6.7 KiB
domains
Providers
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tk domains r free : http://www.dot.cf/en/index.html?lang=en
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freenom (no longer available) ml is the country tld of mali Mali leased it to freenom and lease is expired
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noip
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freenom : doesnt work
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https://desec.io/signup : for residential ip and needs ip to be changed
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https://www.duckdns.org : login with github/google
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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
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Checking pot forwarding portchecker.io
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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
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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 likesagar.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