What should I check before signing up for a free trial?

Check the actual offer terms before entering payment details. Start with four questions: How long does the trial last? What charge, if any, follows it? Does billing continue unless you cancel? How do you cancel, and what is the deadline? The FTC advises checking for ongoing charges, finding cancellation instructions, and watching for pre-checked boxes. [S1] Also ask which features are included during the trial and which are limited; the general guidance does not establish the features or terms of any particular provider’s offer.

Save or note the terms you see, including the date you signed up. If a payment method is requested, don’t assume that “free” means no later charge. The offer details should explain what happens after the trial and how to stop it.

Look for a specific duration and a clear explanation of what happens at its end. Ask the provider to confirm the trial’s start date, end date, any amount due afterward, and whether it renews or continues as a paid plan unless you cancel. The FTC recommends checking whether charges continue unless you cancel and marking a calendar because a time-limited trial can lead to money being owed. [S1] [S2]

If the wording still leaves the price, timing, or renewal unclear, don’t guess. Ask for clarification in writing or wait to enroll until you can understand the offer. A useful message is: “Please confirm the trial end date, the amount and billing frequency after the trial, and whether I need to cancel to avoid a charge.” Keep the reply with the offer details.

Find the cancellation method and instructions before enrolling, not only after you decide to leave. Check whether the offer names a deadline or limited cancellation period, and ask what counts as cancellation being complete. The FTC advises finding out how to cancel and looking for the instructions when signing up; it also recommends checking for a limited cancellation period. [S1] [S2]

Write down the stated deadline and set a reminder early enough to review your decision and act. Don’t assume that deleting an app, stopping use, or removing a payment method cancels a trial unless the provider’s terms say so. After you follow the stated steps, save any confirmation you receive. This is a practical recordkeeping step, not a guarantee about how a provider processes cancellation.

Ask the provider to identify what is available during the trial, any feature limits, and what changes if you continue as a paid user. Check the offer and its terms for those details; the cited FTC guidance covers charges, renewal, and cancellation, but does not describe any provider’s feature limits. Don’t treat an advertised feature as included unless the offer confirms it.

Use this copyable note, filling in only details you can verify:

Trial provider: [name] Offer checked on: [date] Trial starts: [date or stated trigger] Trial ends: [date or stated duration] After trial: [price, billing frequency, or unclear] Renewal: [what the terms say] Cancellation method: [stated steps] Cancellation deadline: [date/time, or unclear] Included features and limits: [confirmed details] Saved terms and confirmation: [where you keep them]

If an important line remains unclear, write “unclear” rather than filling it in from assumption. Resolve it with the provider before deciding whether to enroll.