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# Why am I seeing a $1 charge after signing up for a free trial?

When you sign up for a free trial, you might notice a $1 charge on your credit card or PayPal account.

### What is this $1 charge?

This is called **pre-authentication**, a standard **verification process** used during free trial sign-ups to:

1. Verify your payment method is **valid** and **active**.
2. Confirm that the account belongs to a **real user** (not an automated bot)
3. Ensure your card or PayPal account can support transactions, should you continue with a paid plan after the trial.

The $1 is **not** actually deducted from your account—it’s just held **temporarily** to check your card’s validity. You’ll typically see the transaction drop off your statement within a few hours or days, depending on your bank or payment provider.

Some platforms also use this step to reduce the risk of users abusing the system by signing up for multiple free trials using fake or expired cards.
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*Written by:* [*John Ezekiel Jacinto*](https://publer.com/about/johnezekiel)