Non-Profit Offers Free Domain Names

A non-profit group backed by Cloudflare, GitHub, and other major organisations has launched a project to provide free, open-source domain names. The initiative aims to make domains available without hidden charges or complicated conditions, offering an accessible alternative to traditional domain services.

According to its sponsors, the project is not designed to replace commercial domain names but rather to give developers, students, and hobbyists the chance to build websites at no cost. This makes it easier for individuals and small projects to establish an online presence without financial obstacles.

The broader ambition behind the scheme is to support a free and open internet, where anyone can share their ideas, projects, or personal interests online. By removing the barrier of domain registration costs, the project hopes to encourage greater creativity, innovation, and inclusivity across the digital space.

DigitalPlat

The open-source domain project is run by DigitalPlat, a non-profit group supported by well-known names such as 1Password, The Hack Club (also known as The Hack Foundation), Twilio, GitHub, and Cloudflare.

The Hack Foundation itself is a recognised non-profit made up of high school students and has received backing from a wide range of supporters, including Google.org and Elon Musk. Established in 2016, the organisation has grown rapidly over the years with strong community support.

On its official website, the foundation explains that in 2018 it broadened its role to act as a fiscal sponsor for various initiatives. These include Hack Clubs, hackathons, community organisations, and other projects aimed at delivering positive social impact.

Currently, The Hack Foundation sponsors a wide range of groups, from small community efforts such as a local newspaper in Vermont to large-scale projects like the biggest high school hackathon in Pennsylvania. This shows the scale and diversity of the initiatives they help bring to life.

A statement on The Hack Foundation’s donations page also highlights their formal link to DigitalPlat. It clarifies that the DigitalPlat Foundation works globally to support open-source and community-focused projects, while also driving innovation through experimental ideas.

The same notice explains that all funds associated with DigitalPlat are carefully monitored and managed by The Hack Foundation. These funds are regulated in strict accordance with US Internal Revenue Service rules and legal requirements under section 501(c)(3).

This structure ensures that DigitalPlat operates with transparency and accountability, while continuing to focus on its mission of supporting open-source development and community-driven projects across the world.

DigitalPlat FreeDomain

Free domain names are now available through DigitalPlat, with the project running on an open-source model under the AGPL-3.0 licence.

The announcement came from the GitHub Projects Community, which shared the news on X alongside a link to the dedicated GitHub page. There, users can find a list of domain options to choose from, including:

.DPDNS.ORG
.US.KG
.QZZ.IO
.XX.KG

Although these technically function as subdomains, it’s worth noting that even domains such as .uk.com fall under the same category.

The GitHub page also advises users on how to manage their free domains at no extra cost. Suggested providers include Cloudflare, FreeDNS by Afraid.org, and Hostry, all of which offer DNS management tools for free.

Some of the extensions carry specific backgrounds. For example, .KG is the country code for Kyrgyzstan, while .DPDNS.ORG represents the DigitalPlat FreeDomain project itself. The .US.KG extension is run directly by the DigitalPlat Foundation, a non-profit group supported by The Hack Foundation.

The Open-Source Projects page for the initiative makes clear that this is a long-term scheme, not just a temporary promotion. The organisers state that the free domain project is designed to be transparent, sustainable, and fully open source under AGPL-3.0.

It is also emphasised that the effort is backed by The Hack Foundation, a certified U.S. 501(c)(3) charity. Their goal is to make the internet more accessible by lowering barriers for individuals and organisations who need domain names but may not have the resources to pay for them.