If you spend a lot of time browsing the internet, you might have come across some websites that offer ‘freemium’ services. A freemium service is a portmanteau of the words free and premium and is used to refer to applications, games, or websites that are supposed to be free but require the user to make some sort of payment to make use of all the features a website has to offer. A typical example would be a website that allows you to store all pictures up to a limited amount of storage and charges you once you cross the threshold.
Over the years, the freemium model has been applied to almost all digital services. From Youtube to Discord to LinkedIn, this model has taken its roots in the online world. As with any other system, the freemium model comes with its pros and cons. The pros include the ability to judge whether a website is worth it or not by getting to witness its features firsthand. Another pro is the ability to monetize content and provide some income to indie businesses. The cons of this model include having to pay for services despite being ‘free’ in the literal sense.
A vital point of this model is giving free trials to customers who sign up or register on a website for the first time.
What is a free trial?
Simply put, a free trial allows consumers to access all the content on a website, application, or game free of charge for a set number of days. It can also be a timer that gives the highest privileges to a customer until a predefined number of hours is met. After this, the user can’t access any premium content and needs to make a purchase or deposit some money in order to continue watching or playing.
Almost all commercial applications, websites, and games have some form of free trial for their customers. Companies such as Autodesk and Adobe give free trials for their products, after which they charge monthly, semiannual or annual fees depending on the number of applications and software a client is using. The latter allows only 7 days of free usage, while Autodesk has a myriad of student plans that allow a college or university student to use their software for a few years as a trial.
The analogy between a free trial and a no-deposit casino
If you’re an avid fan of online casinos, the following analogy will make the picture crystal clear to you. Almost all casinos available online require the user to make some form of deposit in order to play their favorite games. There are some online casinos that offer a service called no deposit bonus. A no-deposit casino is essentially one that doesn’t force its players to deposit a certain amount of money in order to check things out before starting out on gambling. This nifty feature allows potential customers to gauge their interest in the casino and its games before committing to depositing money. In other words, the no discount bonus is perfect for any new player to get familiar with the games before depositing any money into their account. There are some online casinos listed on Gamble Online, that offer a no deposit bonus.
Are free trials beneficial for customers and businesses?
The answer to this question is a resounding yes. On the customer’s side, a free trial is an effective way to advertise a business’s wares, services, or products by giving the user the freedom to avail themselves for a couple of days. The user can assess the pros and cons of subscribing to membership by spending some time getting familiar with the application. There are also many companies that offer incentives to new customers who deposit money right after their free trial ends.
On the other hand, businesses and companies have a lot to gain by giving out these free trials to potential customers. For one, a free trial is the best form of advertising where users can gain a hands-on demonstration of the application. If they find the product worthwhile, they’ll definitely subscribe to the service and thus, end up becoming satisfied paying customers. These trials are also a convenient way to gather user feedback to enhance one’s business and propel it to new heights.
