Free trials are a great way to test whether a service or subscription is worth it — but for many Americans, they quickly turn into costly mistakes.
As many as 79% of consumers say they have signed up for a free trial, intended to cancel, then forgot and were charged for the subscription anyway, according to a recent survey from Dimers. The company surveyed 2,000 U.S. consumers about their habits involving free trials and other freebies or discounts.
On average, forgetting about free trials is costing Americans an extra $45 per month, the survey found. That’s around $540 per year. In some states, the totals add up even more quickly — Washington averaged $98 per month, for example, while North Carolina spent $90.
“Even with our best intentions, it’s so easy to forget,” said Andrea Woroch, consumer finance and money-saving expert. “We have so many different subscriptions and trials that we’re signing up for, and so many things going on these days that it’s easy to overlook and get caught.”
Free trial risks
These are some of the risks to watch out for when deciding whether to sign up for a free trial.
A free trial that quietly becomes a paid subscription
It’s easy to forget about a free trial before it turns into a paid subscription.
“Some companies use free trials to turn you into a long-term customer rather than a trial subscriber,” according to the Federal Trade Commission.
Free trial sign-ups often require consumers’ credit card information up front. Those who don’t unsubscribe by the end of the free trial will get automatically charged for the ongoing subscription cost when the trial period ends. In some cases, free trials can even lock consumers into even more expensive annual subscriptions.
“If you cancel after you’re charged, you might now have to wait an entire year to cancel, and not get any of that money back,” Woroch said. “So now you’re locked in for a longer period of time.”
Add-on costs
After a free trial, consumers may also be subject to add-on costs or upgrades that result in higher charges than the monthly or annual subscription.
When those extras are unexpected, it ends up costing a lot more than the trial offer implied, said Chuck Bell, advocacy programs director for Consumer Reports. “For example, a digital muscle-building app may also offer an additional subscription for a diet plan. If you don’t pay close attention, you might agree quickly to a higher-priced subscription than you expected.”
Sometimes, the terms describing these add-ons or extra costs can be hidden deep within the fine print of your user agreement, the FTC warns. As a result, you could enroll to receive other products you didn’t want and pay money you didn’t budget into your monthly cost.
Free shipping that isn’t really free
Depending on the service, free trials can also involve perks like free shipping. Free shipping might even be one of the primary reasons to sign up for a free trial with an online retailer.
But some shoppers are still paying for the benefit of “free” shipping. In many cases, and sometimes even with a subscription or account, you might have to meet a minimum purchase amount to qualify.
According to the Dimers survey, 88% of American consumers have added extra items they didn’t need to an online shopping cart just to qualify for free shipping. The extra $20 item you add to your online clothing purchase to avoid a $15 shipping cost may make sense in the moment — but it can quickly add up over time.
How to avoid unexpected costs
Here are a few expert recommendations for avoiding losing money to free trials and paid subscriptions you don’t need:
Track the free trial’s end date
The most important thing consumers can do when signing up for a free trial is to track the end date. Note whether the trial lasts seven days, 14 days, one month, or more — and use that to figure out exactly when the trial will end.
“Set a cancellation reminder in your phone’s calendar when you sign up for a free trial,” Bell said. “This will prevent you from forgetting and prevent your credit card from being charged.”
Instead of a reminder only on the last day, set another one a day or two before. That allows for multiple opportunities to cancel the trial before getting charged.
Ask for a refund
After forgetting to cancel a free trial and being charged the subscription fee, you can simply ask for your money back.
“If you do get charged and it’s not something you’re gonna use, if you notice it right away, call the customer service,” Woroch said. “You never know. Maybe they can refund you, or at least pro rate the refund.”
Audit subscriptions
Many of us likely have existing, unused subscriptions draining money from our bank accounts each month.
“The more subscriptions that are out there, the easier it is to lose track,” Woroch said. “You might have no idea what you’re even paying for, and doing those subscription audits regularly is important.”
Some platforms exist — such as Rocket Money and PocketGuard — that help users find exactly what they’re subscribed to and how much they’re paying. AI can be useful for subscriptions, too. One of the benefits of Meta’s new AI agent Muse, for example, is its ability to identify unnecessary expenses in users’ budgets, like unused subscriptions.
Bell warned to use caution with third-party services, though. “You may need to give them access to your accounts, so read their privacy policies carefully.”
For those who don’t want to sign up for another service, combing through credit cards and bank statements manually is another option. Identify and track recurring monthly or annual charges, then review them to find the ones you can unsubscribe from.
Time your trials strategically
Another strategy that may make free trials and perks like free shipping more useful is intentionally timing your sign-ups.
“Wait for the holiday times when you’re going to be doing more online shopping or may need more delivery services, and then time your free trials accordingly,” Woroch said.
Over the holidays, for example, a free trial for a service like Walmart+ or Target Circle 360, could help shoppers score free shipping on gifts for family and friends, as well as free delivery on food items for family gatherings. With the extra activity, you can take full advantage of the free trial benefits. Later, you can decide if the service is worth keeping or if you’d rather cancel after the season slows down.
Companies request payment information upfront to establish an automatic billing agreement. This turns a temporary trial into a seamless paid subscription under a practice called “negative option billing”—meaning you will automatically be charged as soon as the trial period ends unless you proactively cancel.
In most cases, no. On major platforms (such as Apple Subscriptions, Google Play, and many software services), canceling immediately simply turns off auto-renewal, allowing you to retain access until the official end of the trial period. However, a few services (notably some streaming or fitness platforms) do end access instantly upon cancellation, so it is always wise to check their terms during signup.
While recurring billing is legal, regulatory bodies like the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have increased enforcement against predatory practices. Under recent guidelines and consumer protection laws (often referred to as “Click-to-Cancel” rules), businesses are legally required to make canceling a subscription just as easy as it was to sign up, without tricking consumers with hidden menus or forced phone calls.
Virtual credit cards allow you to generate temporary card numbers tied to your primary account. You can set strict spending limits (e.g., $1 maximum) or make the virtual card pause/expire automatically after the first transaction. When the company attempts to charge the card for the full subscription price at the end of the trial, the payment is automatically declined.
It depends on the company’s policy, but you have a strong chance if you act quickly. If you contact customer support on the same day or within 24–48 hours of the charge—and show that you haven’t used the service since the charge occurred—many companies will issue a courtesy refund. Additionally, if you signed up through Apple or Google, you can request a dispute directly through their respective app stores.
Manoj Sharma is a Senior Writer on the banking team at Tax Assistant. He provides information on budgeting, bank accounts, the banking industry, and other related topics. Using original data and methodologies, he helps you identify the best financial institutions, accounts, and products tailored to your needs. Manoj holds a degree in Journalism and Political Science from Syracuse University. All articles are strictly reviewed and fact-checked by our panel of expert Chartered Accountants, including CA Devendra Saini, CA Nikhil Khunteta, and CA Ankit Goyal
