> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bango.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Configure free trials

> Configure and manage free trials for your offers.

## Overview

A free trial gives consumers access to a product at no cost for a defined period before automatically transitioning them to a paid plan.

In the DVM™, free trials are configured directly on the Offer using a [multi-phase plan](/offer-management/multi-phase-offers). You define the trial as the first phase of the plan, and the paid subscription as the second. The DVM™ manages the transition between phases automatically — no manual intervention required.

<Tip>
  Free trials are just one type of [multi-phase plan](/offer-management/multi-phase-offers). The same approach supports other scenarios such as introductory discounts or fixed-term promotional pricing. See [Plan Configuration](/offer-catalog/plan-configuration) for the full picture.
</Tip>

***

## How a free trial works

When a consumer is provisioned with a free trial Offer, the DVM™ starts the plan lifecycle and places the consumer in the first phase — the free trial. At the end of the trial period, the plan automatically advances to the next phase and the consumer begins to be charged at the full subscription price.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Consumer is provisioned with the Offer">
    The plan lifecycle starts based on the configured `lifecycleStartTrigger`. For most free trial Offers this is set to `CONSUMER_OFFER_FULLY_CREATED` — meaning the trial begins as soon as the consumer Offer is created and their entitlements are ready for activation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Free trial phase begins">
    The consumer enters Phase 0 — the free trial. During this phase, `priceType` is `FREE` and `amount` is `0`. If you have licensed Billing & Charging, the DVM™ will not issue any charge requests during this phase.

    The trial runs for the configured `duration` — for example `P6M` for a six-month free trial.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Trial period ends — transition to paid">
    When the trial duration expires, the plan automatically advances to Phase 1 — the full-price subscription. From this point the consumer is charged at the configured renewal price on the defined `renewalFrequency`.

    If you have licensed Billing & Charging, the DVM™ will issue a charge request to your billing system at the start of the first paid renewal.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Subscription continues">
    The consumer's subscription renews on the configured schedule until the Offer is canceled or modified. The transition from trial to paid does not interrupt the consumer's entitlement or access.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Configuring a free trial Offer

A free trial Offer is created using the standard `POST /offers` endpoint. The key is the `phases` array in the plan — a free trial requires at least two phases: one `FREE` phase and one `FULL_PRICE` phase.

### Example — 6-month free trial, then monthly at \$12.99

```json theme={null}
{
  "name": "Bango Music Free for 6 months",
  "availableFromTs": "2025-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
  "availableToTs": "9999-01-01T00:00:00.000Z",
  "products": [
    {
      "productTier": {
        "productTierId": "0c66a0c4-3970-4998-8e99-34303f38aed7",
        "productTierKey": "BANGO_MUSIC_PREMIUM"
      },
      "contentProvider": {
        "merchantAccountKey": "BANGO_US"
      }
    }
  ],
  "plan": {
    "lifecycleStartTrigger": {
      "triggerSource": "CONSUMER_OFFER",
      "triggerEvent": "CONSUMER_OFFER_FULLY_CREATED"
    },
    "currency": "USD",
    "phases": [
      {
        "sequence": 0,
        "priceType": "FREE",
        "renewalFrequency": "P1M",
        "duration": "P6M",
        "amount": 0,
        "billingDescription": "Bango Music Free"
      },
      {
        "sequence": 1,
        "priceType": "FULL_PRICE",
        "renewalFrequency": "P1M",
        "amount": 1299,
        "billingDescription": "Bango Music subscription"
      }
    ]
  }
}
```

### Key fields for a free trial

<ResponseField name="phases[0].priceType" type="string" required>
  Set to `FREE` for the trial phase. The DVM™ will not issue any charge requests while the consumer is in this phase.
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="phases[0].duration" type="string" required>
  The length of the free trial, in ISO 8601 duration format. For example, `P1M` = 1 month, `P3M` = 3 months, `P6M` = 6 months. When this duration expires, the plan automatically advances to the next phase.
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="phases[0].amount" type="integer" required>
  Must be `0` for a free trial phase.
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="phases[1].priceType" type="string" required>
  Set to `FULL_PRICE` for the paid phase that follows the trial. This is the price the consumer will be charged once the trial ends.
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="phases[1].renewalFrequency" type="string" required>
  How often the consumer is charged in the paid phase. In ISO 8601 duration format — for example `P1M` for monthly billing.
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="phases[1].amount" type="integer" required>
  The recurring charge amount in minor currency units (e.g. `1299` = \$12.99 USD).
</ResponseField>

<ResponseField name="lifecycleStartTrigger.triggerEvent" type="string" required>
  Defines when the plan lifecycle — and therefore the trial period — begins. `CONSUMER_OFFER_FULLY_CREATED` starts the trial as soon as the consumer Offer is created and all entitlements are active.
</ResponseField>

***

## What the consumer experiences

From the consumer's perspective, the free trial is seamless:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Immediate access" icon="circle-play">
    The consumer gains access to the product as soon as the Offer is provisioned — no waiting, no manual activation.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Automatic transition" icon="arrow-right-arrow-left">
    At the end of the trial, the subscription moves to the paid phase automatically. The consumer's entitlement and access continue uninterrupted.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Advance notice" icon="bell">
    If you have Billing & Charging enabled, an `UPCOMING_PHASE_CHANGE` notification is sent ahead of the transition — giving you time to inform the consumer before they are first charged. See [Billing & Charging Notifications](/billing-and-charging/notifications).
  </Card>

  <Card title="Cancellation before charge" icon="circle-xmark">
    If the consumer cancels before the trial ends, the Offer is closed and no charge is ever issued.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## What's next?

<Card title="Plan Types" icon="cubes" href="/offer-catalog/offer-models" cta="View plan types" arrow="true">
  Understand the four ways a reseller can configure the plan for an Offer.
</Card>

<Card title="Plan Configuration" icon="tag" href="/offer-catalog/plan-configuration" cta="Configure plans" arrow="true">
  Learn how start triggers, phases, durations, and renewal frequency work together.
</Card>

<Card title="Billing & Charging Notifications" icon="bell" href="/billing-and-charging/notifications" cta="View notifications" arrow="true">
  Set up advance notifications to inform consumers before their trial ends and billing begins.
</Card>