docs(free-trial): now requires a payment method

src/_posts/platform/billing/2000-01-01-profile.md

@@ -1,17 +1,16 @@
 ---
 title: Billing Profile
 nav: Billing Profile
-modified_at: 2025-07-02 12:00:00
+modified_at: 2026-07-17 00:00:00
 index: 1
 ---
 
 
-In order to provision larger than free tiers resources, or when the [free
-trial][free-trial] period is over, each [Scalingo account][account] must have a
-**billing profile**.
+Each [Scalingo account][account] must have a **billing profile** to start the
+[free trial][free-trial] and use Scalingo resources.
 
 This profile stores all the information we need to be able to generate invoices
-for the services you consume. It also allows you to chose and configure at
+for the services you consume. It also allows you to choose and configure at
 least one payment method.
 
 

src/_posts/platform/getting-started/2000-01-01-free-trial.md

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 ---
 title: Free Trial
-modified_at: 2025-12-08 00:00:00
+modified_at: 2026-07-17 00:00:00
 tags: billing free trial
 index: 20
 ---
@@ -10,8 +10,9 @@ index: 20
 When you create an account on [Scalingo](https://scalingo.com), you are given a
 free trial period to test the platform.
 
-As long as you don't want to go out of the limit of the free trial, you don't
-have to give us your billing details nor payment methods.
+To start the free trial, you must first configure your [billing profile][billing-profile]
+and add a valid [payment method][payment-methods]. You are not charged while the free
+trial is active.
 
 ### What can I do under the free trial?
 
@@ -31,43 +32,30 @@ For each of the eligible database engines listed below, you can provision **1 da
 You would like to test another engine or another plan? Contact us on the chat.
 
 
-### How to break out of the free trial?
+### How to leave the free trial early?
 
 You may want to leave the free trial period earlier to start using the platform to
-its full potential. To do so, you need to enter a payment method on the
-[web dashboard](https://dashboard.scalingo.com/billing). Once done, you can forcefully
-leave the trial period by clicking the `Stop free trial` button. Your billing now
-starts and limits are gone.
+its full potential. To do so, open the
+[web dashboard](https://dashboard.scalingo.com/billing) and click the
+`Stop free trial` button. Your billing starts and the free trial limits are
+removed.
 
 ### What happens at the end of the free trial?
 
-3 days and 1 days before the end of the free trial, you will receive an email
+3 days and 1 day before the end of the free trial, you will receive an email
 to notify you of the remaining days under the free trial.
 
-**If you don't enter your payment details at the end of the free trial, your
-application will be automatically downscaled to 0 container and its addons will
-be paused.**
-
-Moreover, a set of restrictions will be applied automatically on **your**
-application. Consequently, you won't be able to:
-- create a new application;
-- scale your application;
-- create, update or resume your addons;
-- launch new deployments;
-- run a one-off from your application;
-- run scheduled tasks (cron jobs).
-
-These restrictions don't apply on applications for which you are a collaborator
-as long as these applications are owned by a paying customer.
-
-As soon as you enter payment details, the restrictions will be lifted, you
-will be able to scale your application back up and resume its addons. These
-operations must be done **manually**.
+At the end of the free trial, the resources you created keep running and your
+billing starts automatically with the payment method configured on your account.
 
 {% warning %}
-After a period of thirty (30) days, if no order is made by the client owning the apps, the resources will be deleted from the platform.
+If you don't want to be charged after the free trial, you must delete your
+applications, databases, and add-ons before the trial ends. Scalingo does not
+automatically remove these resources at the end of the free trial.
 {% endwarning %}
 
+[billing-profile]: {% post_url platform/billing/2000-01-01-profile %}
+[payment-methods]: {% post_url platform/billing/2000-01-01-payment-methods %}
 [postgresql-link]: {% post_url databases/postgresql/about/2000-01-01-overview %}
 [mysql-link]: {% post_url databases/mysql/about/2000-01-01-overview %}
 [redis-link]: {% post_url databases/redis/2000-01-01-start %}

src/_posts/platform/user-management/scalingo-account/2000-01-01-creating.md

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 ---
 title: Creating a Scalingo Account
 nav: Creating a Scalingo Account
-modified_at: 2025-07-02 12:00:00
+modified_at: 2026-07-17 00:00:00
 index: 10
 ---
 
@@ -24,8 +24,10 @@ There are two ways to create your Scalingo account:
 1. Open the [sign up][sign-up] page
 2. Either select **Professional** or **Personal**, depending on your situation
 3. Enter the e-mail address you want to use for your Scalingo account
-4. Chose a **strong** password
+4. Choose a **strong** password
 5. Validate by clicking the **Sign up with email** button
+6. Fill your [billing profile][billing-profile] and add a
+   [payment method][payment-methods] to start your free trial
 
 
 ## Using GitHub SSO
@@ -36,6 +38,8 @@ There are two ways to create your Scalingo account:
    specific personal information associated with your GitHub account. This
    allows us to check your identity and get your e-mail address (the one
    associated with your GitHub account)
+4. Fill your [billing profile][billing-profile] and add a
+   [payment method][payment-methods] to start your free trial
 
 {% note %}
 Using this method unlocks deeper integration between GitHub and Scalingo.
@@ -47,3 +51,5 @@ about these features.
 [sign-up]: https://auth.scalingo.com/users/sign_up
 
 [scm]: {% post_url platform/app/2000-01-01-scm-integration %}
+[billing-profile]: {% post_url platform/billing/2000-01-01-profile %}
+[payment-methods]: {% post_url platform/billing/2000-01-01-payment-methods %}