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> Free trials should not require a credit card. I'm not in business to provide services to people who want stuff for free permanently. They complain on forums,

> Free trials should not require a credit card. I'm not in business to provide services to people who want stuff for free permanently. They complain on forums, raise stink and spend nearly no money. They are not my customers. I always ask for a credit card for a free trial. The fewer non-customers signup, the better it is for me.

lgl 5y ago
While I kind of understand your point of view and not all businesses are equal, a free trial is not stuff for free permanently. You should be confident that your product will be able to make the customer willingly add their credit card after their trial is over if you are indeed providing them with a useful service.
- not1ofU 5y ago
  I agree, and was going to posit the same argument, however, a credit card is a useful way to get unique info. If someone signs up to free trail without something like a CC, instead using an email address, then they just have to register a new email address to get further free service. Although I am sure there are alternatives that I havent considered.
brooklinnash 5y ago
What's your thought on alternatives, like Ahrefs' $7 for 7 days trial?
- notyourday 5y ago
  Unrestricted service at the highest plan level, 1 to 2 weeks, credit card not only required but is authorized for the plan price - do not settle transaction as it is still a free trial. This ensures: 1. Whoever tries the service at least theoretically met minimum qualification to be a customer - they have a credit card and can authorize several hundred dollars on it. 2. We get the real lead. 3. We limit the number of people who recycle free trials -- this happens a lot.
  - HatchedLake721 5y ago
    This person does B2B SaaS! Great comment and 100% agree. Do you ever offer to extend free trial for people who want to cancel, and do you convert them back?
    - notyourday 5y ago
      > Do you ever offer to extend free trial for people who want to cancel, and do you convert them back? Yes - but that's the sales reps job. If they think we have a decent chance of converting "no" into a sale after they reach out to the customer to find out what, if anything, made the customer decide not to become a paying customer, they can extend the trial. In my experience the vast majority of the convertable free trial expiration without conversion is lack of time on customer's side -- the customer did not really use the product. So now our sales people actively approach those customers.
  - indus 5y ago
    Interesting take. Hotels do it, authorize you for N nights during check-in capture/sale during check-out.

lgl 5y ago

While I kind of understand your point of view and not all businesses are equal, a free trial is not stuff for free permanently. You should be confident that your product will be able to make the customer willingly add their credit card after their trial is over if you are indeed providing them with a useful service.

not1ofU 5y ago
I agree, and was going to posit the same argument, however, a credit card is a useful way to get unique info. If someone signs up to free trail without something like a CC, instead using an email address, then they just have to register a new email address to get further free service. Although I am sure there are alternatives that I havent considered.

brooklinnash 5y ago

What's your thought on alternatives, like Ahrefs' $7 for 7 days trial?

notyourday 5y ago
Unrestricted service at the highest plan level, 1 to 2 weeks, credit card not only required but is authorized for the plan price - do not settle transaction as it is still a free trial. This ensures: 1. Whoever tries the service at least theoretically met minimum qualification to be a customer - they have a credit card and can authorize several hundred dollars on it. 2. We get the real lead. 3. We limit the number of people who recycle free trials -- this happens a lot.
- HatchedLake721 5y ago
  This person does B2B SaaS! Great comment and 100% agree. Do you ever offer to extend free trial for people who want to cancel, and do you convert them back?
  - notyourday 5y ago
    > Do you ever offer to extend free trial for people who want to cancel, and do you convert them back? Yes - but that's the sales reps job. If they think we have a decent chance of converting "no" into a sale after they reach out to the customer to find out what, if anything, made the customer decide not to become a paying customer, they can extend the trial. In my experience the vast majority of the convertable free trial expiration without conversion is lack of time on customer's side -- the customer did not really use the product. So now our sales people actively approach those customers.
- indus 5y ago
  Interesting take. Hotels do it, authorize you for N nights during check-in capture/sale during check-out.