After eliminating our free trial, signups plummeted dramatically.
However, the conversion rate for those who do sign up is now a perfect 100%.
While revenue hasn’t changed, I’m starting to question whether this is a sustainable approach.
Short term gains might not be enough. New users drive long term growth.
You found your real market size. Test raising prices next.
Hit this same wall with a productivity app two years ago. Revenue flatlined and we killed our growth momentum.
You stop learning about your product when everyone’s already sold. Free trials show you exactly where users bail and which features actually matter.
Try a middle approach - 7-day trial with payment info required upfront. Make it crystal clear when billing kicks in. You’ll still filter serious users but get the feedback you need.
This video breaks down what actually drives trial conversions:
No new user data means you’re guessing on product improvements. That 100% conversion rate won’t help if your market keeps getting smaller.
Steady revenue with fewer users means you’ve got the right customers. But you might be leaving money on the table.
Try bringing back the trial with qualifying questions upfront. You’ll still filter out bad fits while letting serious prospects test your product.
Once people experience the value firsthand, they’re way more likely to buy.
Split test it. Run paid signups against three trial variations at once - no card, card required, and freemium. I can spin up different signup flows in minutes with Web2Wave.com and push them live without waiting for dev cycles. Test for two weeks and measure LTV, not just conversion rate.
100% conversion sounds great, but you’ve just created a paid signup - not a real trial.
I hit this same wall with one of my apps. Killed the trial and discovery tanked completely.
Here’s what actually worked: 3-day trial with credit card required upfront. Qualified leads still get to test drive your product, freeloaders disappear right away.
Bonus - you get real usage data to work with.
Your funnel’s broken. Without trials, you lose word of mouth, viral growth, and network effects. I’ve watched apps die exactly like this - they chase quick revenue and forget free users become your best advocates. These people share, refer, and create all your buzz. You need a limited trial back. Give them 5 days with core features. Users who find real value will convert. The ones who don’t? They weren’t staying anyway. You need fresh users constantly flowing through your product or you’ll get left behind.