·4 min read
MVP Free Trial Best Practices
Free trials lower the barrier to trying your product. But poorly designed trials waste time and money.
Trial Models
| Model | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Time-limited (14 days) | Creates urgency | May not be enough time |
| Feature-limited | Always accessible | Less urgency to convert |
| Usage-limited | Natural upgrade path | Can feel restrictive |
| Credit card required | Higher intent users | Lower signups |
Optimal Trial Length
- •Simple product: 7 days
- •Standard SaaS: 14 days
- •Complex B2B: 30 days
- •If users convert in 3 days, shorten the trial
Credit Card Upfront?
- •No card: More signups, lower conversion rate
- •Card required: Fewer signups, higher conversion rate
- •Test both and measure revenue, not just signups
- •Most MVPs start without card required
Trial Experience Optimization
- •Get users to value fast
- •Send onboarding emails during trial
- •Show progress toward activation
- •Remind before trial ends (3 days, 1 day)
- •Make upgrade dead simple
Measuring Trial Success
- •Trial-to-paid conversion rate
- •Time to first value
- •Feature adoption during trial
- •Day 1 and day 7 retention
A 14-day trial with good onboarding beats a 30-day trial with no guidance. Focus on time-to-value.