I want to try out some things with a secondary domain. I’d prefer ethical and non-shady providers. I have a fixed IP and a VPS to go with it, so it’s really only about the domain. A subdomain of my current domain is not enough. A subdomain of the provider would be OK but not ideal.
Even paying very little is not an option right now - maybe later.
Doing some preliminary research, the keyword seems to be Dynamic DNS even if I have a static IP. There are providers but those that pop up easily do not instil much confidence.
I want to hear the Fediverse’s opinions! I haven’t found any recent posts about this.
TIA
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nobody said desec.io yet, it’s a non profit from berlin and they give free subdomains under dedyn.io, with a proper API, so you can do the DNS challenge for let’s encrypt (there’s a caddy plugin for it too). I haven’t run a domain there myself so can’t say how it is long term, but for a “try some things” domain it looks like the least shady of the free ones I guess.
Afraid.org, used to use that
Ya, it does what it says on the tin. My domain there is nearly 17 years old now.
That’s good to hear 👍
Most of those free dns settups use subdomains already. Unless you cant, for a temporary domain name, I recommend just creating an account at a mainstream/reputable dns provider and buying whatever is on sale for a dollar or two per year. Dont plan on renewing because those ones shoot up.
Hopefully the .self tld becomes a thing because it is supposed to be free: https://hccf.onmy.cloud/2026/06/21/reclaiming-our-digital-selves-hccfs-vision-for-a-human-centered-top-level-domain/
a dollar or two per year
That exists? I only seen such price for first year only, then it’s normal 15$ or higher
It’s rare to find a domain that will renew that cheap. The ones that I’ve seen are usually a sale price or they don’t include WHOIS privacy. There are a couple that will renew for around $4 like .top and .de.
What are you looking to do? If it’s to do with a name server, you can delegate a subdomain and it’s children to be managed by another server using a ns record. This is actually how DNS works in general.
Thanks. Based in NL is certainly a plus.
fyi, it’s
.nfnot.nl, and apparently that’s for the Norfolk Islands.
https://nic.ua/en/domains/prices
ukrainian registrar, gives pp.ua for free for one year, renewable. will ask for cc details. legit
Thanks, this looks good.
will ask for cc details.
So far I never had any problems making stuff up there.
Not sure the use-case but if its temporary: (Otherwise you have to respond monthly saying you are still using it)
Maybe someone can tell me why they are unethical or you shouldn’t use them but I believe you can get a free domain usually from noip
Should be noip.com I believe
but I believe you can get a free domain usually from noip
Up to three, including stuff like mx entries. For the free tier you get a mail every 30 days with a link to confirm that you are still using that name and that’s it.
i use them and i am satisfied
