That sounds like trickery to me. If I were a potential consumer of that product, I would feel very put off by its deceptive marketing and most likely not partake in the service. It's 2020, SaaS products have been around for a reasonable amount of time, and for the most part, consumers are savvier than they have ever been. In my experience, no one wants to jump through hoops or given a song and dance to try a product. Give your audience the right information upfront. Be open, honest, and accurate.

Additionally, "free" is not always a good thing. It can often make a product or offering sounds cheap. I think it's custom (and nice) to offer a free trial period, especially when you don't even have to put in your credit card. It's a great way to show off the product, customer service, and value. Even offering a free trial at a low entry fee is becoming standard -- take a look at Ahrefs, $7 for seven days.

Good luck.