Definition
Trial length is how long a trial user can evaluate your product before needing to convert to paid. It affects conversion and sales cycle dynamics.
Example
A 14-day trial may work for simple products, while a 30-day trial fits complex workflows.
How to use it
- Shorter trials can increase urgency but may reduce activation for complex products.
- Choose length based on time-to-value and onboarding complexity.
- Use in-product milestones to extend trials only when value is demonstrated.
Common mistakes
- Using one trial length across segments with very different time-to-value.
- Extending trials without tracking activation, which can lower urgency.
Why this matters
This term matters because small changes compound in SaaS metrics. Use consistent definitions by cohort and segment so you can diagnose retention, payback, and growth quality.
Practical checklist
- Write a 1-line definition for "Trial Length" that your team will use consistently.
- Keep the time window consistent (weekly/monthly/quarterly) when comparing trends.
- Segment results (channel/plan/cohort) before drawing big conclusions from blended averages.
- Sanity-check with a related calculator from the same category on MetricKit.
- Read the related guide (e.g., PLG metrics hub: activation, trial conversion, stickiness, and adoption) for context and common pitfalls.
Where to use this on MetricKit
Calculators
- Quota Attainment Calculator: Calculate quota attainment and pacing from booked revenue to date, quota, and days elapsed in the period.
- Sales Quota Calculator (Team to Rep): Sales quota calculator to estimate quota per rep from a team target using expected attainment, ramp mix, and optional pipeline coverage checks.
- Pipeline Coverage Calculator: Compute pipeline coverage ratio and expected bookings from pipeline and win rate.
- Required Pipeline Calculator: Estimate how much pipeline (and how many opportunities) you need to hit a revenue target given win rate and average deal size.
- Sales Capacity Calculator (with Ramp): Estimate period bookings capacity from team size, quota per rep, expected attainment, and ramped vs ramping mix.
Guides
- PLG metrics hub: activation, trial conversion, stickiness, and adoption: A practical hub for product-led growth metrics: activation rate, trial-to-paid, DAU/MAU and WAU/MAU stickiness, feature adoption, and PQL-to-paid conversion.