Snack Signal™FAQ
Common questions about Snack Signal — how summoning works, what vendors share, where it's available, and how your location is handled.
For residents
Is Snack Signal really free?
Yes — Snack Signal is free for residents. No subscriptions, no fees.
What does "raising the Snack Signal" mean?
It's how you summon a truck. You drop a request pin at your home, and vendors see your raised hand on their live map with your distance and ETA. When a truck accepts, you watch it approach in real time.
Do I need the app to use Snack Signal?
Yes. Create a free account at app.snacksignal.com — it works right in your browser today, with native iOS and Android apps on the way.
Will I get spammed with notifications?
No. Alerts are per-vendor — you choose exactly which trucks can notify you when they're nearby, and you can turn any of them off at any time.
For vendors
What does "going live" share about me?
Only your truck's location, and only while you're live. Broadcasting starts when you begin a shift and stops the moment you end it. Off shift, nothing is shared.
How do I know where the demand is?
Your queue shows every raised signal within your service radius, sorted by distance and ETA. You drive to people who are already waiting instead of cruising empty blocks.
Is it only for ice cream trucks?
No — ice cream trucks came first, but Snack Signal works for any mobile food vendor. Tacos, coffee, donuts, pizza — if you roll, you can go live.
Vendor plans & pricing
What does Snack Signal cost for vendors?
Nothing during the pilot. When pricing turns on after the pilot, plans are sized by how many snack signals you receive each month — Free ($0, 25 signals/mo), Starter ($29 per active month, 150), and Pro ($79 per active month, 500). Pilot vendors get a founding discount on their first paid season. Full details on the pricing page.
What happens if I get more signals than my plan includes?
They keep coming. Caps are soft — we never block, hide, or drop a resident's signal over billing. If you're regularly over your cap, we'll suggest the next plan up. That's it.
Do I pay in the off-season?
No. Any calendar month with zero live shifts is $0, automatically — nothing to pause, no forms. Park the truck for the winter and your bill is nothing.
Is the free plan really the full product?
Yes. Free includes the entire core loop — live map presence, broadcasting, the signal queue, menu and preorders, optional in-app payments, followers, and alerts — with 25 signals a month included. Paid plans add business tools (analytics, announcement pushes, routing, priority support). Basic visibility is never paywalled.
General
Where is Snack Signal available?
We're in a neighborhood pilot phase and expanding. The app works anywhere a vendor goes live — sign up and follow your local trucks to bring it to your street.
How is my location handled?
Residents share location only in the foreground — when raising a signal or setting a home pin. Vendors broadcast only while live on a shift. We don't sell personal information. Full details in our privacy policy.