Editing Freeware (section)

== "Free" trial==

A '''"free" trial''' is another related concept in which customers are allowed to use a product, free of charge, for a limited time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FREE TRIAL {{!}} definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary |url=https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/free-trial |access-date=3 April 2024 |website=Cambridge Dictionary}}</ref>

When a software monopoly has a strong network effect, it may be more profitable for it to offer a "free" trial.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cheng |first1=Hsing Kenneth |last2=Tang |first2=Qian Candy |date=September 2010 |title=Free trial or no free trial: Optimal software product design with network effects |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejor.2010.01.014 |journal=European Journal of Operational Research |volume=205 |issue=2 |pages=437–447 |doi=10.1016/j.ejor.2010.01.014 |issn=0377-2217}}</ref> Also, customers acquired via a "free" trial have a much lower [[customer lifetime value]] as opposed to regular customers, but they also respond more to [[marketing communications]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Datta |first1=Hannes |last2=Foubert |first2=Bram |last3=Van Heerde |first3=Harald J. |date=April 2015 |title=The Challenge of Retaining Customers Acquired with Free Trials |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1509/jmr.12.0160 |journal=Journal of Marketing Research |language=en |volume=52 |issue=2 |pages=217–234 |doi=10.1509/jmr.12.0160 |issn=0022-2437}}</ref>

Some factors that may encourage or discourage people to use "free" trials include:<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zhu |first1=Dong Hong |last2=Chang |first2=Ya Ping |date=January 2014 |title=Investigating consumer attitude and intention toward free trials of technology-based services |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.09.008 |journal=Computers in Human Behavior |volume=30 |pages=328–334 |doi=10.1016/j.chb.2013.09.008 |issn=0747-5632}}</ref>

* perceived usefulness
* perceived ease of use
* perceived risk
* social influence
* gender