trial vs starter edition

[Wip3ou7]

whats the difference between the free version and the $20 version? the store pages seem to list identical features

[Sunny]

The following terms and conditions apply to players who use the Free Trial (“Free Trial Players”):

Free Trial Players are not required to purchase licensed software to use the Free Trial.
One (1) Free Trial account may be registered to a Square Enix account so long as that Square Enix account has not been previously registered with any version of the game.
Free Trial Players can purchase select in-game items from the FINAL FANTASY XIV Online Store during the Free Trial. Not all in-game items are available for purchase by Free Trial Players (e.g., in-game item gifts).
Free Trial Players can create up to eight (8) playable characters in each Physical Data Center.
Free Trial account characters have all their levels capped at level seventy (70).
Free Trial account characters can possess a maximum of 300,000 gil (in-game currency).
Free Trial Players cannot use the "shout," "yell," or "tell" in-game chat options during the Free Trial.
Free Trial Players cannot access the in-game market board during the Free Trial.
Free Trial Players cannot trade with other players during the Free Trial.
Free Trial Players cannot send in-game letters using the moogle delivery service during the Free Trial.
Free Trial Players cannot hire retainers during the Free Trial.
Free Trial Players can join a Linkshell or Cross-World Linkshell if invited but cannot create a new Linkshell or Cross-World Linkshell during the Free Trial.
Free Trial Players cannot create or join a Free Company during the Free Trial.
Free Trial Players can join a party if invited or by using the Duty Finder but cannot assemble a party during the Free Trial.
Free Trial Players cannot create or join a PvP team or participate in Crystalline Conflict, Rival Wings or Frontline.
Free Trial Players cannot play Ultimate Raids.
Free Trial Players can log into the Lodestone but cannot use community contents.
Free Trial Players cannot log into the official forum, or Companion application during the Free Trial.

Starter edition pays a monthly subscription; trial version has the above restrictions.

[Kitty]

Free Trial has a few limitations, such as, you can't join a guild, you can't make parties but can join them if invited, you can't trade other players or use the Market Board to buy and sell items and you can't hire retainers (NPCs to hold more items and use the Markets).
You are also limited to 300,000 Gil, which means you can't buy an Apartment or House.
You will limited to only the /Say and Novice Network chat channels, however you can join Linkshells and Cross-World Linkshells (they are like basic guild chat features, nothing special).

The Starter Edition removes all of those limitations.

[Scarsick]

Trial gives you the base game + first 2 expansions, and some restrictions like not being able to join guilds, create parties (but you can be invited to them), can't buy/sell on the marketboard, gil (game's currency) capped at 300k, capped character creation, and some other stuff new players probably don't care about. You can play it for free for as long as you want.

Starter removes all the restrictions. However, once you register this version to your SE account you're bound to a subscription once the 30 free days you get are up.

To get the other 2 expansions you need to purchase the latest one.

[fracs]

Originally posted by Wip3ou7:

whats the difference between the free version and the $20 version? the store pages seem to list identical features

https://trialsoffantasy.com/restrictions/

[Lixire]

The Free Trial and the Starter Edition are basically the same in terms of content. both start at ARR and end with SB.
It's just that the trial has more limitations to it which do affect the social side of the game like not being able to talk to others outside of dungeons/trials/raids/novice network or invite others into your party and you can get up to about 300k gill with no access to the market board like at all.

Personally, milk the free trial for all of its worth and then buy the complete edition once you feel like you maxed out all of the value from the trial.