> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.courtaid.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.courtaid.ai/getting-started/account-and-trial.md).

# Create your account & free trial

CourtAid offers a free trial so you can explore the platform before committing to a paid plan.

## Creating an account

1. Go to [courtaid.ai](https://courtaid.ai) and click **Sign up**, or visit the sign-up page directly
2. Enter your email and create a password (or use a supported social login)
3. Complete the Clerk sign-up flow
4. You'll land on the CourtAid workspace for your selected country

{% hint style="info" %}
Some features — **Projects**, **Compare**, **Workflows**, and **Chronologies** — require you to be signed in. **Search** is available without using your query allowance.
{% endhint %}

## What's included in the trial

When your account is created, a welcome modal confirms your trial has started:

* **5 days** to explore the platform
* **30 free queries** for AI-powered chat and related features

Your remaining queries and trial end date are always visible in the **sidebar footer** when you're signed in.

## What uses a query?

Queries are used for **AI chat** — including:

* Research questions on the landing page (**New Chat**)
* [Chat PDF](/chat-and-documents/chat-pdf.md) conversations
* [Project chat](/matter-workspaces/projects.md)
* [Document comparison](/matter-workspaces/document-comparison.md) AI analysis
* Other AI-assisted features that generate answers

**Search** (browsing the summary feed) does not consume your query allowance and is marked **Free** in the sidebar.

Your query balance updates after each AI response. Check **Queries** in the sidebar footer to see how many you have left.

## Running out of queries during the trial

If you use all 30 queries **before** the 5-day trial period ends:

* You can still browse **Search** results and access your history
* New **chat** messages are blocked — the input shows *"You're out of queries for your trial. Upgrade to continue..."*
* Click **Upgrade** in the sidebar to view paid plans — monthly and annual options (see [CourtAid pricing](https://courtaid.ai/pricing/); prices at checkout subject to change)

You are **not** locked out of the entire app until the trial period itself expires.

## When the trial ends

After **5 days**, if you haven't upgraded:

* A full-screen modal appears: *"Your trial has ended"*
* You'll see the Stripe pricing table to choose a paid plan
* You can sign out to use a different account, but you can't continue using the platform without upgrading

{% hint style="info" %}
If you're part of an organisation with an active team plan, the trial blocker does not apply — your org's query pool is used instead.
{% endhint %}

## After upgrading

Once you subscribe:

* Your plan name and query allowance appear in the sidebar
* Queries reset on a monthly cycle (see **Resets** date in the sidebar)
* Manage billing via **Subscription** in your profile menu — see [Managing your subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription.md)

## Earn extra queries

During your trial (or on an individual plan), you can earn bonus queries by referring colleagues:

1. Open your **profile menu** (bottom of the sidebar)
2. Click **Earn Queries**
3. Share your referral link — successful referrals earn **+10 queries**

## Related

* [Plans, trials & query limits](/account-and-billing/plans-and-queries.md)
* [Managing your subscription](/account-and-billing/managing-subscription.md)
* [Navigate the workspace](/getting-started/navigating-the-workspace.md)


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
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Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
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