Your videos can be a powerful conversion tool with Free Previews.
Let prospective members watch a short preview of your content before signing up. No manual trailers required.
In fact, Uscreen data indicates that trailers and previews can increase conversion rates by 125% by enticing visitors and showcasing your valuable, premium content before purchase.
ℹ️ NOTE: You must be using the New Website Editor to access this feature. Learn more.
Why This Feature Matters
Prospects may hesitate to subscribe without seeing your content first.
Is it valuable? Is it worth the price? Is it their style?
Until now, you faced a tough tradeoff:
Share full videos and give away too much
Or spend time manually creating trailers for every video
ℹ️ INFO: Free Previews solve this by giving viewers a taste, without showing the whole video. You get higher conversions, better engagement, and protected premium content, with zero extra work.
What You Can Do ✅
Free previews | Automatically show short previews from your videos. This is the first 30, 60, or 90 seconds of the video. |
Custom start time | Select where the preview begins (mm:ss format). Leave blank to start from the beginning. |
Conversion-focused CTA | Prompt viewers to sign up when the preview ends. |
Individual Control | Control free previews per video in video content details |
Global Control | Enable (or disable) previews for all your videos at once, in advanced settings. |
Protected Content | Only the preview is accessible. Your full videos stay safely behind the paywall. |
Trailer Priority | If a video already has a trailer, the trailer is shown instead of the free preview. |
Quick tips:
Use the first moments of your video as an intentional introduction to serve as your preview
Trailers still take priority if you’ve already created one.
Previews are securely clipped. Your full videos stay safely behind the paywall.
Where to Find Free Previews
Individual Videos
Navigate to Video > Content
Scroll down to the Preview section
Change settings accordingly
Preview duration (30, 60, or 90 seconds)
Start time (mm:ss)
Click Save Changes
Global Control
⚠️ WARNING: Be extra careful! This is a global setting and will immediately override all individual video settings.
Navigate to Website
Go to the Advanced tab
Toggle Enable All or Disable All
Click Save & Apply
📝 NOTE: If you've already customized preview settings for individual videos, enabling or disabling globally will replace those custom settings. We recommend using individual video controls if you want different preview settings for different videos.
How It Works
Uscreen automatically and securely clips the first part of your video.
Viewers can watch the preview on the video page.
When the preview ends, they’re prompted to sign up.
Full content remains protected and inaccessible until purchase.
When to Use Free Previews
Free previews work best for:
Fitness instructors: Show the first 60-90 seconds of a workout to demonstrate your teaching style and production quality
Educational content: Preview the introduction of a course or lesson to set expectations
Entertainment: Give viewers a taste of your content style without spoiling the full experience
High-production content: Showcase your video quality to justify premium pricing
Best Practices
Keep your opening moments clear and compelling.
Treat the start of each video like a mini intro.
Use custom start times to skip intro credits or jump to the most compelling part of your content.
Focus on value, not spoilers.
Great for movies or content with long opening sequences.
Avoid confusing or misleading previews, which might hurt trust and conversions.
Current Limitations
What you can’t customize… yet:
Adjust preview length. Options are only 30, 60, or 90 seconds.
Not available for Live events
Not available for Collections
Not available for Bundles
TV apps (a consideration for a future improvement)
Email capture during preview (a consideration for a future improvement)
Platform Availability
✅ Web browsers: Fully available now (New Website Editor)
✅ Mobile browsers: Fully available now
✅ Native mobile apps (iOS/Android): Available now
⏳ TV apps (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, etc.): Coming in Q2 2026
🔗 Learn more about the New Website Editor
Final Thoughts
Free Previews are a small option with a big impact. They let new viewers experience your content, trust its value, and confidently subscribe.
💡 TIP: Enable free previews, and let your videos do the selling.
FAQs
Do previews replace my existing trailers?
Do previews replace my existing trailers?
No. If a video has a trailer, the trailer is shown.
Can members with access still preview?
Can members with access still preview?
Members with access simply watch the full video as usual when logged in. Previews are for visitors and members without access. Use trailers if you want to entice members with access to watch your videos.
Does this expose my full video?
Does this expose my full video?
No. Only the short preview is accessible and shown. Your premium content stays protected.
Does this work on mobile apps?
Does this work on mobile apps?
Yes. Free previews work on web browsers, mobile browsers, and native mobile apps.
Will this affect my storage costs?
Will this affect my storage costs?
No. Previews don’t create new video files or add storage costs. They are a secure clip of your existing videos, which is a good alternative for trailers. 🔗 Learn more about Video Trailers
Will this affect my bandwidth costs?
Will this affect my bandwidth costs?
Yes. Previews are streamed and watched just like a free video or a paid video. You may see a small uptick in bandwidth. But this is very likely worth the benefits of stronger conversion.
Why can't I use free previews for collections?
Why can't I use free previews for collections?
Free previews are currently only available for individual videos. Collections can have trailers, but the automatic free preview feature is specifically designed for individual video content. If you want to preview a collection, create a custom trailer video instead.
💬 We'd love to hear from you, so here's how you can submit feedback.