This document helps explain Lede’s intro pricing model, which offers subscribers a low-cost trial month before transitioning to a standard annual subscription. Designed to lower acquisition barriers while establishing valuable long-term subscriber relationships, intro pricing can be an effective tool for converting interested readers into committed subscribers. Below you’ll find answers to common questions about how intro pricing works, eligibility requirements, cancellation policies, and how this promotion appears to your subscribers.
What distinguishes intro pricing from other kinds of sales or coupons?
Intro pricing offers a 1-month trial at a reduced rate that automatically converts to an annual subscription. The key distinction from other promotions is the interval switch from monthly to annual. While the monthly trial price is discounted, the subsequent annual subscription is at the standard rate.
Can existing monthly subscribers switch to intro pricing and then convert to annual?
No. Sales and promotions are not available to current subscribers, so existing monthly subscribers are not eligible for this promotion.
Could a user cancel before the trial ends, then re-subscribe with the same email address to repeatedly pay only the trial price?
When a user cancels, their subscription remains active until the end of their current billing period unless the publisher initiates an immediate cancellation in Stripe with a prorated refund.
Example with a regular subscription
Travis has a monthly subscription renewing on May 25. He cancels on May 12, but his subscription remains active until May 25. During this period, he can reverse his cancellation, but remains ineligible for promotions as he still has an active subscription. After May 25, he could sign up as a new subscriber and would be eligible for any current promotions.
Example with Intro Pricing
Taylor subscribes via intro pricing and cancels with two weeks remaining in her trial month. She remains an active subscriber for those two weeks and cannot access intro pricing again while her subscription is active. After her subscription expires, she would technically be eligible for intro pricing if the promotion is still available—however, most intro pricing promotions run for less than one month.
Can introductory pricing last longer than one month, such as a 3-month trial before converting to annual pricing?
No. The initial term for intro pricing is strictly limited to one month.
Do subscribers receive notification when their intro pricing period is ending and converting to the annual rate?
No automatic notification is sent. However, publishers have the option to send an email to all promotion participants as the intro period concludes.
Can intro pricing work with a monthly subscription—starting with a trial price before converting to the regular monthly rate?
No. A promotion where the subscription interval remains unchanged (monthly to monthly) is considered a standard sale, not intro pricing.
How is intro pricing displayed on the products page?
Intro pricing is clearly indicated on the product card with the original price struck through and the promotional offer displayed below. The message follows this format: “[Intro price] for the first month, then [annual price] per year.”
Example: For a $2 intro price leading to a $50 annual subscription, the display would read: “$2 for the first month, then $50 per year.”
How is intro pricing information shown on the user’s account page?
The subscription tab on the user’s account page provides comprehensive subscription details, including the product name, renewal date, and payment method.
When a discount is applied, the Active Discount field appears with a description of the promotion.
For subscriptions with intro pricing, an additional field appears with the heading “After this date, your subscription will be” followed by the future subscription amount and term.
Example of Intro Pricing displayed on the user’s Account page
