Trial ElfHosted for $1
Almost every app and bundle on ElfHosted comes with a $1, 7-day trial. You get full access to a real ElfHosted instance for the trial week. After 7 days, the regular subscription kicks in unless you cancel.
Browse trial-eligible bundles Browse individual apps
What you get on trial
- A real, fully-provisioned instance, not a sandbox or demo. Whatever you build during the trial keeps running if you continue past 7 days.
- Full SSO across all apps in the bundle, with your real account.
- Bring-your-own storage support from day one. Attach a Hetzner Storage Box or any rclone-compatible cloud.
- Discord community access, including the #elf-help channel.
- Cancel any time from your My Account page. No phone calls, no retention scripts.
What's not on trial
A small number of products skip the $1 trial:
- Rangers and larger streaming bundles (the higher-bandwidth tiers). If you want to size up, start on a smaller bundle (such as Hobbit) and upgrade once you've validated the setup.
- Add-ons and consumables like ElfBuckz top-ups and bandwidth boosters. These are billed at their normal rate from day one.
- Promotional bundles sometimes ship without a trial; the product page shows the trial terms when one is available.
How the trial works
- Pick a bundle or individual app from the store.
- Pay $1 at checkout. Your stack provisions within minutes.
- Use it normally for 7 days. Configure apps, attach storage, invite household members.
- On day 8, the regular monthly subscription begins automatically. To stop billing, cancel from My Account before the 7 days end.
How do I upgrade from trial?
Upgrade through subscription switching from your My Account page. Bundles use the same shared SSO, storage, and config, so upgrading from a Hobbit bundle to a larger streaming bundle preserves your setup. The community and team in Discord can walk you through tier choices if you're unsure which one fits.
How do I cancel?
Open My Account, click the active subscription, and choose Cancel. The cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing period; you keep access for what you've already paid for. ElfHosted operates a no-refund policy, which is why the $1 trial exists: you only pay $1 to confirm whether the platform fits before any larger commitment.
Common questions
Can I trial more than one bundle at once?
Yes. Each bundle is a separate subscription, each gets its own $1 trial. Some users trial two stacks in parallel to compare (for example, Plex vs Jellyfin) before keeping one.
What happens to my data if I cancel during the trial?
Per the data retention policy, your config and any data on ElfHosted-managed storage is retained briefly after cancellation, then deleted. If you've used bring-your-own storage, that data stays with you.
Is there a free trial without a credit card?
No. The $1 charge filters out automated abuse and confirms your billing details work for the regular subscription that follows. ElfHosted has used this model since launch and it keeps the platform stable for everyone.
What if my trial is broken?
Hop into Discord and ask in #elf-help. The team and community handle most setup questions in minutes, and your trial week effectively pauses while we sort it out.
