What is Free Trial?
Definition
A limited-time period where users can access a subscription service at no cost before committing to a paid plan.
Understanding Free Trial
Free trials let you experience a service before paying. Common trial lengths are 7, 14, or 30 days. Most trials require a credit card upfront and automatically convert to a paid subscription when the trial ends.
This means you will be charged if you forget to cancel before the trial expires. To avoid unwanted charges, set a reminder a day or two before the trial ends. Some services offer trials without requiring payment information — these are lower risk but less common.
Related Terms
Freemium
A pricing model that offers basic features for free while charging for premium features, storage, or usage beyond free tier limits.
Auto-Renewal
A feature that automatically renews a subscription at the end of each billing cycle without requiring manual action from the user.
Subscription
A recurring payment arrangement where a customer pays at regular intervals to access a product or service.