---
title: "Free Trials Trick: Stop Paying After They End"
description: "Sign up for free trials with a virtual card and a $2 spending limit, and you'll never get charged after one ends. Here's how, step by step."
published: 2023-07-11T00:00:00.000Z
updated: 2026-11-04T00:00:00.000Z
tags: ["productivity"]
url: "https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end"
---
```embed
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/davidvkimball/episodes/Free-Trials-The-Trick-to-Never-Paying-After-They-End-e26r5r5/a-aa459st
```

Most of us have fallen into the "Subscription Trap" where a service will offer a free trial over some time - 7 days, 30 days, etc., but we forget and start paying for a service after the free trial ends.

After reading this article, **this should never happen to you ever again**.

Here's how to never pay after a free trial ends:

1. **Sign up for** [Privacy.com](https://privacy.com). Privacy.com is a free service that allows you to create virtual payment cards that connect to your bank.
2. **Create a virtual card.** You can set a lifetime limit of `$2` to validate an initial check by the service you're signing up for.
3. **Use that virtual card information when you sign up for free trials.** After the trial period ends and it tries to charge you, [Privacy.com](https://Privacy.com) will alert you via email and you can close the account or card.
For someone as cheap as me, this has worked wonders. I've used this method for years and haven't fallen into the subscription trap even one time since I started using it.
## Step-By-Step Guide

[Begin by signing up for Privacy.com](https://privacy.com).

![Privacy.com homepage screenshot.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen1.webp)

Add your email and create a password.

![Privacy.com sign up page.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen2.webp)

Confirm your account through the email you receive.

![Account confirmation screenshot.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen3.webp)

Once confirmed, select "New Card."

![New card interface screenshot.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen4.webp)

Skip the suggestions and create a custom card with a $2 lifetime spend limit:

![Spend limit screenshot.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen5.webp)

In this example, I've created a card called "Free Trial."

![Free trial card setup.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen6.webp)

Select "Finish Signing Up" and say you're using it for "Myself" rather than your business.

![Using for myself or business screenshot.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen7.webp)

Add your personal details, including your name, DOB, address, and phone number.

![Tell us a bit more about yourself screenshot.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen8.webp)

It will also ask you for your SSN - I understand if this is a deal-breaker for you, but this service has served me well so I think it's worth it.

From here you'll connect your bank account.

![Connect bank account screenshot.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen9.webp)

Once you connect your bank account, you can start using your cards. Here are some of the ones I've used:

![List of Privacy.com virtual cards.](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/free-trials-the-trick-to-never-paying-after-they-end/screen10.webp)
## Enjoy saving money?

You might enjoy my free video course, [CheapMarketing.io](https://davidvkimball.com/courses/cheapmarketing). It's for content creators who want the cheapest possible way to grow their brand and reach their audience.

Or you can check out my guide on [setting up a custom website with zero hosting costs](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/how-to-create-a-free-custom-website-in-15-minutes).

What ways have you found to save money? [Send them my way](https://davidvkimball.com/contact). 🙏

## Linked mentions

- [How to Create an AI Native Company in 2026](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/how-to-create-an-ai-native-company-in-2026)
- [Top 5 Productivity Apps for Couples](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/top-5-productivity-apps-for-couples)
- [How I Got $8,367 of Free Perks by Being "First"](https://davidvkimball.com/posts/how-i-got-8367-of-free-perks-by-being-first)
- [Getting Started](https://davidvkimball.com/courses/cheapmarketing/getting-started)