How to Create a Free Salesforce Developer Org (Step-by-Step Guide)

Aug 20

Quick Summary

Completely free Salesforce account – A Developer Org is available at no cost and never expires if you log in regularly.
Full developer environment – Includes Salesforce Lightning, APIs, Apex, Visualforce, and automation tools.
Easy sign-up process – Takes just minutes with a valid email address.
Sandbox alternative – Safely test apps and features without affecting production data.
Best for learning Salesforce – Ideal for admins, developers, and anyone preparing for Salesforce certifications.

What Is a Salesforce Developer Org?

A Salesforce Developer Org (often called a free Salesforce account or Salesforce sandbox alternative) is a personal Salesforce environment provided by Salesforce at no cost.

It offers nearly the same functionality as enterprise editions, making it perfect for:

Learning Salesforce basics and advanced features
Practicing for Salesforce certification exams
Developing and testing custom apps
Experimenting with automation tools and integrations
Installing and testing AppExchange packages

Step 1: Go to the Salesforce Developer Sign-Up Page

Visit the official Salesforce Developer free trials page.

https://www.salesforce.com/form/developer-signup/

Step 2: Complete the Registration Form

Enter the following details:

Full name
Email address (must be valid for confirmation)
Company name (can be personal or “Self”)
Country
Username (must be in email format but doesn’t need to match your actual email)

Step 3: Verify Your Email

Check your inbox for a Salesforce confirmation email. Click the activation link to set your password.

Step 4: Log In to Your Developer Org

After activation, you’ll have full access to your free Salesforce Developer Org, which includes:

Salesforce Lightning Experience
APIs for integrations
Apex programming & Visualforce
Flow and automation tools
AppExchange marketplace access

Step 5: Start Learning, Building, and Testing

Your free Developer Org is renewable indefinitely as long as you log in occasionally. This makes it the best way to:

Learn Salesforce for free
Practice SF admin & development skills
Test new features before using them in production
Build apps without needing a paid Salesforce license

Step 6: Login to your Org (Future)

The best way I’ve found to relocate the login page for your developer org is to revisit the welcome email you received originally.

Gary Elbaum