Many people take advantage of free trials to see if they would want to avail of the service's paid subscriptions. Unfortunately, it is easy to forget when the trial period ends, resulting in people paying for services they do not really like.
Free Trial Surfing
A newly launched app may help people with this subscription woe. The Free Trial Surfing app helps keep track of trials and can even save people from unintentionally shelling out money for forgetting to opt out of services they do not want.
The app was developed by UK-based app developer Josh Browder, who is also behind the Do Not Pay app.
How It Works
His new app will not link the customer's bank account or credit card. He said the service will be in partnership with a major bank.
The app uses a virtual credit card number and an invented name that a customer can use to sign up for a service. It will then automatically cancel the account before billing starts.
For those who think of abusing the card, Browder said it will not work if used for other forms of purchase.
Lightbulb Moment
Browder said that the idea for the app came to him when he was charged $21.99 for a gym membership that he was not using.
"I had completely forgotten that I had signed up for a free trial in the first place. Constantly trying to keep track of when a 'free trial' period ends is annoying and time-consuming," he said, according to BBC.
The app is now available only on Apple's App Store, but a web version is in development. About 10,000 people have so far signed up to try Free Trial Surfing since it was launched six weeks ago in the United States.
Browder said two of the most common subscriptions users of the app sign up for are porn platforms and Netflix.
