MerchantFlow 7-Day Free Trial Guide

The MerchantFlow free trial gives e-commerce merchants 7 days to explore the full analytics platform, connect integrations, and evaluate profitability tracking before the subscription begins. The trial activation process differs between Stripe web signups, Shopify App Store installs, and demo mode.

Trial Paths at a Glance

Standard Web Workspace (Stripe)

• The merchant workspace is created in a trialing state during signup
• The owner then moves through onboarding to /onboarding/payment
• Stripe checkout creates the live subscription with a 7-day trial period
• Onboarding is not fully complete until the owner finishes the payment step

Shopify App Store Workspace

• The trial is attached to the Shopify AppSubscription approval flow
• Shopify manages the billing relationship
• Charges appear on the Shopify invoice, not a separate Stripe invoice

Agency and Demo Paths

• Agency accounts do not use the normal merchant trial path
• Demo mode is a sample-data experience and does not activate live billing by itself

What You Can Do During the Trial

During a live merchant trial you can:

• Connect supported integrations
• Use dashboards, reports, and P&L views
• Invite teammates according to the workspace role model
• Run syncs, as long as onboarding and subscription access requirements are satisfied

How the Web Signup Trial Works (Step-by-Step)

For standard web signups, the current sequence is:

1. Create the workspace from /signup
2. Choose real data on /onboarding/choice
3. Complete 2FA if required
4. Move through commerce, fulfillment, marketing, balance, and funding
5. Open /onboarding/payment
6. Choose monthly or annual billing
7. Complete Stripe checkout

Important details:

• MerchantFlow requires a verified email before creating the Stripe checkout session
• Stripe checkout uses a 7-day subscription trial
• The payment step is part of live onboarding, not a separate "later if you decide to continue" screen

How the Shopify App Store Trial Works

For Shopify-billed workspaces:

1. Install MerchantFlow through the Shopify App Store
2. Approve the Shopify billing flow
3. Shopify creates the app subscription with a 7-day trial
4. MerchantFlow continues on the Shopify-managed billing path after that

If the app is running inside Shopify admin, MerchantFlow breaks out to the top-level Shopify approval page so the billing approval can complete correctly.

What Is the Difference Between Demo Mode and Trial

Demo mode is useful if you want to inspect the product without connecting live systems yet.

Demo mode is not the same thing as a Stripe or Shopify trial:

• It does not create a live billing relationship
• It does not represent a production integration setup
• You can still move from demo to the real-data path later

Frequently Asked Questions

When does my MerchantFlow trial start?

For direct web signups, the workspace enters a trialing state when the merchant workspace is created. You should still treat /onboarding/payment as the point where the live billing-backed trial is finalized, because that is where Stripe checkout is completed.

For Shopify installs, the live trial is tied to the Shopify billing approval flow.

Can I pause my MerchantFlow trial?

There is no self-serve "pause trial" control in the current customer billing flow.

How do I know when my trial ends?

Use the billing surface shown for your workspace:

• Stripe workspaces show the trial end inside MerchantFlow billing
• Shopify workspaces follow the Shopify-managed billing record

If there is any mismatch, use the displayed billing end date in the active provider flow as the source of truth.

What timezone is used for trial expiration?

MerchantFlow stores trial timing server-side and, for live subscriptions, also follows the provider billing record. The safest way to confirm expiration timing is to read the trial end date shown in the billing UI for that workspace.

Do I need a credit card to start the MerchantFlow trial?

For a direct web signup:

• You can create the merchant workspace before finishing Stripe checkout
• But the live real-data onboarding flow still requires the /onboarding/payment step
• Stripe collects the payment method during that checkout flow, not only after the 7 days

For Shopify installs, billing approval is handled by Shopify during the subscription approval flow.

Will I be charged automatically after the trial?

Yes. For live Stripe and Shopify subscriptions, the billing provider charges the subscription after the 7-day trial ends unless the subscription is canceled before renewal.

The current product completes billing approval during onboarding, not as a separate "add payment later" step.

What plans are available after the trial?

• Monthly: $249/month
• Annual: $2,490/year ($209/month effective)

See Pricing Plans for the full breakdown.

Can I change payment details during the trial?

Yes, but the path depends on the billing provider:

• Stripe workspaces use the Stripe-backed billing controls surfaced in MerchantFlow
• Shopify workspaces manage payment details through Shopify

Can I extend my MerchantFlow trial?

There is no standard self-serve trial extension control in the customer UI.

If you have a genuine tenant-specific issue, contact [email protected] with:

• The workspace email
• The billing provider
• The reason you need more time

Support can review edge cases, but extensions are not a normal product control.

What if I am not satisfied during the trial?

If you decide not to continue:

• Stripe workspaces should cancel before the trial renews
• Shopify workspaces should cancel through the Shopify-managed subscription path

Do not rely on the older "just do nothing and manually add payment later" guidance. The current live billing flow is provider-managed once the checkout or approval step is completed.

What happens when the MerchantFlow trial ends?

MerchantFlow enforces subscription access after the trial window.

If the live trial expires without valid subscription access, the workspace can lose:

• Normal dashboard access
• Manual sync access
• Standard live workspace usage

Does the trial apply to invited team members?

Team members inherit the workspace's billing state. They do not start their own separate subscription trial when invited.

Does the trial apply to agency workspaces?

No. Agency accounts follow the agency onboarding path and do not use the normal merchant trial flow.

Related Pages

• Billing Overview
• Pricing Plans
• Payment Methods
• Upgrade or Downgrade
• Cancel Subscription
• Create Account
• Integrations Overview

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Last updated: March 14, 2026