ServiceNow, Inc. offers developers a free instance of their cloud-based platform. To be able to develop a custom application, you first need to have your own instance of the ServiceNow platform. You can create a developer account and request a free instance by visiting the ServiceNow developer portal site at: https://developer.servicenow.com:

The registration process for the ServiceNow developer portal is fairly simple. You can click on the REGISTER link in the upper-right, if you are not already registered, and fill in your name, e-mail, and choose a password to complete your registration. Once you verify your email and are registered, you can log in to the ServiceNow developer portal and request an instance by clicking on the Request Instance button, as shown in the following screenshot: