Help & Documentation

Everything you need to know about FreeTrialReminder - from installation to advanced features.

Getting Started

Installation

OAuth Setup (Required for Gmail Features)

FreeTrialReminder uses OAuth2 to securely connect to your Gmail account. This allows the extension to create draft emails or send cancellation emails on your behalf.

"oauth2": {
  "client_id": "YOUR_CLIENT_ID_HERE.apps.googleusercontent.com",
  "scopes": [
    "https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.send",
    "https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.compose"
  ]
}

Adding Your First Trial

Now that FreeTrialReminder is installed, let's add your first trial subscription:

Core Features

Countdown Badge

The extension icon shows a live countdown of days remaining until your next trial expires. The badge updates automatically and uses color coding to indicate urgency:

Browser Notifications

FreeTrialReminder sends automatic browser notifications at key intervals:

• 3 Days Before: First warning that your trial is ending soon
• 1 Day Before: Important reminder to take action
• On Expiration Day: Final notification before you're charged

Additional Notification Types

Beyond browser notifications, FreeTrialReminder offers two more powerful ways to ensure you never miss a deadline:

📍 Floating Alert Badge

When trials are urgent (0-2 days remaining), a floating badge appears on ALL websites you visit, making it impossible to miss the deadline:

⚠️ Auto-Open Popup

When trials end TODAY, the extension popup automatically opens with an urgent "ACTION REQUIRED TODAY" banner:

Cancellation Modes

FreeTrialReminder offers three different cancellation modes to match your preferences and workflow:

Subject: Cancel My Subscription - [Service Name]

Dear [Service Name] Support Team,

I would like to cancel my subscription/trial for [Service Name].

Please confirm the cancellation and ensure no further charges are made to my account.

Account details:
- Email: [your-email]
- Service: [Service Name]
- Request Date: [current-date]

Thank you for your assistance.

Best regards

Trial Management

Active Trials Dashboard

The main popup displays all your active trials in the "ACTIVE TRIALS" section. Each trial card provides complete information and quick actions at your fingertips.

What Each Trial Card Shows:

• Service name - The name you gave the trial
• Urgency badge - Color-coded status ("Ends today!", "2 days left", etc.)
• End date - When the trial expires
• "Open service" link - Quick access to the service website
• Support email - The cancellation contact email
• Action buttons - Four quick action buttons for managing the trial

Action Buttons Explained

Alert Settings

Customize how and when FreeTrialReminder notifies you about expiring trials. Access these settings from the Settings tab in the extension popup.

Notification Preferences

Control which types of notifications you want to receive:

Alert Timing

Choose when you want to be reminded about expiring trials:

Analytics & Send History

Track your trial management activity and view a complete history of all cancellation emails sent by FreeTrialReminder. Access Analytics from the Analytics tab in the extension popup.

Overview Dashboard

The Overview section provides key metrics about your trial management:

Send History

View a complete chronological record of all cancellation emails sent by FreeTrialReminder:

What Send History Shows:

• Service Name - The trial subscription that was cancelled
• Timestamp - Exact date and time the email was sent
• Recipient Email - The support/cancellation email address
• Send Method - Badge indicating how it was sent (AUTO-SENT, DRAFT, or MANUAL)

Export Data

Download all your trial data and send history as a JSON file for backup, record-keeping, or migration purposes.

What Gets Exported?

When you click "Export as JSON", FreeTrialReminder creates a downloadable file containing all your data. For each trial, the following information is exported:

Settings

Configure your cancellation mode preferences and customize email templates. Access Settings from the Settings tab in the extension popup.

Cancellation Mode

Choose how FreeTrialReminder handles cancellation emails for your trials. You can select from three different modes based on your preference for automation:

Gmail Connection

Draft and Auto-Send modes require connecting your Gmail account:

Customize Cancellation Email

Edit the email template that will be used for Draft and Auto-Send modes. Personalize the message to match your communication style:

Template Placeholders

Use these placeholders in your email template. They will be automatically replaced with actual values when the email is sent:

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Extension Not Showing Up

Problem: The FreeTrialReminder icon doesn't appear in my Chrome toolbar.

Solution:

1. Go to chrome://extensions/
2. Make sure FreeTrialReminder is enabled (toggle switch is blue)
3. Click the puzzle piece icon in your toolbar
4. Find FreeTrialReminder and click the pin icon

OAuth Errors

Problem: Getting "OAuth error" or "Failed to connect to Gmail" messages.

Solution:

1. Verify your Client ID is correctly entered in manifest.json
2. Make sure your email is added as a test user in Google Cloud Console
3. Check that Gmail API is enabled in your project
4. Try revoking and re-authorizing the connection:
   • Go to Google Account Permissions
   • Remove FreeTrialReminder
   • Reconnect through the extension

Notifications Not Working

Problem: Not receiving browser notifications for trials.

Solution:

1. Check Chrome notification permissions:
   • Go to chrome://settings/content/notifications
   • Make sure notifications are allowed
   • Check that FreeTrialReminder is not in the blocked list
2. Verify your system notifications are enabled (Windows, Mac, or Linux settings)
3. Try re-enabling notifications in the extension settings

Draft Not Creating in Gmail

Problem: Draft Mode not creating emails in my Gmail drafts folder.

Solution:

1. Verify you've granted the gmail.compose scope in OAuth setup
2. Check if you're logged into the correct Gmail account in Chrome
3. Try disconnecting and reconnecting Gmail in extension settings
4. Look in your Gmail trash folder - drafts sometimes appear there if there's an error

Auto-Send Not Working

Problem: Auto-Send Mode didn't send the cancellation email.

Solution:

1. Make sure Chrome was running at the scheduled send time (24 hours before expiration)
2. Verify the gmail.send scope is granted in your OAuth setup
3. Check your Gmail Sent folder to see if the email was actually sent
4. Check Chrome's background service workers are enabled
5. As a backup, manually send the cancellation email

Gmail API Quota Limits

Google imposes rate limits on Gmail API usage:

• Daily quota: 1 billion requests (more than enough for personal use)
• Per-user rate limit: 250 quota units per second
• Send message cost: 100 quota units per send

For typical usage (tracking 10-20 trials), you'll never approach these limits. If you somehow do, wait 24 hours for the quota to reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Is FreeTrialReminder really free?

Yes! FreeTrialReminder is completely free and open source. There are no hidden costs, premium tiers, or subscription fees.

How many trials can I track?

There's no limit! Track as many free trials as you need. The extension stores all data locally in your browser.

Does this work with services other than Gmail?

Manual Mode works with any email service. However, Draft Mode and Auto-Send Mode currently only support Gmail due to API requirements. We may add support for other providers in the future.

Can I use this on multiple computers?

Currently, trial data is stored locally in each Chrome browser. To use FreeTrialReminder on multiple devices, you'll need to set it up separately on each one. Cloud sync may be added in a future version.

Privacy & Security

What data does FreeTrialReminder collect?

FreeTrialReminder stores all data locally in your browser. We don't collect, store, or transmit any of your personal information to external servers. The only data stored is:

• Trial names and end dates
• Cancellation emails you provide
• Your notes about each trial
• OAuth tokens (stored securely by Chrome)

Is it safe to connect my Gmail account?

Yes. FreeTrialReminder uses Google's official OAuth2 protocol, which is the industry standard for secure authentication. We never see or store your Gmail password. You can revoke access at any time from your Google Account Permissions page.

What can FreeTrialReminder do with my Gmail?

Only what you explicitly authorize. The extension requests two specific scopes:

• gmail.compose - Create draft emails (Draft Mode)
• gmail.send - Send emails (Auto-Send Mode)

The extension CANNOT read your existing emails, delete emails, or access other parts of your Gmail account.

Can I revoke Gmail access?

Absolutely. You can revoke access at any time:

1. Go to Google Account Permissions
2. Find FreeTrialReminder in the list
3. Click "Remove Access"

Manual Mode will continue to work, but Draft and Auto-Send modes will require re-authorization.

Technical Questions

Why do I need to set up my own OAuth credentials?

For security and privacy reasons, we distribute FreeTrialReminder as an unpacked extension that you configure with your own OAuth credentials. This means:

• Only you have access to your Gmail connection
• No centralized server stores user credentials
• You maintain complete control over permissions

Can I publish this to the Chrome Web Store?

Yes! The extension code is open source. However, if you publish it, you'll need to set up shared OAuth credentials for all users, which requires additional verification from Google.

Does FreeTrialReminder work offline?

Partially. The extension will continue tracking trials and showing countdown badges offline. However, you'll need an internet connection to:

• Create Gmail drafts (Draft Mode)
• Send cancellation emails (Auto-Send Mode)
• Use mailto links (Manual Mode)

What happens if I close my browser?

No worries! FreeTrialReminder uses Chrome's alarm API to maintain persistent timers even when the browser is closed. As long as Chrome is installed, notifications and auto-send functionality will continue to work.

Best Practices

What's the best cancellation mode to use?

It depends on your preference:

• Manual Mode: Best for important subscriptions where you want full control
• Draft Mode: Best balance of automation and control for most users
• Auto-Send Mode: Best as a failsafe for trials you might forget about

Many users combine modes: Auto-Send for low-stakes trials, Draft for everything else.

When should I add a trial to FreeTrialReminder?

Add trials as soon as you sign up for them! Don't wait until you "remember later" - that's when trials get forgotten. Add it immediately while the end date is fresh in your mind.

Should I trust Auto-Send Mode completely?

Auto-Send is designed as a failsafe, not a replacement for active management. We recommend:

• Still check your trials regularly
• Verify confirmation emails from services
• Follow up if you don't hear back
• Keep Auto-Send as your "last line of defense"

Privacy & Security

Data Storage

FreeTrialReminder stores all data locally using Chrome's storage API. Your data never leaves your device unless you explicitly send emails through Gmail integration.

What's Stored:

• Trial subscription details (name, date, email, notes)
• Extension settings and preferences
• OAuth tokens (encrypted by Chrome)

What's NOT Stored:

• Your Gmail password (OAuth doesn't require this)
• Email content beyond what you input
• Browsing history or other personal data
• Any information on external servers

OAuth Security

FreeTrialReminder uses OAuth2, which is specifically designed for secure, limited access to your Google account:

• No password sharing: Your Gmail password is never exposed to the extension
• Limited scope: Only the specific permissions you grant are allowed
• Revocable: You can remove access anytime from your Google Account settings
• Token-based: Access tokens are encrypted and stored securely by Chrome

Open Source

FreeTrialReminder is open source, which means:

• You can review all the code yourself
• Security researchers can audit for vulnerabilities
• There are no hidden features or tracking
• Community contributions improve security over time

Permissions Explained

FreeTrialReminder requests these Chrome permissions:

Questions About Privacy?

If you have concerns about privacy or security, please review the source code on GitHub or contact us. We're committed to transparency and user privacy.