: 'sunrise' or 'sunset', location: { latitude, longitude }. HOOKPULSE automatically calculates the exact time and triggers your webhook. Example: Schedule lights to turn on at sunset by setting solar_event: 'sunset' with your home's coordinates. The webhook will fire at the correct sunset time, which changes throughout the year automatically.

No! That's the beauty of solar event scheduling. HOOKPULSE automatically recalculates sunrise/sunset times based on Earth's position throughout the year. A webhook scheduled for sunset in Mumbai will fire at 6:30 PM in December and 7:15 PM in June - all automatically. You set it once and it works year-round without any manual updates.

Solar event scheduling is perfect for: Smart home lighting (automatic outdoor lights), Agriculture irrigation (water at optimal times), Solar panel monitoring (check performance at sunrise/sunset), Security cameras (switch modes at dusk/dawn), Environmental sensors (collect data at stable times), Greenhouse climate control (adjust settings with daylight), Renewable energy grid management (switch power sources). See /use-cases/solar-schedule for 7+ detailed examples with code.

HOOKPULSE calculates sunrise/sunset times using astronomical algorithms that account for: Exact latitude/longitude, Elevation above sea level, Atmospheric refraction, Timezone. Times are accurate to within 1-2 minutes, which is sufficient for all practical applications. For most IoT and automation use cases, this precision is more than adequate.

Absolutely! You can create separate webhooks for sunrise and sunset. For example: One webhook triggers at sunrise to turn off lights, another triggers at sunset to turn lights on. Each webhook is independent and can have different payloads, endpoints, and configurations. Many users schedule both events for complete day/night automation.

In polar regions during midnight sun (continuous daylight) or polar night (continuous darkness), sunrise/sunset events won't trigger because they don't occur. This is correct behavior. For these locations, use cron or interval schedules instead. Most users are in latitudes where daily sunrise/sunset occurs year-round. Contact support if you need custom solutions for extreme latitudes.

Solar event scheduling costs ₹0.95 per schedule creation (slightly more than cron/interval due to astronomical calculations). Execution costs are the same as other webhooks: ₹0.03 per second of execution time. For example, a daily sunrise/sunset automation costs ₹57/month (₹0.95 × 2 events × 30 days) plus execution costs. Very affordable for location-aware automation!

Yes! Each solar event webhook can specify its own location. You can schedule different webhooks for different locations (e.g., multiple farm fields, various smart home locations, different solar installations). Each will trigger at the correct sunrise/sunset time for its specific coordinates. Perfect for managing distributed systems.

Solar events use your location's coordinates to calculate sunrise/sunset times in local time. HOOKPULSE automatically accounts for timezone based on your coordinates. For example, a solar event in Mumbai (18.52°N, 73.85°E) will use IST (UTC+5:30). The webhook fires at the local sunrise/sunset time, which is what you want for location-based automation.

Cron uses fixed times (e.g., 'every day at 6 PM') while solar events use daylight-dependent times (e.g., 'at sunset'). Cron requires manual updates as seasons change, solar events adjust automatically. Use cron for fixed schedules (daily reports at 8 AM), use solar for daylight-dependent automation (lights on at sunset). Solar events are perfect when timing should follow natural daylight patterns.

Yes! You can schedule test solar event webhooks with future dates to verify they trigger correctly. You can also check the calculated sunrise/sunset times in your dashboard before the webhook fires. For immediate testing, use clocked schedules with manually calculated times, then switch to solar events once verified. Our dashboard shows upcoming solar event times for your scheduled webhooks.

For mobile or changing locations, you can: 1) Update the webhook location via API when device moves, 2) Create new webhooks for new locations and cancel old ones, 3) Use a central service that receives location updates and manages webhooks. For fixed installations (smart homes, farms, solar panels), set location once and it works automatically. Contact support for mobile use case guidance.

We offer multiple support channels: Email support at kaizenandinnovations@gmail.com (response within 24 hours), WhatsApp support at +91-8076440544 for urgent issues, Detailed documentation at /guides and /use-cases, In-dashboard help and tooltips. All paid plans include priority support with faster response times. Enterprise customers get dedicated support channels.

Yes! Your dashboard shows real-time usage: Current month's webhook count, Remaining quota for your plan, Usage graphs and trends, Per-project breakdown, Daily/weekly/monthly analytics. You can set up usage alerts to notify you when approaching your plan limit. All usage data is updated in real-time.

You can cancel anytime from your Account page. The plan remains active until the end of your current billing month, then automatically downgrades to the free tier. All previously scheduled webhooks continue to work under the free tier limits. No cancellation fees, no questions asked. We'd love feedback on why you're leaving to help us improve!

Yes! You can upgrade or downgrade anytime. Upgrades take effect immediately with pro-rated billing. Downgrades take effect at the start of your next billing cycle. If you're unsure which plan you need, start with Starter and upgrade as you grow. We'll also reach out proactively if we see you consistently hitting limits to suggest the right plan.

Yes! For teams needing > 1 million webhooks/month, custom SLAs, dedicated support, on-premise deployment, or specific compliance requirements, we offer custom enterprise plans. Contact us at kaizenandinnovations@gmail.com or via /contact to discuss your needs. We'll create a tailored solution with custom pricing.

We want you to be happy! If you're not satisfied within the first 30 days, contact us and we'll work to resolve any issues. In cases where HOOKPULSE isn't the right fit, we offer refunds on a case-by-case basis. Our goal is your success, and we're committed to making sure HOOKPULSE works for your use case or helping you find a better solution.