Free trials and intro pricing: how not to give away money

Two different mechanics — don't confuse them

A free trial — the person gets access free for N days, and payment is only charged afterwards. Intro pricing — the first period costs less (say −50%), but money is taken right away. Different tools for different jobs.

When a free trial works

A trial works well where value is felt fast: daily signals, an active community, frequent content. In a few days the person gets used to it and realizes things are worse without you.

• Require a card upfront — otherwise you collect freeloaders who vanish before the charge
• A short trial (3–7 days) often converts better than a long one — less time to reconsider
• After the trial the regular price applies, not the intro one — otherwise you stack discount on discount

When intro pricing is better

If your content unfolds over a month rather than three days (courses, deep analytics), intro pricing works better. The person pays immediately — even if less — so they're already a customer, not a viewer. And you build the auto-charge habit from day one.

Mistakes that give away money

• An endless or too-long trial — you're giving content away for free
• A discount that lasts forever — apply it only to the first period, then the regular price
• A trial with no card on file — conversion to payment drops sharply
• Not reminding before the charge — people forget, cancel, and leave a bad review

How to set it up in a plan

A plan has separate fields: 'free (days)' for the trial, 'intro price' for the first period, and 'renewal price' for a recurring discount. You can combine them, but don't overdo it — one strong offer beats three weak ones. And don't forget to turn on renewal reminders.

A trial and a discount are an investment in the habit of paying. If they don't lead to an auto-charge, you're not selling — you're giving away.