diff --git a/src/dataconnect/freeTrial.ts b/src/dataconnect/freeTrial.ts
index 465c36fe912..5a2485c431f 100644
--- a/src/dataconnect/freeTrial.ts
+++ b/src/dataconnect/freeTrial.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import * as clc from "colorette";
 
 import { queryTimeSeries, CmQuery } from "../gcp/cloudmonitoring";
-import * as utils from "../utils";
 
 export function freeTrialTermsLink(): string {
   return "https://firebase.google.com/pricing";
@@ -28,19 +27,11 @@ export async function checkFreeTrialInstanceUsed(projectId: string): Promise<boo
     // If the metric doesn't exist, free trial is not used.
     used = false;
   }
-  if (used) {
-    utils.logLabeledWarning(
-      "dataconnect",
-      "CloudSQL no cost trial has already been used on this project.",
-    );
-  } else {
-    utils.logLabeledSuccess("dataconnect", "CloudSQL no cost trial available!");
-  }
   return used;
 }
 
-export function upgradeInstructions(projectId: string): string {
-  return `To provision a CloudSQL Postgres instance on the Firebase Data Connect no-cost trial:
+export function upgradeInstructions(projectId: string, trialUsed: boolean): string {
+  return `To provision a ${trialUsed ? "paid CloudSQL Postgres instance" : "CloudSQL Postgres instance on the Firebase Data Connect no-cost trial"}:
 
   1. Please upgrade to the pay-as-you-go (Blaze) billing plan. Visit the following page:
 
diff --git a/src/dataconnect/provisionCloudSql.ts b/src/dataconnect/provisionCloudSql.ts
index adecb4117df..a2171067d09 100755
--- a/src/dataconnect/provisionCloudSql.ts
+++ b/src/dataconnect/provisionCloudSql.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { promiseWithSpinner } from "../utils";
 import { trackGA4 } from "../track";
 import * as utils from "../utils";
 import { Source } from "../init/features/dataconnect";
+import { checkBillingEnabled } from "../gcp/cloudbilling";
 
 const GOOGLE_ML_INTEGRATION_ROLE = "roles/aiplatform.user";
 
@@ -147,7 +148,12 @@ async function createInstance(args: {
     });
     utils.logLabeledBullet(
       "dataconnect",
-      cloudSQLBeingCreated(projectId, instanceId, freeTrialLabel === "ft"),
+      cloudSQLBeingCreated(
+        projectId,
+        instanceId,
+        freeTrialLabel === "ft",
+        await checkBillingEnabled(projectId),
+      ),
     );
   }
 }
@@ -158,18 +164,22 @@ async function createInstance(args: {
 export function cloudSQLBeingCreated(
   projectId: string,
   instanceId: string,
-  includeFreeTrialToS?: boolean,
+  isFreeTrial?: boolean,
+  billingEnabled?: boolean,
 ): string {
   return (
     `Cloud SQL Instance ${clc.bold(instanceId)} is being created.` +
-    (includeFreeTrialToS
+    (isFreeTrial
       ? `\nThis instance is provided under the terms of the Data Connect no-cost trial ${freeTrialTermsLink()}`
       : "") +
-    `
-   Meanwhile, your data are saved in a temporary database and will be migrated once complete. Monitor its progress at
-
-   ${cloudSqlAdminClient.instanceConsoleLink(projectId, instanceId)}
-`
+    `\n
+   Meanwhile, your data are saved in a temporary database and will be migrated once complete.` +
+    (isFreeTrial && !billingEnabled
+      ? ` 
+   Your free trial instance won't show in google cloud console until a billing account is added.
+   However, you can still use the gcloud cli to monitor your database instance:\n\n\te.g. gcloud sql instances list --project ${projectId}\n`
+      : ` 
+   Monitor its progress at\n\n\t${cloudSqlAdminClient.instanceConsoleLink(projectId, instanceId)}\n`)
   );
 }
 
diff --git a/src/deploy/dataconnect/prepare.spec.ts b/src/deploy/dataconnect/prepare.spec.ts
index d21cc35638e..bc6980cf0d4 100644
--- a/src/deploy/dataconnect/prepare.spec.ts
+++ b/src/deploy/dataconnect/prepare.spec.ts
@@ -9,16 +9,15 @@ import * as filters from "../../dataconnect/filters";
 import * as build from "../../dataconnect/build";
 import * as ensureApis from "../../dataconnect/ensureApis";
 import * as requireTosAcceptance from "../../requireTosAcceptance";
-import * as cloudbilling from "../../gcp/cloudbilling";
 import * as schemaMigration from "../../dataconnect/schemaMigration";
 import * as provisionCloudSql from "../../dataconnect/provisionCloudSql";
+import * as cloudbilling from "../../gcp/cloudbilling";
 import { FirebaseError } from "../../error";
 
 describe("dataconnect prepare", () => {
   let sandbox: sinon.SinonSandbox;
   let loadAllStub: sinon.SinonStub;
   let buildStub: sinon.SinonStub;
-  let checkBillingEnabledStub: sinon.SinonStub;
   let getResourceFiltersStub: sinon.SinonStub;
   let diffSchemaStub: sinon.SinonStub;
   let setupCloudSqlStub: sinon.SinonStub;
@@ -27,7 +26,6 @@ describe("dataconnect prepare", () => {
     sandbox = sinon.createSandbox();
     loadAllStub = sandbox.stub(load, "loadAll").resolves([]);
     buildStub = sandbox.stub(build, "build").resolves({} as any);
-    checkBillingEnabledStub = sandbox.stub(cloudbilling, "checkBillingEnabled").resolves(true);
     sandbox.stub(ensureApis, "ensureApis").resolves();
     sandbox.stub(requireTosAcceptance, "requireTosAcceptance").returns(() => Promise.resolve());
     getResourceFiltersStub = sandbox.stub(filters, "getResourceFilters").returns(undefined);
@@ -35,6 +33,7 @@ describe("dataconnect prepare", () => {
     setupCloudSqlStub = sandbox.stub(provisionCloudSql, "setupCloudSql").resolves();
     sandbox.stub(projectUtils, "needProjectId").returns("test-project");
     sandbox.stub(utils, "logLabeledBullet");
+    sandbox.stub(cloudbilling, "checkBillingEnabled").resolves();
   });
 
   afterEach(() => {
@@ -57,16 +56,6 @@ describe("dataconnect prepare", () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it("should throw an error if billing is not enabled", async () => {
-    checkBillingEnabledStub.resolves(false);
-    const context = {};
-    const options = { config: {} } as any;
-    await expect(prepare.default(context, options)).to.be.rejectedWith(
-      FirebaseError,
-      "To provision a CloudSQL Postgres instance on the Firebase Data Connect no-cost trial",
-    );
-  });
-
   it("should build services", async () => {
     const serviceInfos = [{ sourceDirectory: "a" }, { sourceDirectory: "b" }];
     loadAllStub.resolves(serviceInfos as any);
diff --git a/src/deploy/dataconnect/prepare.ts b/src/deploy/dataconnect/prepare.ts
index c4c8aa74cfa..e9f2ba8c0cf 100644
--- a/src/deploy/dataconnect/prepare.ts
+++ b/src/deploy/dataconnect/prepare.ts
@@ -11,12 +11,11 @@ import { ensureApis } from "../../dataconnect/ensureApis";
 import { requireTosAcceptance } from "../../requireTosAcceptance";
 import { DATA_CONNECT_TOS_ID } from "../../gcp/firedata";
 import { setupCloudSql } from "../../dataconnect/provisionCloudSql";
-import { checkBillingEnabled } from "../../gcp/cloudbilling";
 import { parseServiceName } from "../../dataconnect/names";
 import { FirebaseError } from "../../error";
 import { mainSchema, requiresVector } from "../../dataconnect/types";
 import { diffSchema } from "../../dataconnect/schemaMigration";
-import { upgradeInstructions } from "../../dataconnect/freeTrial";
+import { checkBillingEnabled } from "../../gcp/cloudbilling";
 import { Context, initDeployStats } from "./context";
 
 /**
@@ -35,7 +34,6 @@ export default async function (context: Context, options: DeployOptions): Promis
   const { serviceInfos, filters, deployStats } = context.dataconnect;
   if (!(await checkBillingEnabled(projectId))) {
     deployStats.missingBilling = true;
-    throw new FirebaseError(upgradeInstructions(projectId));
   }
   await requireTosAcceptance(DATA_CONNECT_TOS_ID)(options);
   for (const si of serviceInfos) {
diff --git a/src/experiments.ts b/src/experiments.ts
index 7ec9aa6975c..9d9871ba7f6 100644
--- a/src/experiments.ts
+++ b/src/experiments.ts
@@ -144,6 +144,11 @@ export const ALL_EXPERIMENTS = experiments({
     default: false,
     public: true,
   },
+  fdcift: {
+    shortDescription: "Enable instrumentless trial for Data Connect",
+    public: false,
+    default: false,
+  },
   apptesting: {
     shortDescription: "Adds experimental App Testing feature",
     public: true,
diff --git a/src/gcp/cloudsql/cloudsqladmin.spec.ts b/src/gcp/cloudsql/cloudsqladmin.spec.ts
index 23ffa0fff7b..b56c112bd3c 100644
--- a/src/gcp/cloudsql/cloudsqladmin.spec.ts
+++ b/src/gcp/cloudsql/cloudsqladmin.spec.ts
@@ -149,7 +149,15 @@ describe("cloudsqladmin", () => {
   });
 
   describe("createInstance", () => {
-    it("should create an instance", async () => {
+    beforeEach(() => {
+      sandbox = sinon.createSandbox();
+    });
+
+    afterEach(() => {
+      sandbox.restore();
+      nock.cleanAll();
+    });
+    it("should create an paid instance", async () => {
       nock(cloudSQLAdminOrigin())
         .post(`/${API_VERSION}/projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances`)
         .reply(200, {});
@@ -164,6 +172,22 @@ describe("cloudsqladmin", () => {
 
       expect(nock.isDone()).to.be.true;
     });
+
+    it("should create a free instance.", async () => {
+      nock(cloudSQLAdminOrigin())
+        .post(`/${API_VERSION}/projects/${PROJECT_ID}/instances`)
+        .reply(200, {});
+
+      await sqladmin.createInstance({
+        projectId: PROJECT_ID,
+        location: "us-central",
+        instanceId: INSTANCE_ID,
+        enableGoogleMlIntegration: false,
+        freeTrialLabel: "ft",
+      });
+
+      expect(nock.isDone()).to.be.true;
+    });
   });
 
   describe("updateInstanceForDataConnect", () => {
diff --git a/src/gcp/cloudsql/cloudsqladmin.ts b/src/gcp/cloudsql/cloudsqladmin.ts
index 39340255336..1984010f4dd 100755
--- a/src/gcp/cloudsql/cloudsqladmin.ts
+++ b/src/gcp/cloudsql/cloudsqladmin.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import { Options } from "../../options";
 import { logger } from "../../logger";
 import { testIamPermissions } from "../iam";
 import { FirebaseError } from "../../error";
+
 const API_VERSION = "v1";
 
 const client = new Client({
diff --git a/src/init/features/dataconnect/index.ts b/src/init/features/dataconnect/index.ts
index 144c65d8440..c02ac99d43e 100644
--- a/src/init/features/dataconnect/index.ts
+++ b/src/init/features/dataconnect/index.ts
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ import {
   promiseWithSpinner,
   logLabeledError,
   newUniqueId,
+  logLabeledWarning,
+  logLabeledSuccess,
 } from "../../../utils";
 import { isBillingEnabled } from "../../../gcp/cloudbilling";
 import * as sdk from "./sdk";
@@ -40,6 +42,7 @@ import {
 } from "../../../gemini/fdcExperience";
 import { configstore } from "../../../configstore";
 import { trackGA4 } from "../../../track";
+import { isEnabled } from "../../../experiments";
 
 // Default GCP region for Data Connect
 export const FDC_DEFAULT_REGION = "us-east4";
@@ -126,7 +129,6 @@ export async function askQuestions(setup: Setup): Promise<void> {
     shouldProvisionCSQL: false,
   };
   if (setup.projectId) {
-    const hasBilling = await isBillingEnabled(setup);
     await ensureApis(setup.projectId);
     await promptForExistingServices(setup, info);
     if (!info.serviceGql) {
@@ -154,11 +156,7 @@ export async function askQuestions(setup: Setup): Promise<void> {
         });
       }
     }
-    if (hasBilling) {
-      await promptForCloudSQL(setup, info);
-    } else if (info.appDescription) {
-      await promptForLocation(setup, info);
-    }
+    await promptForCloudSQL(setup, info);
   }
   setup.featureInfo = setup.featureInfo || {};
   setup.featureInfo.dataconnect = info;
@@ -216,9 +214,6 @@ export async function actuate(setup: Setup, config: Config, options: any): Promi
     https://console.firebase.google.com/project/${setup.projectId!}/dataconnect/locations/${info.locationId}/services/${info.serviceId}/schema`,
     );
   }
-  if (!(await isBillingEnabled(setup))) {
-    setup.instructions.push(upgradeInstructions(setup.projectId || "your-firebase-project"));
-  }
   setup.instructions.push(
     `Install the Data Connect VS Code Extensions. You can explore Data Connect Query on local pgLite and Cloud SQL Postgres Instance.`,
   );
@@ -238,9 +233,7 @@ async function actuateWithInfo(
   }
 
   await ensureApis(projectId, /* silent =*/ true);
-  const provisionCSQL = info.shouldProvisionCSQL && (await isBillingEnabled(setup));
-  if (provisionCSQL) {
-    // Kicks off Cloud SQL provisioning if the project has billing enabled.
+  if (info.shouldProvisionCSQL) {
     await setupCloudSql({
       projectId: projectId,
       location: info.locationId,
@@ -296,7 +289,7 @@ async function actuateWithInfo(
       projectId,
       info,
       schemaFiles,
-      provisionCSQL,
+      info.shouldProvisionCSQL,
     );
     await upsertSchema(saveSchemaGql);
     if (waitForCloudSQLProvision) {
@@ -695,6 +688,31 @@ async function promptForCloudSQL(setup: Setup, info: RequiredInfo): Promise<void
   if (!setup.projectId) {
     return;
   }
+  const instrumentlessTrialEnabled = isEnabled("fdcift");
+  const billingEnabled = await isBillingEnabled(setup);
+  const freeTrialUsed = await checkFreeTrialInstanceUsed(setup.projectId);
+  const freeTrialAvailable = !freeTrialUsed && (billingEnabled || instrumentlessTrialEnabled);
+
+  if (!billingEnabled && !instrumentlessTrialEnabled) {
+    setup.instructions.push(upgradeInstructions(setup.projectId || "your-firebase-project", false));
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (freeTrialUsed) {
+    logLabeledWarning(
+      "dataconnect",
+      "CloudSQL no cost trial has already been used on this project.",
+    );
+    if (!billingEnabled) {
+      setup.instructions.push(
+        upgradeInstructions(setup.projectId || "your-firebase-project", true),
+      );
+      return;
+    }
+  } else if (instrumentlessTrialEnabled || billingEnabled) {
+    logLabeledSuccess("dataconnect", "CloudSQL no cost trial available!");
+  }
+
   // Check for existing Cloud SQL instances, if we didn't already set one.
   if (info.cloudSqlInstanceId === "") {
     const instances = await cloudsql.listInstances(setup.projectId);
@@ -708,7 +726,7 @@ async function promptForCloudSQL(setup: Setup, info: RequiredInfo): Promise<void
     // If we've already chosen a region (ie service already exists), only list instances from that region.
     choices = choices.filter((c) => info.locationId === "" || info.locationId === c.location);
     if (choices.length) {
-      if (!(await checkFreeTrialInstanceUsed(setup.projectId))) {
+      if (freeTrialAvailable) {
         choices.push({ name: "Create a new free trial instance", value: "", location: "" });
       } else {
         choices.push({ name: "Create a new CloudSQL instance", value: "", location: "" });
@@ -737,7 +755,7 @@ async function promptForCloudSQL(setup: Setup, info: RequiredInfo): Promise<void
   if (info.locationId === "") {
     await promptForLocation(setup, info);
     info.shouldProvisionCSQL = await confirm({
-      message: `Would you like to provision your Cloud SQL instance and database now?`,
+      message: `Would you like to provision your ${freeTrialAvailable ? "free trial " : ""}Cloud SQL instance and database now?`,
       default: true,
     });
   }