The Ultimate Guide to Free Domain Names for Students (2024 Edition)

As a student, having your own website can be invaluable—whether for showcasing projects, building a portfolio, or running a blog. But buying a domain name can be expensive. Fortunately, there are ways to get a free domain name (or at least a free subdomain) while you’re learning.

In this guide, we’ll cover:
✅ Best free domain providers (including subdomains)
✅ How to get a free custom domain (temporary & permanent options)
✅ Free hosting + domain combos for students
✅ Limitations & alternatives

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1. Free Subdomains (Best for Quick Projects)

If you don’t need a custom .com domain, these services offer free subdomains that work well for student projects:

A. GitHub Pages (yourusername.github.io)

🔗 https://pages.github.com

• Best for: Static websites (HTML, CSS, JS, Jekyll)
• Pros:
• No ads, fully free
• Works with Git version control
• Great for coding portfolios

B. Netlify (yoursite.netlify.app)

🔗 https://netlify.com

• Best for: React, Vue, JAMstack sites
• Pros:
• Free SSL & automatic deploys
• Supports forms & serverless functions

C. Vercel (yourproject.vercel.app)

🔗 https://vercel.com

• Best for: Next.js, React, static sites
• Pros:
• Blazing fast performance
• Easy Git integration

D. Glitch (yourproject.glitch.me)

🔗 https://glitch.com

• Best for: Node.js, real-time apps
• Pros:
• Live coding environment
• Great for prototyping

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2. Free Custom Domains (Limited Options)

If you want a real custom domain (like yourname.tk or yourname.ga), here are the best options:

A. Freenom (Temporarily Unavailable)

🔗 http://www.freenom.com

• Free domains: .tk, .ml, .ga, .cf, .gq
• Status: Not issuing new domains (as of 2024)

B. Dot TK (Alternative to Freenom)

🔗 https://www.dot.tk

• Free domains: .tk
• Pros:
• Still works for some users
• Cons:
• May display ads

C. GitHub Student Developer Pack (Best for Students)

🔗 https://education.github.com/pack

• Offers:
• Free .me domain (Namecheap, 1 year)
• Free .tech domain (Domain.com, 1 year)
• Requirements:
• Must be a verified student

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3. Free Hosting + Free Domain Combos

If you need both hosting and a domain, these platforms offer both:

Service	Free Domain	Best For	Link
InfinityFree	yoursite.epizy.com	PHP/MySQL, WordPress	https://infinityfree.net
000WebHost	yoursite.000webhostapp.com	PHP, WordPress	https://www.000webhost.com
Firebase	yoursite.web.app	Web apps, React	https://firebase.google.com
Render	yoursite.onrender.com	Full-stack apps	https://render.com

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4. Limitations of Free Domains

⚠ Free domains have downsides:

• Not permanent (most expire after 1 year)
• May include ads (e.g., Dot TK)
• Less professional than a .com or .dev
• Limited support

💡 Best long-term solution:

• Use a free subdomain (like GitHub Pages)
• Later, upgrade to a cheap paid domain (e.g., Namecheap, Google Domains)

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5. Final Recommendation

• For quick projects: Use GitHub Pages or Netlify
• For a free custom domain: Try Dot TK (if available)
• For long-term use: Get a free domain via GitHub Student Pack

Would you like a step-by-step guide on setting up any of these? 😊