Before parting with your hard-earned cash, it makes sense to test out a product or service before you buy. This is where free trial offers come in. They allow you to get a feel for a product or service before you commit to purchase.
Many companies offer a free trial typically for a period of 7, 14, or 30 days. Examples include gyms and fitness centres, online ancestry websites, streaming services, VPN providers, credit checkers, and lots more besides.
Trial periods give you a set amount of time to judge for yourself how useful the product or service is. In most cases, trials are free of charge, although you may be asked for a credit card in a few cases.
Note: In the event you need to provide your card details, you should aim to cancel before the trial has ended, unless you wish to be placed on an ongoing subscription. More details are below.
What types of free trials exist?
Perhaps the most popular free trial of recent years has been Netflix, who offered a 30-day no-commitment trial of their television streaming service. But there are many other free trials available online, including for credit score checkers, music streaming services, video streaming, ancestry search and family tree makers, beauty products and cosmetics, education sites, fitness providers, and more.
How do free trials work?
Free trial offers work by giving you the freedom to try a commercial product or service free of charge. You simply sign-up for the free trial, usually by completing an easy online registration process, then enjoy either full or limited functionality.
Trials nearly always have a time limit, after which you will need to purchase if you wish to continue the service. Some providers may also ask you to provide credit card details so they can automatically enrol you on a subscription.
Cancelling within the trial period is the best course of action to prevent a fee (that is, unless you wish to continue using the product or service after the trial has ended).
What are the advantages of free trial offers?
The key advantage is you can test a product or service free, without committing to a membership and paying fees. After a trial, you may feel that the service does not meet your expectations. In this case, you will save money.
On the other hand, the trial may have persuaded you to take out a regular subscription. This is why trials are great for ensuring you gain the best value for money.
What are the cons of trials?
There are a few minor disadvantages to be aware of. The first is that if you don’t intend to continue with the service and fail to cancel before the trial period ends, you will end up being placed on a subscription plan.
Often, this is a month to month subscription that you can cancel at any point. So always try to cancel early to avoid any charges.
Another drawback is functionality. Not all trials give you a chance to test out the full range of services (although there are still many that will).
How can I avoid being charged?
It is important to ensure you cancel your trial during the allocated trial period if you have been asked to provide credit card details — especially if the product or service has a rolling subscription-based pricing model.
Some companies will automatically place you on an ongoing subscription after the trial has ended. This is typically detailed in the trial’s terms and conditions. Therefore, be sure to cancel in good time to avoid any charges.
That said, if you find a trial particularly beneficial and want to continue the service, you will often be automatically placed on a regular subscription. Most companies make it easy to cancel rolling subscriptions at any point in time.
The verdict
Free trials are a great way for you to test out a product or service before you commit to a full subscription. They help you ensure you gain the best value for money.
If you are taking out a free trial offer, ensure you cancel before the end of the trial period. This way, you will avoid being played on a rolling subscription.
We always recommend you read the full terms and conditions before applying for any type of trial.