프리미엄(freemium) 전략에서의 무료 버전(free version)의 존재가 프리미엄 버전(premium version)에 대한 선택에 미치는 이중적 효과

Abstract

In the freemium strategy, a free, basic version of a product is offered to promote a non-free premium version. Although the freemium strategy has become prevalent in the market, little research has investigated its impact on individuals’ purchase decisions. This article focuses on how consumers are influenced by the mere presence of a free version (i.e., without engaging in an actual trial) when evaluating and choosing between premium products. Eight studies (N = 1,012) provide converging evidence that when consumers consider a premium purchase, the presence of a feature-limited free version can either increase or decrease the choice share of the target premium product (i.e., the product with a free version) relative to a standalone premium product (i.e., without a free version). The direction of the influence depends on whether the free version serves primarily as a quality assurance cue or a uniqueness dilution cue, which is ultimately determined by the perceived risk associated with the decision: high (low) perceived risk leads consumers to construe the presence of a free version as a quality assurance cue (uniqueness dilution cue), thereby increasing (decreasing) the preference for the target premium product over a standalone premium product. Consequently, we find that the mere presence of a free version acts in the company’s favor when consumers perceive a high decision risk, regardless of whether the risk is heightened by decision characteristics (use of regular income vs. windfall money for the purchase), contextual differences (negative vs. positive mood), or individual differences (prevention focus vs. promotion focus, and low vs. high need for uniqueness). The bidirectional effects occur only when the basic version is offered free of charge, not when it is offered for a lower price. Theoretical and managerial implications of the findings are discussed.