F

What is Free trial?

Definition, examples, and more

Definition

A time-limited offer (e.g., 7 or 14 days) that grants users access to premium features at no cost. Trials are used to build trust, increase perceived value, and reduce barriers to subscription. Managing trial-to-paid conversion is a key monetization lever.

How to Calculate

Trial-to-Paid Conversion Rate = (Users Who Convert to Paid / Users Who Started Trial) x 100. Projected Trial Revenue = Trial Starters x Conversion Rate x Monthly Price. For example: 10,000 trials x 55% conversion x $9.99 = $54,945 in first-month revenue from this cohort.

Example

A meditation app offers a 7-day free trial of Premium. Of 10,000 trial starters, 5,500 convert to paid (55% trial-to-paid). Users who meditate 5+ times during the trial convert at 78%, while users with 0-1 sessions convert at only 12%. The app launches a ‘Meditate 5 times in 7 days’ challenge during the trial, boosting overall conversion to 62%.

Why Free trial Matters

Free trials are the most powerful conversion tool in subscription apps because they let users experience premium value risk-free. A productivity app tested 3-day, 7-day, and 14-day trials. The 7-day trial had the highest conversion rate (48%) because it gave users enough time to build habits without being so long they forgot about the app. The 3-day trial converted at 35% (not enough time) and the 14-day trial at 42% (users procrastinated and forgot). Getting trial length right was worth $200K+ in annual revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free trial length for a subscription app?

7 days is the most common and often the most effective trial length for consumer subscription apps. It gives users enough time to form a habit but creates enough urgency to engage. However, this varies by category — dating apps often use 3-day trials (urgency-driven), while complex productivity tools might benefit from 14-day trials. Always A/B test trial length.

Should I require a credit card for the free trial?

Credit card-required trials have lower trial start rates but much higher conversion rates (50-70% vs 10-20% for no-card trials). The math usually favors requiring a card: 1,000 card-required trials x 60% conversion = 600 subscribers vs 3,000 no-card trials x 15% conversion = 450 subscribers. However, no-card trials can work well for top-of-funnel growth strategies.

How do I increase trial-to-paid conversion?

Drive engagement during the trial — users who experience value convert. Send onboarding messages that guide users to your core features, create milestone challenges, send a reminder 24-48 hours before trial expiration, and show what they will lose if they do not subscribe. The number one predictor of conversion is usage during the trial period.

Category
Subscription App Terminology
Related Area
Mobile App Growth & Monetization

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