A free trial gives full access for a limited time. Freemium gives limited access forever. Both work, but they optimize for different things, and choosing wrong can quietly cap your growth.
Free trials create urgency. The clock forces a decision, which is great when your product delivers obvious value quickly. The risk: people who never had time to experience the 'aha' churn the moment the trial ends.
Freemium removes urgency but builds a wide top of funnel. It works when usage itself creates value (and switching costs) over time. The risk: a sea of free users who never feel enough friction to upgrade.
Our rule of thumb: if your value is immediate and visual, run a trial. If your value compounds with use and data, go freemium. And whatever you pick, make the upgrade moment feel like a reward, not a tollbooth.