What is Free Trial

A free trial is a limited-time offer allowing users to try a product or service at no cost. In SaaS and other subscription businesses, companies often let customers use the full product for a few days or weeks to evaluate its value. The goal is to give prospects firsthand experience before they decide to buy.

How Free Trial Works: 

During a free trial period, users typically sign up and get temporary access to the software without payment. Some companies require a credit card upfront or none at all. 

The trial lasts for a set time (e.g. 14 or 30 days). After it ends, the user must subscribe or the account is deactivated. Companies may send reminders before trial expiration to encourage conversion.

Free Trial Benefits: 

Free trial can significantly increase conversion rates, because users who try the product and see its benefits are more likely to become paying customers. 

Trials also build trust by delivering value upfront. From a marketing perspective, free trials are a powerful acquisition tool and often reduce customer acquisition costs.

Free Trial Examples: 

A productivity app might offer a 30-day free trial of its software with all features unlocked. After the trial, users must subscribe to continue. 

Companies like Zoom, Adobe Creative Cloud all give free trials of their premium plans.