diff --git a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/cloud-paid.md b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/cloud-paid.md
index 014df4727..54c236564 100644
--- a/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/cloud-paid.md
+++ b/docs/release-control/v6/internal/subsystems/cloud-paid.md
@@ -234,6 +234,11 @@ Community limit enforcement.
     surfaces must describe the real commercial flow as secure checkout ->
     Pulse Account -> open workspace, not as an immediate workspace creation or
     trial-only shortcut.
+    Public hosted Cloud trial signup must state the trial duration and
+    checkout economics before Stripe handoff: Stripe may collect a payment
+    method, but the subscription starts with the configured trial period and no
+    upfront charge, then Pulse Account opens the provisioned workspace after
+    checkout completes.
 20. Add contract tests where runtime and pricing need to stay aligned
 21. Add or change hosted browser org-context bootstrap through `frontend-modern/src/App.tsx`, `frontend-modern/src/AppLayout.tsx`, `frontend-modern/src/useAppRuntimeState.ts`, and `frontend-modern/src/utils/apiClient.ts`
     That same hosted bootstrap boundary also owns the runtime-capability JSON
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/pages/CloudPricing.tsx b/frontend-modern/src/pages/CloudPricing.tsx
index af8327c14..d009ff7da 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/pages/CloudPricing.tsx
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/pages/CloudPricing.tsx
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ function CloudTierCard(props: { tier: CloudPlanDefinition }) {
           href={`/cloud/signup?tier=${t.tier}`}
           class="w-full inline-flex items-center justify-center rounded-md bg-blue-600 px-4 py-2 text-sm font-semibold text-white transition-colors hover:bg-blue-700"
         >
-          {`Choose ${t.name}`}
+          {`Start ${t.name} Trial`}
         </A>
       </div>
     </Card>
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/pages/__tests__/CloudPricing.test.tsx b/frontend-modern/src/pages/__tests__/CloudPricing.test.tsx
index a8129bd2a..fc1f9b45b 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/pages/__tests__/CloudPricing.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/pages/__tests__/CloudPricing.test.tsx
@@ -20,25 +20,27 @@ describe('CloudPricing', () => {
       </Router>
     ));
 
-    expect(await screen.findByRole('link', { name: 'Choose Starter' })).toHaveAttribute(
+    expect(await screen.findByRole('link', { name: 'Start Starter Trial' })).toHaveAttribute(
       'href',
       '/cloud/signup?tier=starter',
     );
     expect(screen.getByText('Founding rate')).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText('$19')).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText('$29/month')).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: 'Choose Power' })).toHaveAttribute(
+    expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: 'Start Power Trial' })).toHaveAttribute(
       'href',
       '/cloud/signup?tier=power',
     );
-    expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: 'Choose Max' })).toHaveAttribute(
+    expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: 'Start Max Trial' })).toHaveAttribute(
       'href',
       '/cloud/signup?tier=max',
     );
     expect(screen.queryByText('Starter founding rate')).not.toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getAllByText('All Pro features')).toHaveLength(1);
     expect(screen.getByText('Managed hosting')).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.getByText('Choose a Cloud plan and complete secure checkout.')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByText('Choose a Cloud plan and start the 14-day trial in secure checkout.'),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText('How it works')).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByRole('link', { name: 'Open Pulse Account' })).toHaveAttribute(
       'href',
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/pages/__tests__/HostedSignup.test.tsx b/frontend-modern/src/pages/__tests__/HostedSignup.test.tsx
index 309db6ed1..6e4c6192b 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/pages/__tests__/HostedSignup.test.tsx
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/pages/__tests__/HostedSignup.test.tsx
@@ -60,10 +60,14 @@ describe('HostedSignup', () => {
     ));
 
     expect(await screen.findByText('Workspace')).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.getByText('Create your Pulse Cloud account and hosted workspace.')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByText('Start your 14-day Pulse Cloud trial and hosted workspace.'),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText('Plan')).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText('How it works')).toBeInTheDocument();
-    expect(screen.getByText('Choose a Cloud plan and complete secure checkout.')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(
+      screen.getByText('Choose a Cloud plan and start the 14-day trial in secure checkout.'),
+    ).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText('Already signed up?')).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByText('Request a fresh Pulse Account sign-in link.')).toBeInTheDocument();
     expect(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Email Pulse Account Link' })).toBeInTheDocument();
@@ -74,7 +78,7 @@ describe('HostedSignup', () => {
     fireEvent.input(screen.getByLabelText('Organization Name'), {
       target: { value: 'Pulse Labs' },
     });
-    fireEvent.submit(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Continue to Checkout' }).closest('form')!);
+    fireEvent.submit(screen.getByRole('button', { name: 'Start Trial in Checkout' }).closest('form')!);
 
     await waitFor(() => {
       expect(signupMock).toHaveBeenCalledWith({
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/utils/__tests__/cloudPlans.test.ts b/frontend-modern/src/utils/__tests__/cloudPlans.test.ts
index 71796572c..5d4f1f6fe 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/utils/__tests__/cloudPlans.test.ts
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/utils/__tests__/cloudPlans.test.ts
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ describe('cloudPlans', () => {
   it('keeps shared cloud commercial copy in the common contract', () => {
     expect(CLOUD_COMMERCIAL_PRESENTATION).toEqual({
       pageTitle: 'Pulse Cloud',
-      pageDescription: 'Managed Pulse hosting with Pro features included.',
+      pageDescription: 'Managed Pulse hosting with Pro features included. Start with a 14-day trial.',
       includedInAllHeading: 'Included in every Cloud plan',
       includedInAllItems: [
         'All Pro features',
@@ -50,15 +50,15 @@ describe('cloudPlans', () => {
   it('keeps hosted signup commercial copy in the common contract', () => {
     expect(HOSTED_SIGNUP_PRESENTATION).toEqual({
       pageTitlePrefix: 'Pulse Cloud',
-      pageDescription: 'Create your Pulse Cloud account and hosted workspace.',
+      pageDescription: 'Start your 14-day Pulse Cloud trial and hosted workspace.',
       workspaceHeading: 'Workspace',
       planHeading: 'Plan',
       nextHeading: 'How it works',
       nextSteps: CLOUD_ACCOUNT_FLOW_STEPS,
       existingAccountHeading: 'Already signed up?',
       existingAccountDescription: 'Request a fresh Pulse Account sign-in link.',
-      createWorkspaceLabel: 'Continue to Checkout',
-      creatingWorkspaceLabel: 'Preparing Checkout...',
+      createWorkspaceLabel: 'Start Trial in Checkout',
+      creatingWorkspaceLabel: 'Preparing Trial Checkout...',
       emailSignInLinkLabel: 'Email Pulse Account Link',
       sendingSignInLinkLabel: 'Sending...',
     });
diff --git a/frontend-modern/src/utils/cloudPlans.ts b/frontend-modern/src/utils/cloudPlans.ts
index 8c6073f09..8f074e2aa 100644
--- a/frontend-modern/src/utils/cloudPlans.ts
+++ b/frontend-modern/src/utils/cloudPlans.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export interface HostedSignupPresentation {
 }
 
 export const CLOUD_ACCOUNT_FLOW_STEPS = [
-  'Choose a Cloud plan and complete secure checkout.',
+  'Choose a Cloud plan and start the 14-day trial in secure checkout.',
   'Use the email link to open Pulse Account.',
   'Open your workspace and connect systems.',
 ] as const;
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ export const CLOUD_PLAN_LABELS: Record<string, string> = {
 
 export const CLOUD_COMMERCIAL_PRESENTATION: CloudCommercialPresentation = {
   pageTitle: 'Pulse Cloud',
-  pageDescription: 'Managed Pulse hosting with Pro features included.',
+  pageDescription: 'Managed Pulse hosting with Pro features included. Start with a 14-day trial.',
   includedInAllHeading: 'Included in every Cloud plan',
   includedInAllItems: [
     'All Pro features',
@@ -120,15 +120,15 @@ export const CLOUD_COMMERCIAL_PRESENTATION: CloudCommercialPresentation = {
 
 export const HOSTED_SIGNUP_PRESENTATION: HostedSignupPresentation = {
   pageTitlePrefix: 'Pulse Cloud',
-  pageDescription: 'Create your Pulse Cloud account and hosted workspace.',
+  pageDescription: 'Start your 14-day Pulse Cloud trial and hosted workspace.',
   workspaceHeading: 'Workspace',
   planHeading: 'Plan',
   nextHeading: 'How it works',
   nextSteps: CLOUD_ACCOUNT_FLOW_STEPS,
   existingAccountHeading: 'Already signed up?',
   existingAccountDescription: 'Request a fresh Pulse Account sign-in link.',
-  createWorkspaceLabel: 'Continue to Checkout',
-  creatingWorkspaceLabel: 'Preparing Checkout...',
+  createWorkspaceLabel: 'Start Trial in Checkout',
+  creatingWorkspaceLabel: 'Preparing Trial Checkout...',
   emailSignInLinkLabel: 'Email Pulse Account Link',
   sendingSignInLinkLabel: 'Sending...',
 } as const;
diff --git a/internal/cloudcp/public_cloud_signup_handlers.go b/internal/cloudcp/public_cloud_signup_handlers.go
index 4eb79b03e..83153fd64 100644
--- a/internal/cloudcp/public_cloud_signup_handlers.go
+++ b/internal/cloudcp/public_cloud_signup_handlers.go
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ var publicCloudSignupPageTemplate = template.Must(template.New("public-cloud-sig
 <head>
   <meta charset="utf-8">
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
-  <title>Start Pulse Cloud</title>
+  <title>Start Pulse Cloud Trial</title>
   <style nonce="{{.Nonce}}">
     :root { color-scheme: light; }
     body { margin: 0; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", sans-serif; background: linear-gradient(140deg, #f8fafc, #e2e8f0); color: #0f172a; }
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ var publicCloudSignupPageTemplate = template.Must(template.New("public-cloud-sig
 <body>
   <div class="wrap">
     <div class="card">
-      <h1>Start Pulse Cloud</h1>
-      <p>Create your hosted Pulse workspace. Checkout is secure and provisioning starts automatically after payment confirmation.</p>
+      <h1>Start your {{.TrialDays}}-day Pulse Cloud trial</h1>
+      <p>Create your hosted Pulse workspace. Stripe checkout securely collects a payment method, but the Cloud subscription starts with a {{.TrialDays}}-day trial and no upfront charge. Provisioning starts after checkout confirms the subscription.</p>
       {{if .ErrorMessage}}<div class="error">{{.ErrorMessage}}</div>{{end}}
       {{if .Cancelled}}<div class="note">Checkout was cancelled. You can start again below.</div>{{end}}
 
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ var publicCloudSignupPageTemplate = template.Must(template.New("public-cloud-sig
         {{if or .HasPower .HasMax}}
         <label>Plan</label>
         <div class="tier-group">
-          <label class="tier-option"><input type="radio" name="tier" value="starter" {{if eq .Tier "starter"}}checked{{end}}> <strong>Starter</strong> — 10 hosts, from $29/mo</label>
-          {{if .HasPower}}<label class="tier-option"><input type="radio" name="tier" value="power" {{if eq .Tier "power"}}checked{{end}}> <strong>Power</strong> — 30 hosts, from $49/mo</label>{{end}}
-          {{if .HasMax}}<label class="tier-option"><input type="radio" name="tier" value="max" {{if eq .Tier "max"}}checked{{end}}> <strong>Max</strong> — 75 hosts, from $79/mo</label>{{end}}
+          <label class="tier-option"><input type="radio" name="tier" value="starter" {{if eq .Tier "starter"}}checked{{end}}> <strong>Starter</strong> — 10 monitored systems, $29/mo after trial</label>
+          {{if .HasPower}}<label class="tier-option"><input type="radio" name="tier" value="power" {{if eq .Tier "power"}}checked{{end}}> <strong>Power</strong> — 30 monitored systems, $49/mo after trial</label>{{end}}
+          {{if .HasMax}}<label class="tier-option"><input type="radio" name="tier" value="max" {{if eq .Tier "max"}}checked{{end}}> <strong>Max</strong> — 75 monitored systems, $79/mo after trial</label>{{end}}
         </div>
         {{else}}
         <input type="hidden" name="tier" value="starter">
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ var publicCloudSignupPageTemplate = template.Must(template.New("public-cloud-sig
 
       <p class="fine">After checkout, we will email a Pulse Account sign-in link so you can open your hosted workspace.</p>
       <ol>
-        <li>Your Stripe checkout completes securely.</li>
+        <li>Stripe starts your {{.TrialDays}}-day Cloud trial securely.</li>
         <li>Pulse Cloud provisions your hosted workspace.</li>
         <li>The email link opens Pulse Account, where you open your workspace and continue setup.</li>
       </ol>
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ var publicCloudSignupCompleteTemplate = template.Must(template.New("public-cloud
 <head>
   <meta charset="utf-8">
   <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1">
-  <title>Pulse Cloud Checkout Complete</title>
+  <title>Pulse Cloud Trial Checkout Complete</title>
   <style nonce="{{.Nonce}}">
     :root { color-scheme: light; }
     body { margin: 0; font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", sans-serif; background: #f8fafc; color: #0f172a; }
@@ -141,8 +141,8 @@ var publicCloudSignupCompleteTemplate = template.Must(template.New("public-cloud
 <body>
   <div class="wrap">
     <div class="card">
-      <h1>Checkout Complete</h1>
-      <p>Your checkout completed. Pulse Cloud is provisioning your hosted workspace.</p>
+      <h1>Trial checkout complete</h1>
+      <p>Your {{.TrialDays}}-day Pulse Cloud trial checkout completed. Pulse Cloud is provisioning your hosted workspace.</p>
       <p>Watch your inbox for a Pulse Account sign-in link. That link lands in Pulse Account, where you can open your workspace and continue setup.</p>
     </div>
   </div>
@@ -172,11 +172,13 @@ type publicCloudSignupPageData struct {
 	Nonce        string
 	HasPower     bool // true if Cloud Power price is configured
 	HasMax       bool // true if Cloud Max price is configured
+	TrialDays    int
 }
 
 // publicCloudSignupCompleteData carries nonce for the signup-complete page.
 type publicCloudSignupCompleteData struct {
-	Nonce string
+	Nonce     string
+	TrialDays int
 }
 
 type publicCloudSignupRequest struct {
@@ -269,6 +271,7 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) HandleSignupPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *h
 			Cancelled:  strings.EqualFold(strings.TrimSpace(r.URL.Query().Get("cancelled")), "1"),
 			HasPower:   h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudPowerPriceID) != "",
 			HasMax:     h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudMaxPriceID) != "",
+			TrialDays:  trialSignupTrialDays,
 		}
 		h.renderSignupPage(w, r, http.StatusOK, data)
 	case http.MethodPost:
@@ -290,6 +293,7 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) HandleSignupPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *h
 				ErrorMessage: "Invalid plan tier selected.",
 				HasPower:     h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudPowerPriceID) != "",
 				HasMax:       h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudMaxPriceID) != "",
+				TrialDays:    trialSignupTrialDays,
 			})
 			return
 		}
@@ -303,6 +307,7 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) HandleSignupPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *h
 				ErrorMessage: "A valid email address is required.",
 				HasPower:     h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudPowerPriceID) != "",
 				HasMax:       h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudMaxPriceID) != "",
+				TrialDays:    trialSignupTrialDays,
 			})
 			return
 		}
@@ -315,6 +320,7 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) HandleSignupPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *h
 				ErrorMessage: "Organization name must be 3-64 characters and cannot contain slashes.",
 				HasPower:     h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudPowerPriceID) != "",
 				HasMax:       h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudMaxPriceID) != "",
+				TrialDays:    trialSignupTrialDays,
 			})
 			return
 		}
@@ -327,6 +333,7 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) HandleSignupPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *h
 				ErrorMessage: "The selected plan tier is not currently available.",
 				HasPower:     h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudPowerPriceID) != "",
 				HasMax:       h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudMaxPriceID) != "",
+				TrialDays:    trialSignupTrialDays,
 			})
 			return
 		}
@@ -342,6 +349,7 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) HandleSignupPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *h
 				ErrorMessage: "Unable to create checkout session. Please try again.",
 				HasPower:     h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudPowerPriceID) != "",
 				HasMax:       h.cfg != nil && strings.TrimSpace(h.cfg.CloudMaxPriceID) != "",
+				TrialDays:    trialSignupTrialDays,
 			})
 			return
 		}
@@ -358,7 +366,8 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) HandleSignupComplete(w http.ResponseWriter,
 	}
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/html; charset=utf-8")
 	if err := publicCloudSignupCompleteTemplate.Execute(w, publicCloudSignupCompleteData{
-		Nonce: cpsec.NonceFromContext(r.Context()),
+		Nonce:     cpsec.NonceFromContext(r.Context()),
+		TrialDays: trialSignupTrialDays,
 	}); err != nil {
 		log.Error().Err(err).Msg("public cloud signup complete page render failed")
 	}
@@ -407,7 +416,7 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) HandlePublicSignup(w http.ResponseWriter, r
 
 	writePublicSignupJSON(w, http.StatusCreated, map[string]any{
 		"checkout_url": checkoutURL,
-		"message":      "Checkout session created. Continue in Stripe to provision your Pulse Cloud workspace.",
+		"message":      fmt.Sprintf("Checkout session created. Continue in Stripe to start your %d-day Pulse Cloud trial and provision your workspace.", trialSignupTrialDays),
 	})
 }
 
@@ -553,6 +562,9 @@ func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) buildCheckoutMetadata(priceID, orgName strin
 
 func (h *PublicCloudSignupHandlers) renderSignupPage(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request, status int, data publicCloudSignupPageData) {
 	data.Nonce = cpsec.NonceFromContext(r.Context())
+	if data.TrialDays <= 0 {
+		data.TrialDays = trialSignupTrialDays
+	}
 	w.Header().Set("Content-Type", "text/html; charset=utf-8")
 	w.WriteHeader(status)
 	if err := publicCloudSignupPageTemplate.Execute(w, data); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/cloudcp/public_cloud_signup_handlers_test.go b/internal/cloudcp/public_cloud_signup_handlers_test.go
index 9bfe0096e..911df5123 100644
--- a/internal/cloudcp/public_cloud_signup_handlers_test.go
+++ b/internal/cloudcp/public_cloud_signup_handlers_test.go
@@ -75,9 +75,12 @@ func TestPublicCloudSignupHandleSignupPageRendersForm(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("status=%d, want %d", rec.Code, http.StatusOK)
 	}
 	body := rec.Body.String()
-	if !strings.Contains(body, "<form") || !strings.Contains(body, "Start Pulse Cloud") {
+	if !strings.Contains(body, "<form") || !strings.Contains(body, "Start your 14-day Pulse Cloud trial") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected signup form markup in response body")
 	}
+	if !strings.Contains(body, "no upfront charge") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected trial/no-upfront-charge copy in response body")
+	}
 	if !strings.Contains(body, `action="/cloud/signup"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("expected signup form to post to the canonical cloud signup path")
 	}
@@ -94,8 +97,11 @@ func TestPublicCloudSignupHandleSignupCompleteRendersPulseAccountHandoff(t *test
 		t.Fatalf("status=%d, want %d", rec.Code, http.StatusOK)
 	}
 	body := rec.Body.String()
-	if !strings.Contains(body, "Checkout Complete") {
-		t.Fatalf("expected checkout completion heading")
+	if !strings.Contains(body, "Trial checkout complete") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected trial checkout completion heading")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(body, "14-day Pulse Cloud trial") {
+		t.Fatalf("expected trial duration in completion copy")
 	}
 	if !strings.Contains(body, "Pulse Account sign-in link") {
 		t.Fatalf("expected Pulse Account handoff copy")
@@ -204,6 +210,9 @@ func TestPublicCloudSignupHandlePublicSignupCreatesCheckout(t *testing.T) {
 	if got := strings.TrimSpace(asString(payload["checkout_url"])); got != "https://checkout.stripe.com/c/pay/cs_live" {
 		t.Fatalf("checkout_url=%q, want stripe URL", got)
 	}
+	if got := strings.TrimSpace(asString(payload["message"])); !strings.Contains(got, "14-day Pulse Cloud trial") {
+		t.Fatalf("message=%q, want trial copy", got)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestPublicCloudSignupHandlePublicMagicLinkRequestAlwaysOpaqueWhenUnknown(t *testing.T) {