How to allow trial users to sign up without entering their credit card details?

Problem Statement

You want to know how to allow trial users to sign up without entering their credit card details.

Solution

Scope

What happens when the trial ends if the payment method is not updated?

Summary

There are two scenarios that you need to consider when your trial subscription ends without payment details

If the 'Allow customers to checkout without payment details' (Settings > Configure Chargebee > Checkout & Self Service Portal )is enabled for 'Plans with free trials', the user will be allowed to subscribe trial subscription without payment details and the 'Auto-collection' will be set to 'Off' by default.

1. Once the default Trial expiry reminder emails are enabled and sent as per your requirements, there will an 'Update Payment Method' button requesting the user to update the payment method for an uninterrupted subscription.

• If the payment method is added, the Auto-collection will be enabled automatically and the subscription status will be updated from 'In trial' to 'Active' status & Invoice status to 'Paid' status.
• If the payment method is not added, the Auto-collection will not be enabled but the subscription status will be updated from 'In trial' to 'Active' status & Invoice status will be marked as 'Payment due' status.

Checkout supports sign-up without entering payment details when there are no 'immediate charges'. To enable this, navigate to Settings > Configure Chargebee > Checkout & Self Service Portal > Allow customers to checkout without payment details.

More on this here.

Note: This feature is applicable only for new subscriptions created through checkout. The total checkout value should be '0' or no immediate charges eg: a trial