--- title: "Setting up paid trials for paid subscriptions" updated: 2026-04-23 --- # Setting up paid trials for paid subscriptions > **Notice** > > Available on [paid beehiiv](https://www.beehiiv.com/pricing) plans. This feature is only available with the current Website Builder, not the legacy Website Builder. Paid trials give you more flexibility in how you structure and present pricing to potential subscribers. Rather than only offering a flat recurring rate or a percent-off discount, you can define an introductory period with its own price, length, and billing cadence then automatically roll subscribers onto standard tier pricing when it ends. For example, you could offer $5 per month for the first 6 months, then $200 per year. Or $1 for the first week, then $10 a month. In this article, you'll learn what paid trials are, how they compare to the other offer types, and how to create and manage them. --- ## What is a paid trial? A paid trial charges subscribers a custom introductory price for a defined period before automatically converting them to the tier's standard pricing. Unlike free trials (no cost up front) or percent discounts (a percentage off the tier's regular price), paid trials let you set the exact dollar amount, how long the intro period lasts, and how often the trial price is charged — all independently of the tier's underlying plan. ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/39960383938711) Understanding why paid trials exist alongside other discounts can help you choose the right one for your goals: - **Exact pricing control:** Percent discounts only let you set a percentage off the tier price. With a paid trial, you set a specific dollar amount regardless of what the tier normally costs. - **Flexible billing cadence:** Percent discounts use the same billing cadence as the underlying plan. Paid trials let you offer a monthly intro price that converts to annual billing, or any other combination. - **Purpose-built offer type:** Paid trials are a dedicated offer type in the app, so there's no workaround or guesswork involved in setting them up. --- ## Paid trial vs. free trial vs. percent discount Paid subscriptions support three offer types under the **Paid Subscription Offers** block. The table below outlines when to use each one. | Offer type | What it does | Best for | | --------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | Percent Discount | Applies a percentage off the tier price for a set duration (forever, once, or repeating). | Short-term promotions and holiday sales. | | Free Trial (previously labeled 'Trial') | Gives readers full access at no cost for a set period, then converts to the tier's standard price. | Low-friction onboarding when you want zero up-front cost. | | Paid Trial | Charges a custom price on a custom cadence for a custom length, then converts to the tier's standard billing. | Intro pricing like '$5 for the first 6 months, then $200/year.' | > **Tech Note** > > The existing 'Trial' offer type has been renamed to 'Free trial' to make the distinction between the two trial types clearer. Existing offers of this type will continue to work, only the label changes. --- ## How to create a paid trial offer Before creating a paid trial offer, make sure you have at least one paid subscription tier set up. If you haven't done that yet, see [How to set up and use paid subscription tiers](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/23080261008279). 1. From the left panel, go to [**Subscriptions**](https://app.beehiiv.com/monetize/subscriptions/growth). 2. Your **Paid Subscriptions** dashboard will open. Navigate to the [**Paid Tiers**](https://app.beehiiv.com/monetize/subscriptions/paid_tiers) tab. ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/39960383939223) 3. Scroll down to the **Paid Subscription Offers** section and click **Add New Offer**. ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/39960383939991) 4. A new offer form will appear on the right.  Fill in the fields on the form: - **Name** (required): Internal-facing label, not shown to subscribers. - **Description** (optional): Shown to subscribers at checkout. - **Private Description** (optional): Internal notes only, not visible to subscribers. - **Tier** (required): Select a specific tier, or leave set to **All Tiers**. - **Terms** (required): Select **Paid Trial** from the dropdown. - **Custom terms** (optional): Add any custom offer terms to display on the pricing cards.  5. Configure the paid trial fields as described in the next section. 6. Under the **Advanced Options** you can configure any of the following (all optional):  - **Set when subscribers must redeem this offer by**: Limits the offer to a specific redemption window. - **Limit this offer to specific plans**: Restricts the offer to certain billing plans. - **Show discount on downgrade**: Surfaces this offer to subscribers who attempt to cancel or downgrade. 7. Decide if you’d like to set the offer as the default offer on the upgrade page, or a variation.   8. Click **Create** in the bottom corner of the form to confirm, and then the offer will be listed under your **Paid Subscription Offers**. --- ## Configuring paid trial terms A paid trial has four required fields and an optional field. Work through them in order, as the options available in later fields depend on your earlier selections. ## **![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/39960383942679)** ### **Trial length** Enter a number representing how long the trial period lasts. This works in combination with the trial unit below. ### **Trial unit**  Select the unit of time that pairs with your trial length: Days, Weeks, Months, or Years. For example, a trial length of 6 with a trial unit of Months creates a 6-month trial period. ### **Trial price** Enter the price the subscriber pays during the trial, in the currency of the selected tier. For example, entering 5.00 in a USD tier sets a $5 intro price. ### **Billing cadence** Select how frequently the trial price is charged during the trial period: **One time**, **Daily**, **Weekly**, **Monthly**, or **Annual**. For example, with a 5-month trial, selecting **One time** means the subscriber pays a single charge that covers the entire trial period. Selecting **Monthly** means they are charged once per month for each month of the trial. ### **Custom terms (optional)** Add your own unique terms to show on the pricing cards.  > **Tech Note** > > If your trial unit is set to **Days**, the only available billing cadence is **One time**. Other cadences allow a choice between One time and Weekly/Monthly/Yearly. Here are a few examples of how the fields work together: | Trial Period | Trial Price | Billing Cadence | Result | | ------------ | ----------- | --------------- | ------------------------------------------------ | | 6 Months | $5 | One time | $5 up front for 6 months, then standard billing. | | 6 Months | $5 | Monthly | $5/month for 6 months, then standard billing. | | 1 week | $1 | One time | $1 for the first week, then standard billing. | --- ## Previewing the offer After creating an offer, preview what subscribers will see before sharing it.  From the **Paid Subscription Offers** list, click the **three dots menu** next to the offer and select **Copy Link**. Paste the link into a new browsing window to view it as a subscriber would.  On the upgrade page, the intro pricing will be reflected on the pricing card — for example, $5 for 6 months, then $10 a month. ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/39960440211095) --- ## Where paid trials appear Once created, a paid trial offer is visible in a few places across your account. ### Paid Subscription Offers list The offer appears alongside your other offers under **Subscriptions >** [**Paid Tiers**](https://app.beehiiv.com/monetize/subscriptions/paid_tiers) **> Paid Subscription Offers**. ### Pricing card/block on your upgrade page When set as the default offer on your upgrade page, the intro pricing structure is displayed prominently on your [pricing block](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/35997629652247) alongside the standard tier pricing, so visitors see exactly what they're signing up for. ### Offer performance table Paid trials appear as their own offer type in the performance table, separate from free trials and percent discounts, so you can track conversions for each offer type independently. --- ## Subscriber experience When a subscriber accepts a paid trial offer: 1. They enter payment details at checkout. 2. They are charged the trial price according to the billing cadence you configured — either once up front, or on a recurring basis for the duration of the trial. 3. They receive full access to the tier's paid content for the duration of the trial. 4. At the end of the trial, their subscription automatically converts to the tier's standard recurring price. No action is required on their part.  In the subscriber's account, the current payment will reflect the trial price and length. The next payment due section will show the date and amount of their first standard billing charge, so there are no surprises at renewal. ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/39960383946519) --- ## Tracking performance The **Offer Performance** table gives you a breakdown of how each offer type is converting, including paid trials, broken out separately from free trials and discounts. Paid trials are listed as their own plan type alongside Full Price, Discount, Free Trial, and Complimentary Access, so you can evaluate performance across each independently. To access it: 1. From the left panel, go to [**Subscriptions**](https://app.beehiiv.com/monetize/subscriptions/growth). 2. Click the **Breakdown** tab to view the **Offer Performance** table. 3. Use the arrow next to **All time** on the right to filter by: Last 3 months, Last 12 months, Month to date, Quarter to date, or Yearly to date.  ![](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/article_attachments/39960383947287) --- ## Frequently asked questions about paid trials **How is a paid trial different from a free trial?** Both a free trial and a paid trial convert to the tier's standard pricing when the trial period ends. The difference is what happens during the trial. A free trial gives readers full access at no cost for a set period. A paid trial charges a custom intro price for a custom length, and lets you use a billing cadence that's independent of the underlying tier. For instructions on setting up a free trial, see [How to customize paid subscriptions](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/28625118674711). **How is a paid trial different from a percent discount?** A percent discount applies a percentage off the standard tier price and uses the tier's existing billing cadence. A paid trial lets you set a specific dollar amount and an independent billing cadence. A good rule is to use a percent discount for percentage-off promotions and a paid trial when you want to offer a distinct intro price and billing structure. **What happens if the trial length and billing cadence don't line up — for example, a 45-day trial with monthly billing?** If your trial unit is set to **Days**, the only available billing cadence is **One time**, so at the end of the trial (in this example, day 46), they will be charged their first monthly payment. **Can I combine a free trial and a paid trial on the same tier?** At this time, it's not possible to combine a free trial and a paid trial on the same tier. **Will subscribers be notified before the trial price converts to the standard rate?** If you've set up an [upsell email](https://beehiivhelp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/28625118674711), subscribers will receive a reminder before their trial ends and their plan renews at the standard rate. **Does the paid trial charge appear in Stripe?** Yes. Trial charges are processed through your connected Stripe account, the same as any other paid subscription payment. **What happens if a subscriber's card fails when the trial converts?** Stripe retries the charge based on your Stripe retry settings. If the charge ultimately fails, the subscription moves to an unpaid state, and the subscriber loses paid access. **Will my existing 'Trial' offers still work after the rename to 'Free trial'?** Yes. Only the label changes, your existing offers will continue to function exactly as before. No action is needed on your part.