Short answer. A SaaS product with consumer customers and a free trial needs a trial-ending reminder before the first charge, a renewal cooling-off notice when the trial converts, a six-monthly reminder on monthly plans and an easy online cancel.
B2B-only software is out of scope, but plenty of indie SaaS sells to individuals and freelancers who count as consumers. If any of your customers are consumers, the trial and renewal rules matter.
- A 14-day trial is long enough for a 7-day reminder window. A 3-day trial is not.
- The trial converting to paid starts a new cooling-off period with its own notice.
- Self-serve cancellation inside the app satisfies the online route if it is easy to find.
Worked example: SaaS monthly plan
A 14-day free trial, then £29 a month, starting 15 January 2027.
| Date | Notice | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| 15 January 2027 | Full contract information | At sign-up |
| 15 January 2027 | Cooling-off notice | Cooling-off ends 29 January 2027 |
| 22 January 2027 | Free trial ending reminder | Payment of £29.00 on 29 January 2027 |
| 29 January 2027 | Renewal cooling-off notice | Payment of £29.00 on 29 January 2027. Cooling-off ends 12 February 2027 |
| 22 July 2027 | Six-monthly reminder | Payment of £29.00 on 29 July 2027 |
| 22 January 2028 | Six-monthly reminder | Payment of £29.00 on 29 January 2028 |
| 22 July 2028 | Six-monthly reminder | Payment of £29.00 on 29 July 2028 |
End-of-contract confirmation: Within 24 hours of an online cancellation.
Suggested checkout wording: We'll email you 3 to 7 days before your free trial ends, and before renewal at least every 6 months, 5 to 10 days before the payment. You can cancel online at any time.
Timings use our suggested defaults. The law doesn't fix the number of days; you choose a window and state it at checkout.
Questions
Does the trial need a card up front?
The reminder duty applies where the trial rolls into a paid plan, which in practice means a card is held. A trial that simply ends needs no reminder.
Not legal advice. If unsure, check with an adviser.