FAIR OR NOTFree trials that turn into charges
A free trial lets you try something before paying, but many trials are set up to turn into paid plans automatically unless you cancel in time. That can mean a surprise charge, sometimes weekly or for a full year at once. This page explains how trials usually work, how to start one safely, how to cancel without losing the time you have left, and what to do if you were already charged.
Before you start a free trial
How a free trial becomes a paid plan
Most trials ask for your card number up front. When the trial ends, the business charges that card and keeps charging it until you cancel. This is often called an automatic renewal.
The FTC advises that before you sign up, you should know how long the trial lasts, what it will cost afterward, and how and when to cancel. If you cannot find those terms, the FTC says not to sign up.
Watch for weekly pricing
Some offers show a price per week instead of per month or year. A small weekly number can add up fast. For example, $7.99 a week is about $415 a year. Before you agree, turn any weekly price into a yearly number so you know what you are really signing up for.
Also check whether the trial is a few days rather than a full week or month. Short trials leave little time to decide.
Read the full free-trial guide →
How free trials usually work
Most free trials ask for a card or app store account at sign-up. When the trial ends, the plan converts to a paid subscription and the first charge goes through automatically. You are not usually sent a bill to approve. Unless you cancel before the trial ends, the company treats your silence as a yes.
The details matter. Some trials last only three days. Some convert to a weekly price rather than monthly, which adds up quickly. Others start with a low intro price that jumps after the first period. A few charge for a full year as soon as the trial ends.
- Short trials, such as three days, are easy to forget
- Weekly billing: $7.99 a week is about $415 a year
- Intro prices can rise after the first month or year
- Some trials convert to a yearly charge all at once
App store trials vs website trials
Trials started inside an iPhone or Android app are billed through the Apple App Store or Google Play. That means you cancel them in your phone's subscription settings, not by deleting the app. Deleting an app does not stop the charges.
Trials started on a website are billed by the company itself, so you usually cancel through your account on that site. Keep the confirmation email, since it often shows the trial end date and the price after the trial. If you are not sure where you signed up, check your card statement or app store receipts.
- Deleting an app does not cancel its subscription
- App store trials: cancel in your phone's subscription settings
- Website trials: cancel in your account on that website
How to start a trial safely
Before you tap start, find the line that says what happens next. Look for the trial length, the price after the trial and how often it bills. If you cannot find that information, consider skipping the trial. Then set a reminder for a day or two before the trial ends, not on the last day, since time zones and billing times can vary.
Streaming add-on channels deserve extra care. Trials for channels added through a bigger service, such as Amazon Prime Video Channels, are easy to lose track of because they bill through your main account. Check that account's list of channels and memberships after any trial so a forgotten channel does not keep billing.
- Find the trial end date and the after-trial price
- Set a reminder two days before the trial ends
- Use a credit card rather than a debit card
- Write down where and how you signed up
Trial reminder → · Amazon Prime Video Channels → · Streaming channel add-ons →
Cancel in time and keep your access
You often do not need to wait until the last day to cancel. Many subscriptions let you keep using the service until the trial or paid period ends, even after you cancel. Some trials, though, end access as soon as you cancel. Check the cancellation screen, which usually says what will happen.
After cancelling, look for a confirmation email or screen and save it. If you do not get one, take a screenshot showing the subscription as cancelled. Then check your statement after the trial date to make sure no charge went through.
- Cancel early if the service lets you keep access
- Save the cancellation confirmation
- Check your statement after the trial end date
If you were already charged
Act quickly. First, cancel so no further charges happen. For app store charges, request a refund through Apple or Google's purchase history pages; they review each request. For website charges, contact the company in writing and ask for a refund, noting that you did not mean to continue past the trial.
If the company refuses and you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge with your card company. Federal law gives credit card users dispute rights for billing errors, but you must act within set time limits, generally 60 days after the statement showing the charge was sent.
- Cancel the subscription first
- Request a refund from the app store or company
- Dispute with your card company if refused
App store refunds → · Dispute a charge → · Dispute letter tool →
Extra care for older relatives
Free trial offers often appear in games, puzzle apps, news apps and pop-up ads. Older adults may tap through without seeing the price, especially on a small screen. A gentle, regular check of their app subscriptions and card statements can catch problems early. Setting up purchase approval or a password for app store purchases can also help.
Did this happen to you? Sharing what you were charged helps others avoid it.
Report itCommon questions
Will I be charged if I cancel a free trial early?
Usually not, as long as you cancel before the trial ends. Many services let you keep using the trial until its end date even after you cancel, though some end access right away. Check the cancellation screen for details, save the confirmation, and look at your statement after the trial date to be sure.
Does deleting an app cancel the free trial?
No. Deleting an app does not cancel a subscription or trial. If you started the trial through the app, cancel it in your phone's subscription settings in the Apple App Store or Google Play. If you started it on a website, cancel through your account on that website.
How do I get a refund after a free trial charged me?
Cancel first. Then ask for a refund through the app store's purchase history if you signed up on your phone, or contact the company in writing if you signed up on its website. If the company says no and you paid by credit card, you can dispute the charge, but act quickly because deadlines apply.
Related guides
General consumer information, not legal or financial advice. Reports are the experiences and opinions of their writers, not AblePro, Inc.; we check them against our posting rules but do not verify them.