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To start developing applications in NEAR you will need a NEAR testnet account. This account will allow you to deploy and test your applications without spending any real money. You can create a testnet NEAR account through one of the following methods:
If you already have a NEAR account, you can import it into another wallet or the CLI. See Importing Existing Accounts below.

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Using a Wallet

Go to wallet.near.org and choose one of the wallets listed there. Do not worry, the list has been curated, so you can be sure that all wallets listed there are safe to use. In general, all wallets will offer similar functionality, so in theory you can choose any of them. However, know that some wallets will readily allow you to create named accounts (e.g. alice.testnet), which are easier to remember. Remember to write down the seed phrase, as it is the only way to access your account!
Testnet Make sure to create a testnet account (ending with .testnet, e.g. alice.testnet), and not a mainnet account (ending with .near).NEAR testnet is a separate network that allows you to test your applications without spending real money.
Funding the WalletNeed testnet funds? try using one of our faucets

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Through the CLI

When developing smart contracts you will expend lots of time interacting with the NEAR blockchain through the command line interface (CLI). First, you will need to install the NEAR CLI: 
npm install -g near-cli-rs@latest
Once you have the CLI installed, you can create a new account using the following command: 
near create-account <account.testnet> --useFaucet
This command will create a new account with the name <account.testnet> and fund it using the testnet faucet. Make sure to replace <account.testnet> with your desired account name.

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Importing Existing Accounts

If you want to use an existing NEAR account in another wallet or in the CLI, you can import it using your seed phrase or private key.
From your current wallet, use its account backup/export flow.If the account was created with the CLI, run:
near account export-account <account.testnet>
In your destination wallet, choose the account import/restore option and provide your seed phrase.
Run:
near account import-account
Then follow the prompts to enter your seed phrase or private key.
Keep your seed phrase and private key secure. Anyone with access to them can control your account.

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Next Steps

Now that you have created a NEAR account, you can start developing applications on the NEAR Protocol. Here are some resources to help you get started: