FAQ
short answers.
Answers to the questions buyers ask most. Each one links to the page with the details.
01Questions
Do I need any paid account to start?
No account is needed to start. OpenStreetMap needs no key, drafts come from a template, and you can send from your own mail app. You need a server and a domain for real use. Google Places, PageSpeed, an AI provider and Resend are optional and bill you directly (Third-party services).
Can it send hundreds of e-mails at once?
No, by design. Each e-mail is one person's click, with a daily limit (default 30, at most 200), a gap between e-mails and a waiting time per business (Sending limits).
Does it scrape Google Maps?
No. It uses OpenStreetMap's public API or the official Google Places API with your own key.
Will the score tell me who will buy?
No. The score says how many facts point to a need for the service you sell, from the business's public website. It is a reason to look closer, not a forecast (Scoring).
Why is Send now greyed out?
One of the send rules is red; the line says what to change (Send rules).
Does it read replies?
No. Replies arrive in your own mailbox; move the lead to Replied (Replies).
Can I use my own AI model, or a local one?
Yes: any OpenAI-compatible API (including a local Ollama through its base address) or Anthropic (AI drafts).
Can business owners stop the website check?
Yes. It follows robots.txt; two lines block it, and /r/about on your server explains how (The /r/about page).
Why did some Google leads disappear?
Google allows keeping its details 30 days. Untouched Google leads are removed after that; leads you worked on keep their name, website and e-mail (Google's 30-day rule).
Can several agencies share one installation?
No. One installation is one agency with its team. Run a separate installation for another agency.
Is the interface available in other languages?
The console and the public pages are in English only in this version. The drafts are in English too; edit them before sending.
Does it run on Windows?
Use WSL with Ubuntu for a trial on Windows. For real use, a Linux server is recommended. Native Windows was not tested for this release.
Can I use PostgreSQL instead of SQLite?
Leadlantern's own data (leads, messages) is in SQLite. Keep it on SQLite; one file is simple to back up (Backups).
Is it legal to write to businesses this way?
It depends on your country and theirs. Leadlantern adds your identity, postal address and an unsubscribe link and keeps a do-not-contact list, but it is not legal advice. Check the rules that apply to you.