Free trial
A free trial is a limited period during which a prospect uses a product or service without payment. It aims to demonstrate value before financial commitment, reducing acquisition friction and accelerating the purchase decision.
In practice
An SEO SaaS offers a 14-day trial with no credit card required. The growth team tracks the activation rate on day three — users who have launched their first audit — because that is the strongest predictor of conversion. If 60% of trials convert but only 20% activate, the problem is not the value proposition but the onboarding. Cutting time-to-value by 48 hours can double conversion without touching price.