For our app, we have a free version (no expiration, it is just limited) and we have several paid plans. All of our paid plans include a free 30 day trial.
My question is: Should we collect payment information during the signup process for any of the paid plans? Or should we prompt for payment info after the free trial has ended?
Are there any studies showing one has higher conversion rates?
If you would like to do a 'first month free' kind of deal, collect payment/payment information up front, but drop off the cost of one month from the total. Or, allow people to cancel within 30 days for a full refund.
Essentially, I agree with avoiding 'free trials' that want credit card information - I am always afraid that it's going to be a nightmare. But if I know I am signing up to pay, that's a different story. The "being able to cancel within 30 days for a full refund" rings much better to my ears than "30 day free trial with payment details collected up front".
In fact, I hate "trial versions" altogether. I much prefer that either it's free, or it's not.