This site runs on a domain I didn’t pay for. The Hacktoberfest developer perk gives you a .tech domain free for one year, and it works from Sri Lanka with a normal Gmail account. Here’s exactly how I did it - including the two settings that trip most people up.
Perks are limited and the terms can change, so check the offer page before you start.
Before you start
You need all three of these, or the promo code won’t appear:
- A GitHub account that is at least 30 days old
- An MLH account that is at least 7 days old
- To redeem the code before 13 December
If either account is brand new, create it today and come back once it’s old enough.
Step 1 - Sign up
Go to hacktoberfest.com/my/promos and sign up with your Gmail. You’ll get a one-time code by email to finish signing in.
Step 2 - Verify your phone
Add your mobile number and enter the OTP. Refresh the page and it should show as verified.
Step 3 - Connect GitHub
Under social connections, add GitHub and authorize it. Refresh again.
Step 4 - Get your promo code
Click Get your code and copy the code it gives you. It’s unique to you.
Step 5 - Search for your domain
Open get.tech, search for the name you want and add it to the cart. Short and easy to say works best - your own name is a good choice.
Step 6 - Apply the code
Paste your promo code in the cart. The price for the first year should drop to Rs. 0.
Step 7 - Turn privacy protection OFF
This is the step most people miss. If Privacy Protection is left on, the discount doesn’t apply. Switch it off before you place the order.
Step 8 - Create an account and confirm
You’ll create a get.tech account (name and a few details) and confirm the order. It asks for card details, but because the total is zero, nothing is charged - you’ll get a receipt by email.
Step 9 - Turn auto-renew OFF
The domain is set to auto-renew by default, which means you’d be charged automatically when the free year ends. Go to Manage domain and disable auto-renew straight away. You can always renew manually later if you want to keep it.
Connecting the domain to a website
You have two options:
| Option | What you change | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Nameservers | Point the domain to your host (e.g. Vercel, Netlify) | Letting the host manage DNS |
| DNS records | Add A / CNAME records for the site, MX for email | Keeping DNS at get.tech |
This blog is hosted on Azure Static Web Apps (free tier, free SSL). I’ll write up that setup in the next post.
Got stuck on a step? Leave a comment on the YouTube video and I’ll help you out.