Trial Periods #
How free trials work with subscriptions.
What is a Trial Period? #
A trial period lets customers use your product for free before paying.
| Phase | Status | Billing |
|---|---|---|
| Trial Period | Trial (Blue) | No charge |
| Trial Ends | Active (Green) | First charge |
How Trials Work #
- Customer purchases subscription product with trial
- No payment charged immediately
- License activated for trial duration
- Customer uses product during trial
- Trial ends: First payment due
- If payment succeeds: Subscription becomes Active
- If no payment: Subscription becomes Past Due
Trial Notifications #
| When | Email Sent |
|---|---|
| Trial starts | “Welcome! Your trial has started” |
| 7 days before end | “Trial ending in 7 days” |
| 1 day before end | “Trial ending tomorrow” |
| Trial converts | “Thank you for subscribing!” |
Cancelling During Trial #
Customer can cancel during trial:
- No charge occurs
- Access ends when trial ends
- No refund needed (wasn’t charged)
Common Trial Durations #
| Duration | Best For |
|---|---|
| 7 days | Simple products |
| 14 days | Most software (recommended) |
| 30 days | Complex products |