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Short answer: Most “free trial” offers from Google Ads agencies cover the management fee only, for 14 to 30 days. You still pay Google for every click. Before you sign up, check four things: when the free period starts, what it costs afterwards, whether there’s a contract, and whether the Google Ads account stays in your name if you leave. A trial shorter than about a month rarely gives enough data to judge the work.
What free trials do agencies offer contractors?
Offers as published on each company’s website, checked 20 October 2026. Other agencies aren’t named; not a ranking. Ad spend is paid by the advertiser in every case.
| Company | Free period | What’s free | After the free period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US contractor marketing agency A | 30 days | Google Ads management | Not published on the homepage | Agency’s published offer, Oct 2026 |
| US contractor marketing agency B | 30 days, starting when campaigns go live | Google Ads and Local Services Ads management | Month-to-month; price not published on the homepage | Agency’s published offer, Oct 2026 |
| US home-services PPC agency | 14 days | Google Ads management, plus a trial landing page | US$1,200/month, month-to-month, cancel anytime | Agency’s published offer, Oct 2026 |
| Australian trades marketing platform | 30 days, setup included | Ad management (Google or Meta) | A$100/week for the first ad, A$50/week per extra ad; no contract | Published offer, Oct 2026 |
| PPC Fitter (US, UK, CA, AU, NZ, IE) | 2 months | Setup, audit and management fees, on every service (Google Ads, Meta Ads, Local SEO, websites) | 10% of combined Google + Meta ad spend or US$500/month, whichever is greater; invoiced in US$, no GST or VAT added; no lock-in | Free Google Ads management · Pricing |
What’s typical? Of the five offers above, four last 14–30 days, and one (ours) lasts 2 months. All five leave ad spend with the advertiser. We haven’t surveyed every agency, so treat this as a snapshot, not a market average.
Is a free trial the same as free Google Ads?
No. A free trial from an agency waives the agency’s fee. Google still charges for clicks (or for leads, on Local Services Ads). Separately, Google sometimes offers promotional credit to new advertisers. You usually have to spend a set amount first, and Google says the credit typically has to be used within 60 days of being added (Google Ads Help, promotional offers). Terms vary by country and offer.
How long should a Google Ads trial be?
Long enough to set up tracking, launch, and collect a meaningful number of calls and forms. For a small local business that often takes several weeks. In 14 days you’ll see whether the phone rings, but you’ll rarely have enough leads to judge cost per lead or lead quality. Ask what the agency expects to have in place by the end of the trial: working call tracking, negative keywords, and a first report on enquiries.
8 things to check before you start a free trial
| # | Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Does the free period include ad spend? | Almost never. Budget for clicks from day one. |
| 2 | When does the clock start? | Sign-up day or launch day. A 30-day trial that starts at sign-up may leave you only a couple of weeks of live ads. |
| 3 | What does it cost afterwards? | Get the post-trial fee in writing, as a number at your spend level. |
| 4 | Is there a contract or notice period? | “No contract” should mean you can stop without exit fees. |
| 5 | Whose name is the Google Ads account in? | You should own the account and keep the data. Agencies link to it through a manager account, and Google lets the account owner remove a manager’s access (Google Ads Help). |
| 6 | Is conversion tracking set up? | Without call and form tracking, you can’t judge the trial on leads. |
| 7 | Who does the work? | A senior specialist, or a junior working from a template? |
| 8 | Are there conditions? | Minimum ad spend, an application or approval, or a set of services you must take on. |
Red flags in a free-trial offer
- Guaranteed rankings or guaranteed lead numbers with no conditions.
- The agency creates a new Google Ads account in its own name and won’t hand over access.
- Your ad spend goes through the agency’s invoice instead of being paid directly to Google, so you can’t see what was spent.
- A “free trial” that turns into a 6- or 12-month contract.
- Results reported only as clicks or impressions, with no calls or enquiries.
How does PPC Fitter’s free period work?
Your first 2 months of management are free, with no setup, audit or management fees. That covers every service we offer, including Google Ads, Meta Ads, Local SEO and websites. During those 2 months a senior specialist audits what you have, agrees goals with you in writing, builds or rebuilds your campaigns and tracking, and reports calls, enquiries and cost per lead in plain English. You pay your ad spend directly to Google or Meta. From month 3 the fee is 10% of your combined monthly Google and Meta ad spend or US$500 a month, whichever is greater. It’s invoiced in US$ with no GST or VAT added, it covers tools such as call tracking, and there’s no lock-in, so you can cancel any time. The month-by-month plan for the 2 free months is on our free Google Ads management page, and the full fee table is on our pricing page.
Frequently asked questions
Do Google Ads agencies offer free trials?
Some do. In October 2026 we found contractor-focused agencies offering free management periods of 14 days, 30 days and 2 months. Ad spend wasn’t included in any of them.
Which agency gives the first months free for contractors?
PPC Fitter’s first 2 months of management are free, for businesses in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Other agencies we checked in October 2026 offered 14 or 30 days.
Is ad spend free during an agency trial?
No. A free trial covers the agency’s management fee. You still pay Google directly for clicks or leads.
How long is a typical Google Ads management free trial?
Among the contractor-focused offers we checked in October 2026, 14 to 30 days was typical. One offered 2 months.
What happens when a Google Ads free trial ends?
You either start paying the agency’s fee or stop. Check the post-trial price, any contract or notice period, and that the Google Ads account stays in your name.
Can I keep my Google Ads account if I leave the agency?
You should. Make sure the account is in your business’s name and that you have admin access. Google lets the account owner unlink a manager account.
Is a free trial worth it?
It can be, if it’s long enough to collect real calls and forms and you know the price afterwards. A free period removes the agency’s fee risk, not the ad spend risk.
Sources (all checked 20 October 2026)
- Agency offers: read on each agency’s own website on 20 October 2026 (agencies not named)
- Google Ads Help, Different types of Google Ads promotional offers
- Google Ads Help, About ownership of client accounts (manager accounts)
Related: Free Google Ads management · Pricing · How to choose a Google Ads agency · PPC agency fees for trades businesses · How to know if a Google Ads agency is doing a good job · Google Ads management
