A SaaS founder asks whether free trials are worth the AI cost
A SaaS founder asks whether they should offer free trials. They say free trials may help collect early feedback, but they worry that trial users may not become paying customers. The product depends on AI APIs, so every free trial can create real costs. They also ask whether starting with a paywall would attract more serious buyers.
Key points
- The post asks whether free trials help or hurt a new SaaS product.
- The founder sees free trials as a possible way to get early feedback.
- They worry trial users may leave without paying.
- The product uses AI APIs, so free usage costs the founder money.
- They are considering a paywall from the start to filter for serious buyers.
Quick term guide
- free trials
- A limited period where someone can use a product before paying.
- free trial
- A limited time when someone can use a product before paying.
- feedback
- A response that tells a user what they did well or should fix.
- business
- An activity where you provide value to others in exchange for money.
- marketing
- The activities used to tell people about a product and encourage them to buy it.
- friction
- Anything that makes it harder or slower for a user to start using a product.
- usage limits
- The amount you are allowed to use a service before you must wait or upgrade.
- usage limit
- A usage limit is a cap on how much you can use a service in a set time.