Sandcastles finds outlier short-form videos, explains why they worked and helps write scripts. Plans start at $39/month billed yearly.
Researched and fact-checked by Bartu Cavusoglu · Updated October 26, 2026
Sandcastles is a web-based research and scriptwriting tool for short-form video. It helps users find outlier videos, meaning videos that performed far above the norm in a niche, study why they worked, and turn those findings into scripts. The site covers channels on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts and reports more than 100k users.
The product is positioned for anyone who wants to grow faster on social media, from people just starting out to brands scaling up. Rather than editing or producing video, it handles the idea research and script stages, so creators can focus on filming and publishing their own content.
The company describes a four-step workflow. Users first customize a feed of channels from Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, then browse the top-performing videos in their niche. The third step is analysis, where Sandcastles explains why a video went viral and how its approach could be recreated.
The final step is writing. Users develop an idea into their own script using data-backed storytelling. Each analysis, script and report consumes credits, which refresh monthly. Connecting social accounts is optional, but the company says it helps tailor insights, and verified channels unlock personal analytics on paid plans.
On the research side, Sandcastles offers channel discovery, a database of validated outliers and a combined feed for tracking channels across three platforms. Transcripts can be downloaded from any video, and analysis covers hooks, storytelling, formats and styles. These tools aim to replace manual scrolling and note-taking.
On the writing side, the tool generates hooks from templates based on videos with millions of views and writes scripts with proven storytelling frameworks. Projects collect winning ideas, while workspaces separate niches. Paid plans add personal analytics, deep-dive strategy audits, an MCP connector, and API access on Titan.
Sandcastles is a web-based tool that helps creators and brands research short-form video. It finds outlier videos on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts, analyzes why they performed, and helps write scripts based on those findings.
Plans start at $39/month when billed yearly on Pro, or $49/month billed monthly. Visionary is $79 yearly or $99 monthly, and Titan is $399 yearly or $499 monthly. Yearly billing saves 20%.
The site promotes a risk-free trial and a free sign-up button, and users mention being on a free trial. The sources do not state its length or limits.
No, connecting accounts is optional. Sandcastles says users still get value without connecting them, though syncing accounts helps tailor insights. Personal analytics require verifying channels on a paid plan.
Credits are used for three actions: analyzing videos, writing scripts and running reports. Pro includes 100 per month, Visionary 250 and Titan 1500. Unused credits expire at the end of each month.
No. The company states that it does not offer refunds on subscription plans. Users can cancel at any time through the billing portal in Settings.
The Titan plan includes guest access to workspaces, which the site describes as ideal for agencies, plus up to 20 workspaces and 20 verified channels. Smaller plans offer 3 or 5 workspaces.
Sandcastles tracks channels on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts. It also provides an MCP connector on all paid plans and API access on Titan. No other integrations are listed on the site.