Trials
Offer trials for subscriptions to lower barriers to entry and increase conversion. Choose whether to require payment details at sign up or not, depending on your business strategy.
Trials are a powerful way to let customers try before they buy, giving you a chance to demonstrate your product's value before paying. They also give you a source of high-intent leads, with the option to require payment details to capture more serious leads.
Paddle gives you full control over the trial experience and lifecycle, with comprehensive management available using the API, SDKs, and dashboard.
Increase conversion rates
Let customers experience value before committing, reducing initial barriers to purchase.
Qualify high-intent leads
Optionally capture payment details to qualify customers and convert more predictably.
Full lifecycle control
Extend, activate early, and make changes during trials to match your billing strategy.
Global compliance
Paddle Checkout presents customers with compliant trial workflows based on customer jurisdiction.
Multiple trial types
Choose between card-required and cardless trials to match your conversion strategy.
Fewer tickets
Reduce the number of billing-related requests by letting customers try before they buy.
How it works
Trials are a version of your app that customers can access for free for a limited time. They might also include other limitations, like offering a subset of features or a limited number of users. They're typically used for subscriptions, but you might use them for one-time apps too.
By showing a potential customer that your product fits their needs, trials create trust in your offering and reduce reluctance to pay, boosting your conversion rate in the process. They also increase customer satisfaction, since customers are more likely to be happy with a product they've tried and found to be a good fit for their needs.
Trial types
Flexible trial types let you optimize conversion across different customer segments. Some customers prefer to try before providing payment details, while others are ready to commit upfront.
In Paddle, there are two kinds of trial:
Card-required trials
Customers must enter payment details at signup, but aren't charged until the trial ends.
Works well for: Qualifying higher-intent leads and enabling automatic conversion.
Keep in mind: You'll typically see a lower signup rate as customers may be hesitant to enter payment details.
Integration process: Use Paddle Checkout to capture payment details and create a subscription.
Cardless trials
Customers can start their trial immediately without entering a credit card.
Works well for: Removing the biggest barrier to trial signup, getting more leads in the door.
Keep in mind: You'll typically see a lower conversion rate since customers haven't committed to paying yet.
Integration process: Use the API to create a transaction for a subscription with a trial period, then use Paddle Checkout to capture payment details later.
Trial lifecycle
You have complete control over the trial lifecycle in Paddle. You can:
- Let customers upgrade or downgrade during trials to match their needs.
- Extend trials to give customers more time to experience value.
- Activate early to realize value from customers when they're ready to pay.
- Add one-time charges during trials and bill them at the end of the trial period.
Webhooks occur throughout the trial lifecycle, so you can keep your app in sync with Paddle.
Customer journey
Customers sign up and enter payment details
Pass items with a trial period to Paddle.js to open a checkout for them. Customers securely enter payment details and start their trial.
Paddle Checkout handles compliance for you, making sure that the signup workflow is compliant with card network rules and evolving international legislation around trials.
Paddle automatically creates a subscription
Paddle automatically creates a subscription for the customer when the checkout transaction is completed, ready for you to provision.
The payment method the customer used is held on file for renewals or subscription changes.
Paddle sends an email about the trial ending
When the trial period is getting close to ending, Paddle sends an email to the customer to remind them that the trial is ending.
The email includes a link to the customer portal, where customers can manage their payment method.
Customer converts to paying
When the trial period ends, Paddle automatically charges the payment method on file and transitions the subscription to
activestatus.