01In plain English
A free trial gives you a paid plan for a set number of days at no cost. When it ends, you either start paying or drop back to the free plan, if there is one. Some trials ask for a card up front and start charging automatically.
02Why it matters when you are choosing
A trial is the only way to test the features you would actually pay for. Its length and whether it needs a card decide how much you can test and how easy it is to walk away.
03What to check
Ask the vendor
Check how many days it lasts, which plan it unlocks, whether a card is needed, and how to cancel before the first charge.
04The tools
155of 305 checked
155 of the 305 tools we checked offer a free trial. Each one is checked against the vendor's own pages. A tool missing from this list may not have been checked yet, which is not the same as a no.
Fin
8.5
Rank #1 of 9 AI support agents
Best:Channels10
Weakest:Pricing6
Ticketing: yesHelp center: yesSLA policies: yesHIPAA: yes
From $0.99No free plan
100% from published facts · checked 13 Sep
→
Intercom
8.2
Rank #3 of 16 helpdesks
Best:Channels10
Weakest:Pricing5.5
Ticketing: yesHelp center: yesSLA policies: yesHIPAA: yes
From $39No free plan
100% from published facts · checked 13 Sep
→
Zapier
7.9
Rank #5 of 11 workflow automation tools
Best:Building workflows10
Weakest:Hosting and security3.2
Self-hosted: noBring your own key: yes
From $29.99Free plan
85% from published facts · checked 26 Sep
→
Salesforce
Free plan: yesFree trial: yesAPI: yesTemplates: yesMulti-agent: yes
From $25Free plan
→
Gorgias
7.6
Rank #7 of 16 helpdesks
Best:Running a support team10
Weakest:Support and branding3.8
Ticketing: yesHelp center: yesSLA policies: yesHIPAA: yes
From $10No free plan
98% from published facts · checked 13 Sep
→
Zendesk
8.4
Rank #2 of 16 helpdesks
Best:Channels10
Weakest:Pricing6.5
Ticketing: yesHelp center: yesSLA policies: yesHIPAA: yes
From $25No free plan
100% from published facts · checked 13 Sep
→