free trial

Meaning

A free trial is a product or service offered to customers for free for a short period so they can try it before buying. It is extremely common in software, subscription services, and gym memberships. The tone is friendly, commercial, and neutral.

Examples

• You can sign up for a fourteen-day free trial without entering your credit card.

  You can sign up for a fourteen-day free trial without entering your credit card.

• My free trial of the editing software expires tomorrow morning.

  My free trial of the editing software expires tomorrow morning.

• Did you enjoy the free trial, or do you want to cancel your subscription?

  Did you enjoy the free trial, or do you want to cancel your subscription?

• Many streaming services use a free trial to attract new subscribers.

  Many streaming services use a free trial to attract new subscribers.

• I always test apps during their free trial period before upgrading to premium.

  I always test apps during their free trial period before upgrading to premium.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I signed up for a free try.

  ✓ I signed up for a free trial.

  'Try' is a verb. The correct noun for a test period of a product is 'trial'.

• ✗ They gave me a trial free for one month.

  ✓ They gave me a free trial for one month.

  The adjective 'free' must go before the noun 'trial' it describes.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I am currently using the ___ of the app to see if it fits my needs.

  💡 A complimentary test period for a product or service.

  Show answer

  free trial

• To cancel your ___ before you get charged, go to your account settings.

  💡 The initial period during which you do not pay for a subscription.

  Show answer

  free trial