A few ways to get your top level domain name free of cost

The other day, i had to purchase a domain name, but unfortunately due to no availability of a credit card, so i could not go ahead with it.
I checked out on a few sites which could help me out. Here were some schemes that were offering help.

1) Microsoft Office live small business : A few months back, i had clicked on an add, that wanted me to sign up Live mail and get a holiday package for a couple free. Looking at the profile of company like Microsoft, i did not sign up. A few days later, i got that advertisement back and thought i should sign up.

I got nothing as yet. Again there was this scheme from Microsoft. Sign up for this scheme, only if you are a resident of USA. Since Microsoft only gives freebies to US residents or use an US address.

Use IE to sign up and everything further
To transfer your domain from Microsoft  to some other company click here

2) Reliance Bigrock scheme : When I think of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group, i get some image of petty thiefs in my mind. They offer .in domains with some hosting facility on purchase of Reliance Data Cads. Since I already had one. I thought of applying for it. While purchasing the card, i wasn't informed of any such scheme. However soon they agreed and gave a link to enter my 10 digit number. Thereafter, iwas to receive a coupan on my email. But I got none.
Note : The scheme i now changed : They offer web.in subdomain.

3) Use some points service : A lot of websites (list given below) offer TLDs free of cos, if you particpate in their surveys. I did not give a try for them, since they appeared bogus to me. Do not use you main email id for them (create another and use that) and also use some new password to create an account (if you do).
 The list is :
Free Domain Site
Another Free Domain
FreePremiumDomains.com
cydots.com
getfreedomains.info


4) Keepindiaonline: They call it as an initiative to offer free .in domains to people of India. But they have some serious limitations. Firstly this is not an initiative, this is some private company, that offers you the cheap .in domain and they actually lock the domain. Further hosting would be done on their servers and there is no control panel. Its like initially you are sending the data to the company and they will place it for you. Later they will ask for money. Since i wanted the domain part only, i did not try this. Click here.

5) Get a domain with a hosting account : A large no. of hosting providers give domains free with hosting. However ensure that domain is registered in your name and you are free to transfer it. I am presently using ipage.com, they are quite reliable people Click here if you want one. (referal link)

Tip : While signing up (filling your details), click on the option to close the tab and they will ask whether you want to Leave the page or stay on it

Click Stay on Page
And on the next page. you may get some discounts. To use my referal Click here.

6)  Use a domain like co.cc, co.nr, .tk : Of these services, i think co.cc is the best service. They offer a full DNS service. Actually this i a subdomain, but looks like domain. They offer full DNS Control. Do not use tk and co.nr, they are bad for the SEO thing. 

If you know any other service like these, please post in the comment section.

Note : There are many schemes that might have and will come up like the one specified in (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv). Do not fall in such traps. Use (v), but not very often.

There is actually no service, giving domains for free. Do not waste your time in all these things. and even if such a scheme comes, do read its terms and conditions fully.

In case, you are in a situation like me, you are not having a credit card. there are companies that allow you to get a domain by depositing in their accounts directly (Ultimately i used this). For India, there is Bigrock, with such scheme. Check them out. Or use Paypal.

Tags : Free Domain name, top level domains for free.