The first barrier to launching a project on the internet is almost always the same: paying for a domain. It’s not a big figure for an established company, but for students, makers, indie developers or small collectives, those 10–15 dollars per project add up quickly. And along the way, many ideas stay in the drawer.
In recent months, an open source initiative has started to change that scenario: DigitalPlat FreeDomain, a non-profit project that offers free domains for all kinds of online projects. Its goal is simple but ambitious: nobody should skip launching a website, portfolio or tool just because they can’t afford the domain.
According to figures shared by the organization, over 200,000 domains have already been registered through its system, which easily translates into between 2 and 3 million dollars saved in registration fees, compared to what it would cost on traditional commercial registrars.
What exactly is DigitalPlat FreeDomain?
DigitalPlat FreeDomain is a community project that acts as a “hub” for free domains. It’s not a classic registrar, but a service that manages several of its own extensions and lets anyone register a domain under them at no cost.
Among the available extensions are:
.dpdns.org.us.kg.qzz.io.xx.kg
The idea is straightforward: provide functional domains that can be used in any web project, without paying, and still keeping full DNS control from the provider chosen by the user.
The project is open source, transparent, and has an active community around GitHub, Telegram and other channels. That adds an extra layer of trust compared to other “free” initiatives that often hide small print.
How it works: registering a free domain in 3 steps
The user flow is designed so that anyone with basic web knowledge can complete the process in a few minutes:
- Access the dashboard
From the DigitalPlat FreeDomain dashboard, the user can check if the desired domain is available under the supported extensions and create an account. - Register the domain
Once verified, the chosen domain is registered (for example,project.qzz.ioormyapp.dpdns.org). There are no setup fees and no renewal fees. - Connect it to a DNS provider
The user just needs to point the domain to their preferred DNS provider (Cloudflare, FreeDNS by Afraid.org, Hostry, etc.).
From there, they can manage A, CNAME, MX or TXT records just like with any paid domain.
In practice, the result is a fully functional domain, free of charge and under the developer’s control.
Who is benefiting the most from these free domains?
Although anyone can request one, the impact is especially clear for a few profiles:
- Indie developers and makers who launch many micro-projects every year.
- Students and bootcamps that need domains for assignments, portfolios and class projects.
- Open source communities that spin up demos, documentation and helper tools.
- Small NGOs or local groups with very tight budgets that still want an online presence.
For all of them, saving 15 dollars per project can be the difference between “I’ll try it” and “I’ll do it someday”. When you’re talking about hundreds of thousands of registered domains, the multiplier effect is obvious.
Advantages versus traditional domains
DigitalPlat FreeDomain is not trying to replace classic .com, .org or country TLDs, but it does offer a very attractive alternative in many cases. Some of the key advantages:
- Truly zero cost: no signup fee, no renewals, no hidden trial period.
- Full DNS control: users decide where the domain points, with support for top-tier DNS providers.
- Fast deployment: ideal for prototypes, hackathons, MVPs or personal projects.
- Community-driven: as an open source project, it’s auditable and extendable.
For a big e-commerce site or an established brand, it still makes sense to invest in premium domains. But for most personal and technical projects, a domain like myapp.qzz.io is more than enough.
So… where’s the catch?
That’s the first question from anyone who’s spent years paying for domains. In this case, the model is pretty clear:
- The organization manages a limited set of its own extensions.
- Domains are provided for free, under certain usage rules and abuse policies.
- The project is funded through donations, community support and, potentially, future services (such as free or low-cost hosting).
There’s no injected advertising in websites, no weird redirects, and no requirement to use a specific hosting. The domain belongs to the user as long as they follow the basic rules of the service.
What kind of projects are they best suited for?
Although virtually any website can run on these domains, there are some scenarios where they fit particularly well:
- Beta-stage SaaS that haven’t settled on their final commercial domain yet.
- Internal APIs and admin dashboards, where branding matters less.
- Open source projects, technical documentation and online demos.
- Temporary landing pages for campaigns, A/B tests or short-lived projects.
Nothing stops a project from migrating to a paid custom domain once the idea is validated, while keeping the free domain as an alias or test environment.
Part of a bigger trend: lowering the barrier to build on the web
Initiatives like DigitalPlat FreeDomain fit within a larger trend: making it easier for everyone to build on the web.
There are already platforms offering free hosting, free-tier CDNs, free database tiers and accessible AI tools. The missing piece was often the domain.
By putting that piece within anyone’s reach, the message is clear:
“If you know how to build something, the cost of a domain shouldn’t be what stops you.”
For the developer ecosystem, this means more projects, more experiments and more real-world learning in production. And for those working in education or technical training, it’s a perfect tool to move students beyond plain localhost and get them publishing projects in a real environment.
Frequently Asked Questions about DigitalPlat FreeDomain
Do these free domains expire or have hidden renewals?
According to the project’s own information, domains are offered with no signup or renewal fees. They can be revoked in cases of abuse or policy violations, but there is no hidden yearly charge.
Can I use a FreeDomain domain for a professional or commercial project?
Yes, as long as you respect the terms of use. Many developers use these domains for small SaaS products, dashboards, internal tools or niche services.
What if I want to move to a paid custom domain later on?
Migration is straightforward. You simply register the new domain with a traditional registrar, point the DNS to the same server and configure redirects from the free domain if you want to preserve traffic.
Is it safe to use a free domain for projects with real users?
Security mainly depends on how you configure the server, HTTPS and the application itself. At the DNS level, these domains behave like any other and can be used with providers like Cloudflare to strengthen both security and performance.
