SignalModash vs SignalShelf: a pay-as-you-go Modash API alternative
Modash sells influencer discovery and audience analytics on annual contracts. If what you need is live public profile and post data for creators you already know, SignalShelf does that per request, with no contract.
At a glance
Their numbers are quoted from Modash’s public pages, read 3 November 2026. Ours are from our pricing page and our own benchmark. Unknown means the figure isn’t published.
| SignalShelf | Modash | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Prepaid credit packs; 1 credit per request on most endpoints; credits never expire | Annual contracts; Discovery API in credits, Raw API per request |
| Published price | $0.95 per 1k credits (Starter, $19/20k) down to $0.50 (Scale, $499/1M) | Discovery API from $16,200/year; Raw API from $10,000/year; no monthly or pay-as-you-go plans |
| Free tier | 1,000 credits, no card · earn 5,000 more | Testing credits via a sales call; no self-serve trial |
| Coverage | TikTok, Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Reddit, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitch and more, plus Google Maps, Google search/news, Play & App Store, Amazon | Instagram, TikTok, YouTube |
| Auth | x-api-key header. No platform app, login, cookies or creator consent | Authorization: Bearer token |
| Response | Synchronous JSON in the same request; ScrapeCreators-compatible shapes | JSON |
| Speed | Median 1.44 s in our benchmark (3 Nov 2026) | Not speed-tested by us |
| Checkout | One-time packs by card, PayPal or UPI (Dodo Payments) | Live |
Where Modash is stronger
Discovery: search an indexed creator database with filters, which we don’t offer.
Audience demographics, fake-follower and performance reports. We return public profile and post data, not audience analytics.
Unused credits roll over while a contract is active, and failed requests aren’t charged.
Why switch from Modash
No contract: buy a $19 pack (when payments open) or start on 1,000 free credits + 5,000 to earn.
More platforms for live public data: TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, plus Threads, Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Snapchat, Twitch and more.
1 credit per profile lookup, $0.50 to $0.95 per 1k.
Self-serve keys in minutes, synchronous JSON.
How to switch
1. Create a free account and API key: 1,000 credits, no card · earn 5,000 more.
2. Keep Modash (or another tool) for discovery and audience reports if you need them; move raw profile and post lookups to SignalShelf.
3. Map calls: Instagram profile → /v1/instagram/profile, TikTok profile → /v1/tiktok/profile, posts → /v2/instagram/user/posts, /v3/tiktok/profile/videos.
4. Send x-api-key instead of a Bearer token.
Anything we don’t serve yet returns a clear error and costs 0 credits, so you can run both side by side while you move over.
FAQ
Is SignalShelf cheaper than Modash?
For raw public lookups, yes: no annual minimum ($10,000 for Modash’s Raw API, $16,200 for Discovery, read 3 Nov 2026) and $0.50 to $0.95 per 1,000 requests. Modash includes discovery and audience analytics we don’t provide.
Does SignalShelf have audience demographics?
No. We return what is publicly visible on profiles and posts. For audience demographics and fake-follower scoring, use a creator analytics tool.
Is SignalShelf faster than Modash?
We haven’t timed Modash, so we don’t claim it. The only provider we have speed-tested is ScrapeCreators: median 1.44 s for us vs 3.96 s for them on 119 endpoints (3 Nov 2026). The method and raw data are on our benchmark page, so you can run the same check against Modash yourself.
Can I pay for SignalShelf today?
Yes. Start with 1,000 free credits + 5,000 to earn, then buy a one-time pack by card, PayPal or UPI. Credits never expire.
Sources
Pages read on 3 November 2026. Prices change; check their page before you decide.
| Page | What we used |
|---|---|
| www.modash.io/influencer-marketing-api/pricing | Discovery and Raw API pricing, no PAYG |
| docs.modash.io/ | Auth, platforms, format |