At what time Shopify updates trial days left for an app installed?

[Chandra_Meghwal]

At what time Shopify updates trial days left for an app installed? Does it calculate from the time of an app is installed or always update at 00:00:00 UTC but it doesn't seem so? As I reduce the number of days after every 24 hours from when the app was installed, but have noticed that shopify calculates the trials days left in a different way and sometimes reduces the trial days left earlier than I do, which causes confusion for the users. I have also monitored that shopify doesnot update number of trials days left at 00:00:00 UTC.

I checked here Offer free trials with the Billing API, it allows to add number of trial days with param trialDays but nothing mentioned at what basis (at what time) it updates trial days left in shopify admin -> settings -> apps and sales channels
Can anyone tell me how shopify calculates the trial days left?

[RavindraPatel · Accepted solution]

Hi @Chandra_Meghwal 

The first thing is trial days do not depend on the app installed date or time.

The trial ends on calculated based on the RecurringApplicationCharge's activation time.

So simple formula for

trial_ends_on = datetime when charge activated + trial_days

For example: for any application, I created a RecurringApplicationCharge with 10 trial days on 2022-12-07 10:07:40 IST. When the user accepts the charge it will activate so the charge activated on 2022-12-07 10:17:23 IST.

So their trial will expire on = 2022-12-07 10:17:23 + 10 days = 2022-12-17 10:17:23 IST

[temurbek]

Hello, Can you please clarify one behavior?
How the Shopify handle it? I mean, every time the user uninstalls and reinstalls again, the trial day will apply again? 
Example: The user used the app for 20 days and the app has 21 days trial, so If a user uninstalls and installs again, Shopify gives 21 days trial again, right?

[RavindraPatel]

Hello @temurbek,

Trial days are determined by your app when you create the charge. The number of trial days you set in charge will be applied to the merchant.

[temurbek]

Thank you!

[JhonStan]

Shopify's method for updating trial days left for installed apps may not be based on a specific time, such as 00:00:00 UTC, as initially assumed. It appears that Shopify calculates trial days differently, which has led to confusion for users and app developers. While the Billing API allows you to specify the number of trial days with the "trialDays" parameter, it does not explicitly mention the exact basis or time when trial days are updated in the Shopify admin settings for apps  and sales channels.

The lack of clarity on this matter may result in trial days being reduced earlier than expected, causing confusion for both users and developers. To gain a better understanding of how Shopify calculates trial days left, it is advisable to reach out to Shopify's support or developer documentation for more detailed information and insights on their specific trial period calculations.