Trial Period Implementation for SaaS Application

SaaS Trial Period

Trial is standard for SaaS. User tries product without payment, then converts to paying customer. Goal — show value before trial ends and reduce friction on conversion.

Stripe: Trial on Subscription Creation

const subscription = await stripe.subscriptions.create({
  customer: customerId,
  items: [{ price: priceId }],
  trial_period_days: 14,
  payment_behavior: 'default_incomplete',
  expand: ['latest_invoice.payment_intent'],
});

const session = await stripe.checkout.sessions.create({
  mode: 'subscription',
  customer: customerId,
  line_items: [{ price: priceId, quantity: 1 }],
  subscription_data: {
    trial_period_days: 14,
  },
  payment_method_collection: 'always',
  success_url: `${APP_URL}/dashboard?trial=started`,
  cancel_url: `${APP_URL}/pricing`,
});

Trial Without Card

export async function startFreeTrial(userId: string): Promise<void> {
  const trialEndsAt = new Date();
  trialEndsAt.setDate(trialEndsAt.getDate() + 14);

  await db.user.update({
    where: { id: userId },
    data: {
      trialEndsAt,
      trialUsed: true,
    }
  });

  await sendTrialStartedEmail(userId, trialEndsAt);
}

export async function checkTrialAccess(userId: string): Promise<boolean> {
  const user = await db.user.findUnique({
    where: { id: userId },
    select: {
      trialEndsAt: true,
      subscription: { select: { status: true } }
    }
  });

  if (user?.subscription?.status === 'ACTIVE') return true;
  if (user?.trialEndsAt && user.trialEndsAt > new Date()) return true;

  return false;
}

Notifications During Trial

export async function sendTrialReminders() {
  const now = new Date();

  const threeDaysLeft = new Date(now.getTime() + 3 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000);
  const trialEndingSoon = await db.user.findMany({
    where: {
      trialEndsAt: {
        gte: now,
        lte: threeDaysLeft,
      },
      subscription: null,
      trialReminderSent: false,
    }
  });

  for (const user of trialEndingSoon) {
    await sendEmail({
      to: user.email,
      template: 'trial-ending-soon',
      variables: {
        daysLeft: Math.ceil((user.trialEndsAt!.getTime() - now.getTime()) / (1000 * 60 * 60 * 24)),
        upgradeUrl: `${APP_URL}/settings/billing`,
      }
    });

    await db.user.update({
      where: { id: user.id },
      data: { trialReminderSent: true }
    });
  }

  const expired = await db.user.findMany({
    where: {
      trialEndsAt: { lt: now },
      subscription: null,
      trialExpiredEmailSent: false,
    }
  });

  for (const user of expired) {
    await sendEmail({
      to: user.email,
      template: 'trial-expired',
      variables: { upgradeUrl: `${APP_URL}/settings/billing` }
    });

    await db.user.update({
      where: { id: user.id },
      data: { trialExpiredEmailSent: true }
    });
  }
}

UI: Trial Banner

export function TrialBanner({
  trialEndsAt,
  daysLeft,
}: {
  trialEndsAt: Date;
  daysLeft: number;
}) {
  const urgency = daysLeft <= 3;

  return (
    <div
      className={`flex items-center justify-between px-4 py-2 text-sm
        ${urgency
          ? 'bg-red-50 border-b border-red-200 text-red-800'
          : 'bg-blue-50 border-b border-blue-200 text-blue-800'
        }`}
    >
      <span>
        {urgency
          ? `Trial ends in ${daysLeft} days!`
          : `Trial active for ${daysLeft} more days (until ${trialEndsAt.toLocaleDateString('en-US')})`
        }
      </span>
      <a
        href="/settings/billing"
        className={`ml-4 font-medium underline ${urgency ? 'text-red-900' : 'text-blue-900'}`}
      >
        Upgrade to paid plan
      </a>
    </div>
  );
}

Trial Metrics

Key indicators to monitor:

• Trial-to-Paid Conversion Rate — goal 15–25% for B2B SaaS
• Trial Activation Rate — percent who took key action
• Time to First Key Action — when user felt value
• Churn at Trial End — how many leave on day X

posthog.capture('trial_started', {
  distinct_id: userId,
  trial_days: 14,
  plan: 'pro',
  source: 'checkout',
});

posthog.capture('trial_converted', {
  distinct_id: userId,
  trial_day: daysFromTrialStart,
  plan: 'pro',
  billing_period: 'monthly',
});

Trial period setup with notifications and Stripe integration — 2–3 working days.