NexSub

NexSub was a free subdomain service that allowed users to claim and manage subdomains under shared domains operated by the service. It ran on nexsub.online, which is no longer active.

Background

Purchasing and managing a domain name has a cost and a minimum commitment — typically a year-long registration and annual renewal fees. For developers building hobby projects, testing services, or running temporary setups, this cost can be a barrier, particularly for projects that may not last.

NexSub provided a middle ground: functional subdomains that worked for real projects, available at no cost, without requiring a domain purchase. Users could point their subdomain at any server or service using standard DNS records.

How it worked

Accounts on NexSub were granted two subdomains by default at registration. Subdomains were configured through a web dashboard where users could set the DNS record type and destination for each subdomain.

Tiered access

Tier	Subdomains	How to unlock
Default	2	Account registration
Extended	Up to 5	4 weeks of account activity
Custom	More than 5	Manual request via support

The four-week activity requirement for the extended tier was designed to reduce subdomain hoarding from users who would claim subdomains without using them.

DNS record configuration

Users configured their subdomains by pointing them at external destinations using standard DNS record types. The DNS propagation was handled by NexSub's infrastructure. Configuration changes typically took effect within a few minutes.

Subdomain format

Subdomains were formatted as [user-chosen-name].[shared-domain]. The shared domains used were operated by NexSub.

Limitations

NexSub subdomains were subject to the service's terms of use, which prohibited use for spam, phishing, or other abusive purposes. Subdomains in violation of these terms could be suspended or removed.

Because subdomains were under a shared domain controlled by NexSub, certain configurations were not possible — for example, configuring a root A record for the subdomain itself, or using the subdomain with services that required a dedicated IP.

Status

NexSub is permanently offline. The domain nexsub.online is no longer active.