Start for free Start for free

Free Trial Auto-Conversion

Free trial auto-conversion is when a free trial turns into a paid subscription on its own at the end of the trial, unless you cancel first. The card or billing details you gave at signup are charged automatically.

What is free trial auto-conversion?

Free trial auto-conversion means a free trial becomes a paid plan on its own when the trial ends. If you do not cancel in time, the card or billing account you gave at signup is charged.

Not every trial works this way. Some trials simply end, or drop you to a free plan, unless you choose to pay.

Atlassian's licensing FAQ shows both models side by side, as of October 2026. Its Cloud Standard trial lasts 14 days, and without a card the site drops to the free plan. Monthly subscriptions to apps from its marketplace, after a trial, are charged on the next bill unless you turn them off.

The end of a trial can also delete data. Salesforce's Main Services Agreement warns that trial data will be lost unless you buy or export it. HubSpot's customer terms say trial data may be permanently deleted at the end of the trial.

Why it matters to you

Trials are where shadow IT starts. Someone signs up with a company card, forgets, and the tool renews into a paid plan nobody reviewed.

The rules that protect shoppers may not protect you. The FTC's Click-to-Cancel Rule was vacated by the Eighth Circuit on July 8, 2025. The FTC's rulemaking page shows a February 2026 revision of its Negative Option Rule to match court decisions, and a March 2026 request for comment on possible new rules. ROSCA, a federal law on online subscription sales to consumers, still applies. See FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule and state automatic renewal laws. Do not assume consumer rules cover a business account; read the contract.

What to check

  • Find out what happens on the last day: charge, downgrade or shut off.
  • Note the exact end date and how to cancel, then put it in your renewal calendar.
  • Check the plan and seat count it converts to, and whether it is monthly or annual.
  • Check what happens to trial data if you do not convert, and export anything you need.
  • Use a card with a low limit, or a virtual card, for trials.

How Venpo helps

Venpo monitors the terms, billing pages and refund policies of the vendors you track, and emails you in plain English when trial, renewal or cancellation rules change. The Fine Print Scan also shows whether each vendor can raise prices after you convert.

Start for free

Frequently asked questions

Can a free trial charge me without warning?

It can if you agreed to auto-conversion at signup and the terms do not promise a reminder. Check the signup page and the terms before you enter a card.

What happens to my data when a free trial ends?

It depends on the vendor. Some keep it on a free plan, while others warn that trial data may be deleted unless you buy or export it before the trial ends.

Related terms

Renewals, Pricing and Billing Auto-Renewal Clause An auto-renewal clause makes a subscription start a new term on its own when the current one ends, unless you cancel before a set deadline. The new term often comes at the vendor's current price, not the price you paid. Laws and Regulations FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule (Vacated) The FTC Click-to-Cancel Rule was a 2024 federal rule that would have made subscriptions, including business ones, as easy to cancel as to start. A federal appeals court vacated it in July 2025, and as of October 2026 the FTC is gathering comments on a possible new rule. Laws and Regulations State Automatic Renewal Laws State automatic renewal laws set rules for contracts and subscriptions that renew on their own, such as clear disclosure, consent and reminders. Many protect consumers only; a few reach business contracts, so do not assume one protects your company when a vendor renews. Vendor Management Shadow IT Shadow IT is software or online services people use for work without the company knowing or approving it. Each one is a vendor nobody reviewed, with terms someone accepted for the company and nobody read. Renewals, Pricing and Billing Cancellation Policy A cancellation policy sets out how and when you can stop a SaaS subscription, how much notice you must give, through which channel, and what you still owe or lose afterward, such as unused fees and your data. Vendor Management SaaS Renewal Calendar A SaaS renewal calendar is one shared list of every software subscription with its renewal date, the last day to cancel and the expected price. It gives you time to cancel, renegotiate or approve each renewal before it happens automatically.

Sources

Last reviewed