You sign up on the website.
It clearly says “Free Trial.”
No payment required.
No charge today.
Then you open the mobile app.
And suddenly — it asks you to pay.
No trial.
No free access.
This happens more often than people think.
Why the Trial Exists on Web — But Not in the App
- App Store / Google Play billing rules differ from web billing
- Platforms may restrict or shorten free trials
- Some services only offer trials through direct web signup
- In-app purchases follow store pricing and subscription policies
The trial isn’t missing — it’s platform-dependent.
How App Store Billing Changes Trial Access
- Apple and Google take a revenue share from in-app purchases
- Services adjust trials to offset store fees
- Intro offers may be shorter or removed entirely
- Some plans are web-exclusive promotions
This is a pricing structure issue — not an account error.
How to Access the Free Trial Properly
- Subscribe directly through the website first
- Log into the app after activating the trial
- Avoid subscribing via the in-app purchase screen
- Confirm trial activation in your account billing page
Once activated on web, the trial usually syncs to the app.
When You Might Still Be Charged
- You subscribed inside the app instead of the website
- Your account had a previous trial already used
- The app store account differs from your web login
- The trial promotion expired
Free trials often depend on where you subscribe — not just your account.