domains

Providers
- tk domains r free : http://www.dot.cf/en/index.html?lang=en
- http://www.dot.cf/en/index.html?lang=en
- freenom (no longer available)
  ml is the country tld of mali Mali leased it to freenom and lease is expired
- https://freedns.afraid.org
- noip
- https://nic.eu.org/
- freenom : doesnt work
- https://freedomain.one/
- https://dash.domain.digitalplat.org/auth/register
- https://desec.io/signup : for residential ip and needs ip to be changed
- https://www.duckdns.org : login with github/google
- https://github.com/abint7/free-domains?tab=readme-ov-file

- Exposing localhost
  
    ngrok (ngrok http 80)
	serveo (no signup required) : https://serveo.net/ (sometimes it dont work)
    PageKite
    localtunnel
  https://github.com/openziti/zrok : can self host it too
    boringproxy
    BrowserStack
	https://localhost.run/ 
	https://loophole.cloud/ (for http services, provides https domain too) (./loophole http 3006)
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QddDX5x7Iz4 : for ssh using ngrok
	(just type ngrok tcp 22) to make ssh accessible to public internet, limited to 1 connection
- Checking pot forwarding
  portchecker.io
- Handling blocked port forwarding
  https://portmap.io/register (Sounds promising) (tried but not working :(    )
  https://www.saashub.com/portmap-io-alternatives
  using a vpn
  https://www.reddit.com/r/india/comments/dwrn33/port_forwarding_in_jio_fiber_router/
  https://tailscale.com/kb/1223/funnel/ : tailscale (can expose http to internet upto 3 users but cant tls/ssh)
  zerotier (wont expose to whole internet but useful for playing minecraft and all)
  It doesnt port forward but what it does it creating virtual local area netwrok as people r using same wifi who is using zerotier app anywhere in world. Somene in usa, russia, china can all be part of virtual LAN if using this app
https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeNetworking/comments/18f9z9y/my_isp_doesnt_allow_port_forwarding_what_are_my/

 

### more for exposing localhost

**from llm**
Yes, there are several services similar to **ngrok** that create secure tunnels from your localhost to the public internet and provide **static/fixed domains** (either branded subdomains like `yourname.service.com` or full custom domains you own). 

ngrok's free tier gives only a random or one reserved static subdomain (with limitations like warnings), while static/persistent ones are mostly paid. Many alternatives offer better free tiers or lower-cost static options, especially in 2026.

Here's a breakdown of popular ones that support **static domains** (persistent URLs that don't change on restart):

### Free or Very Low-Cost with Static Domain Support
- **Cloudflare Tunnel** (cloudflared)  
  Completely **free** (no bandwidth limits for basic use).  
  Use your own domain (e.g., `matrix.yourdomain.com`) for a fixed URL — requires adding your domain to Cloudflare (free).  
  No random changes; the tunnel stays on the same hostname as long as it's running.  
  Great for Matrix/Synapse (HTTPS by default, no interstitial pages).  
  Setup is a bit more involved than ngrok (dashboard + CLI), but it's reliable and production-grade.

- **LocalXpose**  
  Free tier: 2 active HTTP tunnels with **persistent subdomains** (e.g., your-chosen-name.localxpose.io — static on free).  
  Paid starts low (~$6-8/mo) for more tunnels, custom domains, UDP/TCP, unlimited bandwidth.  
  Often praised as a direct ngrok replacement with fewer restrictions.

- **Pinggy**  
  Free tier available (no signup for basic).  
  Supports **persistent subdomains** and custom domains (even on lower plans).  
  Paid from ~$2.5-3/mo for full features like custom domains and persistent ports.  
  Very cheap and easy (SSH-based, no install sometimes).

- **InstaTunnel** (mentioned a lot in 2026 comparisons)  
  Free plan includes **persistent custom subdomains** (choose your own like `sagar.instatunnel.com` — no random changes).  
  Much more generous free tier than ngrok (longer sessions, no warnings).  
  Paid ~$5/mo for advanced stuff.  
  Positioned as a "better free ngrok" for daily dev use.

- **Playit.gg**  
  Free tier with up to 4 tunnels (TCP/UDP focus, good for games but works for HTTP).  
  **Static/custom domains** on paid (~$3/mo).  
  Simple for basic needs.

- **Zrok** (open-source, based on OpenZiti)  
  Free/self-hosted option — fully unlimited, supports static if you self-host or use their service.  
  Public sharing with persistent links possible.

### Other Notable Ones
- **Localtonet** — Often ranked top in 2026 lists; free tier + cheap paid (~$2/tunnel/mo) with custom domains, UDP, unlimited bandwidth.
- **Tailscale Funnel** — Free for personal use; static via your Tailscale setup (more VPN-like, but exposes services publicly with fixed names).
- **localhost.run** or **Tunnelmole** — Free/basic, but custom/static domains usually paid/low-cost.

### Quick Comparison Table (Focus on Static Domain)

| Service              | Free Static/Subdomain?          | Custom Domain (Your Own)? | Paid Starts At | Notes for Synapse/Matrix Use                  |
|----------------------|---------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| ngrok               | 1 reserved (free), but limited | Paid only                 | ~$8-10/mo     | Warnings on free; paid for stable             |
| Cloudflare Tunnel   | Yes (with your domain)         | Yes (free)                | Free          | Best free fixed domain; no warnings           |
| LocalXpose          | Yes (persistent subdomains)    | Yes                       | ~$6-8/mo      | Generous free; good alternative               |
| Pinggy              | Limited free; yes on paid      | Yes                       | ~$2.5-3/mo    | Cheap & easy                                  |
| InstaTunnel         | Yes (custom subdomains free)   | Likely paid               | ~$5/mo        | Very dev-friendly free tier in 2026           |
| Localtonet          | Basic free                     | Yes                       | ~$2/mo        | UDP support, highly rated                     |

For your Matrix Synapse setup (since you have a domain already), **Cloudflare Tunnel** is still one of the strongest free options for a truly static, professional URL without paying extra. If you want something simpler with a free branded static subdomain (no need to manage DNS), try **InstaTunnel** or **LocalXpose** first — they're closer to ngrok's "just run a command" feel.

Which one sounds most appealing (e.g., completely free with your domain, or easiest with branded static subdomain)? I can give exact setup steps for it!

- Port forwarding
  By default, routers can transmit any outgoing traffic but for any traffic from external device to router ie inbound traffic, port forwarding needs to be alloweed