Namecheap for Students: Free
Namecheap Education Program / GitHub Students — Free .ME Domain Bundle via GitHub Student Developer Pack
What you get
- Free .ME domain for 1 year + 1 free SSL certificate for 1 year + Withheld for Privacy (WHOIS privacy) + GitHub Pages setup (1 year), bundled together. Also includes first-year registration discounts: .io $24.88, .tech $0.48, .com $8.88, .website $0.48. One bundle per household/business.
From the official page: “"Get a .me domain and 1 SSL Certificate FREE for 1 year with your GitHub Student Developer Pack."; "How long is my Bundle free? The first year of your standard bundle (.ME + Github Pages + Withheld for Privacy) is free. After the first year, you will pay: $15 per year for the GitHub Pages bundle."; "the standard annual registration price is currently $4.88" (promo FAQ); "We currently support select universities in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia." (nc.me/faq)”
How to claim
- Go to nc.me and click 'Get started' / sign up
- Verify your student status (GitHub Student Pack or school email)
- Register the free .me domain + SSL
- The confirmation email contains the GitHub Pages setup link
Eligibility
Higher education students; eligible universities are currently limited to designated institutions in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia (per nc.me/faq). Verified via school email / GitHub Student Developer Pack / SheerID. A payment method must be added for renewals.
Expiry & renewal rules
The standard bundle (.ME + GitHub Pages + Withheld for Privacy) is 100% free for the first year. From year 2: .ME renews at the standard annual price (currently $4.88/year, per the Namecheap promo FAQ); the GitHub Pages bundle renews at $15/year (per nc.me/faq). Auto-renews, with an email notice 30 days before expiry and an opt-out in the email. Not a free-forever domain.
Availability
Limited to designated institutions in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia (per nc.me/faq); generally unavailable in mainland China.
FAQ
Is Namecheap still free for students in 2026?
It changed. Namecheap no longer offers the exact deal it used to — see the status banner above and What you get for the current state, verified Oct 21, 2026.
Do I need a credit card? How long does the Namecheap student offer last?
The official page does not state a card requirement clearly — expect to check during signup. Duration details are under Expiry & renewal above. Duration: The standard bundle (.ME + GitHub Pages + Withheld for Privacy) is 100% free for the first year. From year 2: .ME renews at the standard annual price (currently $4.88/year, per the Namecheap promo FAQ); the GitHub Pages bundle renews at $15/year (per nc.me/faq). Auto-renews, with an email notice 30 days before expiry and an opt-out in the email. Not a free-forever domain.
What's the catch with Namecheap's student program?
The honest caveats: The standard bundle (.ME + GitHub Pages + Withheld for Privacy) is 100% free for the first year. From year 2: .ME renews at the standard annual price (currently $4.88/year, per the Namecheap promo FAQ); the GitHub Pages bundle renews at $15/year (per nc.me/faq). Auto-renews, with an email notice 30 days before expiry and an opt-out in the email. Not a free-forever domain.. Student programs are usually limited to non-commercial use, may require yearly re-verification, and can be discontinued with little notice — that is exactly why this page exists. Verify on the official page before building anything on top of a free tier.