Experiment: We made the DIY plan free. Will anyone dare to use it?
Hey indie hackers! I’m Kate, building migroot.io — a tool that makes it easier to prep your documents for visa applications.
This week we launched a fun little experiment:
We made our DIY plan completely free.
Why?
Because most people seem scared of doing it on their own. They skip straight to the expert plan — even though it’s much more expensive.
So now, you can access the full list of documents and start preparing them for free for Digital Nomad (or similar) visas in:
Let’s see if people actually go for it.
This morning someone already asked me:
"What’s the catch? Can I really trust a free tool with my documents?"
Totally fair.
Yes — your docs are private. Only you can see them (plus an assistant if you choose a paid plan). That’s it.
But it’s clear: even when it’s free, doing it yourself still feels scary to many.
If you’ve been thinking about one of these visas, give it a try — and let me know what you think!
Looks very useful Kate, love the clean and light feel of the website. Feel free to submit your product to our community we created, huzzler.so . Good luck!
Thank you! Will do :)
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This is such a smart move, Kate — love the transparency and the experiment! Offering the DIY plan for free is a bold step, and I think it’ll really help lower the barrier for folks who are curious but hesitant. Visa applications can feel intimidating, even if the steps are laid out clearly. Sometimes just having that nudge or structure is enough to get people moving.
Also, huge respect for making privacy a priority — that’s the kind of trust-building detail that matters. Excited to see how this plays out for you!
Hi Kate! Nice product! I'm absolutely in love with the cozy design.
Here are my thoughts on the free DIY plan.
PROS
Lower friction → encourages trial and discovery
Builds trust in a stressful, high-stakes space
Captures leads and email list for future nurturing
Differentiates from overpriced competitors
Allows learning from user behavior before scaling
CONS
May reduce perceived value (free = risky?)
User overwhelm could cause drop-off without converting
Support costs could rise without ROI
Low conversion if the upgrade path isn’t obvious or urgent
Freeloaders may finish DIY without ever needing expert help
FINAL TAKE
Great model if you guide users to small wins fast, clearly show expert value, and nudge upgrades at the right emotional moments.
Don’t just offer FREE. Design an experience that makes people want to pay.
Looks like fun! I used to DIY Italy visa on my own, and it felt like a hassle
I hope you'll try it soon :)
Sounds interesting
Offering a DIY plan for free is a bold move! It’ll be interesting to see if users take advantage of it or still prefer expert guidance for better results.
What would you do if you decided to move? :)
Wrong direction.
It's not a final decision yet, it's a test. But the freemium model works well for many—why do you think it's wrong?
Sorry for the late reply; I've just seen the notification.
You don't yet have a founded reason why people are buying your service. You don't have the team or resources to make that freemium plan work. You have to put 100% of your time and money into discovering why people are buying from you, and the only way to do that is to ask people that's buying from you. Free customers are looking for something else and will lead your product to somewhere else. Focus on people that pay, not others.
Shouldnt you do the opposite?
Sounds like people dont have confidence in the DIY because its too cheap, so surely raising prices will increase confidence and purchases?
This is the next stage of the test.
But listen, it feels like the freemium model has proven itself with many serious products, hasn’t it?