DeskBot: questions and answers
The price, the pre-order, delivery and returns, what it shows, and how it gets your numbers.
Ordering and delivery
- How much does DeskBot cost?
- £29 at the launch price, until 8 February 2027. From 9 February 2027 it is £49. In US dollars it is $39 at launch and $65 after; in euros, €35 and €59. Postage is added at checkout.
- What does pre-order mean here?
- You pay at checkout, and your DeskBot ships within 21 days of your order. Your receipt gives the exact ship-by date, and we email the tracking number when it leaves.
- When will it arrive?
- Within 21 days it is dispatched by Royal Mail tracked post. UK delivery takes 1 to 3 working days after that, so most UK orders arrive within a month. International delivery usually takes 3 to 10 working days more, depending on the country and customs.
- Where do you ship?
- Worldwide, from the UK, to every country Stripe and Royal Mail deliver to, apart from places under UK sanctions. Checkout shows the postage for your address before you pay.
- Will I pay import duty or tax?
- Orders shipped outside the UK may be charged import VAT, duty or a handling fee by your country's customs or courier when they arrive. Those are not included in the price.
- Can I cancel a pre-order?
- Yes. Cancel any time before it ships for a full refund: reply to your receipt email. After delivery you have 14 days to return it.
- Is there a monthly fee or an account?
- No. You pay once. There is no DeskBot account or subscription, and firmware updates install by themselves.
- What if it arrives faulty?
- Email us within 30 days of delivery and we replace it or refund you in full, including postage.
What it does
- What does DeskBot show?
- The time, date and weather; then your revenue (MRR, ARR and the 7 and 30 day change), users (total, new and active), a breakdown you name yourself (customers, subscriptions, orders or deals, with a share or conversion card) and the day's pulse (wins and losses). The screens rotate by themselves and each can be turned off.
- Where do the numbers come from?
- From one HTTPS endpoint on your own server, which DeskBot reads once a minute. It does not log in to Stripe, your database or analytics tools itself. See the setup guide.
- Can it show my Stripe MRR?
- Yes, through a small route on your server that reads Stripe and returns the total. The Stripe MRR page has a complete one.
- Does it celebrate new customers?
- Yes. When your count of new paying customers this month goes up, it plays a celebration on screen. A rise in churn or failed payments shows an alert. See the sales bell page.
- Does DeskBot connect to Stripe directly?
- No. It reads one endpoint on your server, which reads Stripe with your key, so the key never leaves your server. The Stripe MRR page has the route.
- Does it work with Paddle, Lemon Squeezy, Chargebee or RevenueCat?
- Yes, through your endpoint. DeskBot only sees the JSON your server returns, so any billing system that can report MRR works.
- Can I use it without writing code?
- Yes, if a no-code tool such as Zapier or Make keeps a JSON file up to date on a public HTTPS address. DeskBot reads that address like any other.
- What happens if my endpoint is down?
- DeskBot keeps the last numbers it received, says what went wrong (for example, that it can't reach the host), and tries again a minute later.
- Can several DeskBots read the same endpoint?
- Yes. Each one asks once a minute, so a team can share one endpoint. Cache the reply for a minute if it is expensive to work out.
- How is DeskBot different from LaMetric, Smiirl or TRMNL?
- It is made for one job: your company's numbers on your desk, several at once, every minute. The comparison sets out price, screen, refresh and Stripe setup for each, with sources.
- Does it work without an API?
- As a clock with the weather, yes. For your numbers it needs an HTTPS address that returns JSON, which can be a file that a no-code tool updates.
The device
- How big is the screen?
- 1.54 inches, 240 × 240 colour pixels. It is a small desk object, made to be read from where you sit.
- Does it need an app?
- No. Setup is a QR code and a web page on your phone, and the settings page opens from a QR screen on the clock or at http://deskbot.local.
- What Wi-Fi does it need?
- 2.4 GHz. It does not join 5 GHz-only networks, but almost every router broadcasts both.
- What's in the box?
- DeskBot and a USB-C cable to power it.
- How is it powered?
- Over USB-C, from a laptop or any USB charger, with the USB-C cable in the box. The port carries power only.
- Can people read it from across the room?
- No. The screen is 1.54 inches, made to be read from your desk. For a number a whole room reads, see the comparison.
- Is the hardware custom? Could I buy it cheaper and flash it myself?
- The hardware is an off-the-shelf ESP8266 Wi-Fi clock with a 240 × 240 screen, and clocks like it sell for less on their own. What DeskBot adds is everything that runs on it: the firmware and its screens, setup without an app, signed automatic updates and support, on a unit that works when you plug it in. The DeskBot firmware is not published for other devices.
- Does it have buttons or a speaker?
- Neither. Everything is set from your phone or browser, and celebrations and alerts are on screen only.
- Does it update itself?
- Yes. It checks for new firmware every 6 hours and installs only releases signed with DeskBot's key. Your settings and Wi-Fi are kept.
- Is my data safe?
- DeskBot receives only the counts and amounts in your reply. The API key and Wi-Fi password are stored on the device and never shown or sent anywhere else. Use a key that can only read these numbers.