How to Offer Free Trials for WooCommerce Subscriptions?

Want to offer free trials for WooCommerce subscriptions but not sure where to start? This guide will walk you through setting up subscriptions in WooCommerce and enabling free trials to attract more customers.

Offering free trials for WooCommerce subscriptions is a smart way to attract new customers and boost conversions. Think about it—people love to try before they buy! Whether you’re selling digital products, memberships, or subscription boxes, a free trial can remove hesitation and build trust with potential subscribers.

But how do you set up free trials in WooCommerce the right way? That’s precisely what we’ll cover in this guide. We’ll walk you through the benefits of offering free trials, how to configure them in WooCommerce, and a few best practices to ensure they lead to actual paying customers.

Let’s dive in!

Free trials can be a game-changer for subscription-based businesses. Here’s why:

1. Reduces Customer Hesitation

Many potential customers hesitate to commit to a subscription without knowing if it’s worth their money. A free trial removes that risk, giving them a chance to experience your product or service before making a financial commitment.

2. Boosts Conversion Rates

People are more likely to subscribe if they can try a product first. Free trials give them the opportunity to see the value firsthand, making them more confident about continuing with a paid subscription once the trial ends.

3. Builds Customer Trust

When you offer a free trial, you’re showing potential customers that you believe in your product. This builds trust and encourages them to engage with your brand without feeling pressured to buy immediately.

4. Encourages Customer Engagement

A free trial allows users to explore your product or service, understand how it works, and see how it fits into their needs. The more they engage during the trial, the more likely they are to convert into paying subscribers.

5. Helps Showcase Premium Features

If you offer different pricing tiers, a free trial is a great way to highlight your premium features. Users can experience the best version of your service, making them more likely to opt for a paid plan when the trial period ends.

6. Provides Insight Into Customer Behavior

Offering free trials also gives you valuable data on how potential customers interact with your product. You can see which features they use the most, identify any pain points, and optimize your offering accordingly to improve conversions.

Now that you have learned the benefits of offering a free trial let’s see how you can set it up on your WooCommerce store.

By default, WooCommerce doesn’t support subscription-based products. But don’t worry—that’s where the WebToffee WooCommerce Subscriptions plugin comes in! With this plugin, you can easily set up and manage subscription products on your WooCommerce store, including offering free trials.

After purchasing the plugin, you’ll receive an email with the download link. You can also access the plugin file from the My Account page on the WebToffee website.

Once you have the plugin file, head over to Plugins > Add New Plugin from your WordPress dashboard, upload the file, then install and activate it just like any other plugin.

Now that the plugin is ready let’s move on to configuring free trials for your WooCommerce subscriptions!

Step 1: Create A Subscription Product

• From your WordPress dashboard, go to Products > Add new product.
• Enter a product name and add a description for your subscription product. 

Step 2: Configure WooCommerce Subscriptions With Free Trial

• From the Add new product page, scroll down to the Product edit section.
• Choose Simple subscription as the product type.
• Check the Downloadable or Virtual product checkbox, if applicable.
• Enter the Subscription price and choose the billing frequency (e.g., $9 every month).
• Set the Subscription length to determine whether the subscription expires or continues indefinitely.
• If applicable, enter a Sign-up fee to charge customers an initial amount when they subscribe.
• In the Free trial field, specify the trial duration (e.g., 10 days).
• Optionally, set a Sale price if you want to offer a temporary discount.
• If the subscription product includes digital downloads, upload the file under the Downloadable files section.
• Set the Download limit and Download expiry if needed, or leave them blank for unlimited access.

• Click Publish to make the subscription product live on your WooCommerce store.

🎉That’s it! You have successfully configured your subscription product with a free trial.

• Offer a Clear Value Proposition – Make it obvious why customers should subscribe. Highlight key benefits, features, and savings compared to one-time purchases.
• Keep the Free Trial Duration Optimal – A free trial should be long enough for users to experience the value but not so long that they forget about it. For most products, 7 to 14 days is a good balance.
• Require Payment Details for Free Trials – Consider collecting payment details upfront. This ensures a smooth transition from trial to paid subscription and reduces drop-offs.
• Send Reminder Emails Before the Trial Ends – Customers should be informed when their free trial is about to expire. A well-timed email can encourage them to continue their subscription.
• Make Cancellation Easy and Transparent – Complicated cancellation processes can frustrate customers. Ensure users can cancel easily if they choose to, while also offering incentives to stay.
• Provide Multiple Pricing Tiers – Offering different subscription plans gives customers flexibility and can help convert more users with varied budgets.
• Encourage Engagement During Free Trials – Use onboarding emails, tutorials, or discounts on upgrades to get trial users actively using your product. The more they engage, the more likely they’ll convert.
• Leverage Discounts for First-Time Subscribers – If a free trial isn’t an option, offering a discounted first month can work as a great alternative to attract new customers.
• Optimize Your Checkout Process – Ensure a seamless checkout experience with a simple signup flow, multiple payment options, and a one-click subscription renewal option.
• Use Email and SMS Marketing for Retention – Stay connected with your subscribers through email and SMS updates, offering them exclusive perks and reminding them why they subscribed.
• Track Subscription Metrics – Keep an eye on churn rate, conversion from trials to paid users, and customer lifetime value to refine your subscription strategy.

Offering free trials for WooCommerce subscriptions is one of the best ways to attract new customers, build trust, and boost conversions. By giving potential subscribers a risk-free way to experience your product, you’re increasing the chances of turning them into long-term paying customers.

With the WebToffee WooCommerce Subscriptions plugin, setting up free trials is simple and effective. Just configure your subscription product, set the trial duration, and follow best practices to maximize conversions. Don’t forget to engage with users during the trial period and make it easy for them to transition into a paid plan.

Ready to get started? Set up your WooCommerce subscription free trial today and watch your subscriber base grow! 🚀