Use your own domain (like acmeplumbing.com)

You can have your website open at your own address, like www.acmeplumbing.com, instead of the free one we gave you. There is some waiting time while the Internet catches up. You need to be able to sign in to the company where you bought your domain (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace and so on). You don't need to move your email or anything else.

Your own domain is available once your website is live to the Internet on a paid plan. Until then the button on the Your own domain card is grayed out and tells you why.

Don't have a domain yet?

You buy a domain from a domain company and renew it every year. We aren't a domain company, so the company you choose sets the price. You can buy a domain at GoDaddy (it opens their website). Namecheap, Porkbun and other domain companies work just as well. When you have it, come back here and follow the steps below.

Before you start

Make your website live to the Internet first (the Make it live button).
Have your domain name handy, like acmeplumbing.com.
If your domain already shows a website somewhere else, that website is replaced when you finish. Your email won't change.

Step 1: Tell us your domain

Open your website, then Make it live, then Your own domain, and press Connect your domain. Type your domain any way you like. You can paste a whole web address, we tidy it up. We set up www.yourdomain.com as your main address, and help you make yourdomain.com (without the www) work too, so people who leave off the www still find you.

Step 2: Add the records at your domain company

We show you exactly what to add, with Copy buttons, and the steps for your domain company when we can tell which one you use. In short:

A CNAME record. Name or Host: www. Value or Points to: customers.dollarsite.page.
A TXT record that proves the domain is yours. The Name and Value are shown on your screen. Copy them exactly.
To make the address without the www work: two A records named @ with the addresses we show you. First delete any older @ A or AAAA records (often a "parked" page).

Only change those records. Leave your email (MX) records and any other TXT records alone. They keep your email working.

In the Name box, type just what we show (www, not www.yourdomain.com). Some companies add the domain for you.

Where to find DNS settings

| Company | Where to go | | --- | --- | | GoDaddy | My Products, then your domain, then DNS. The CNAME list already has a www entry: edit it instead of adding a second one. Delete the "Parked" A record named @, then add ours | | Namecheap | Domain List, then Manage, then Advanced DNS, then Add New Record. Remove any "URL Redirect" record for @ or www first. An ALIAS record for @ also works | | Squarespace (and domains that used to be at Google Domains) | Domains, then your domain, then DNS, then DNS Settings, then Custom records | | IONOS | Domains & SSL, then your domain, then DNS, then Add record | | Bluehost | Domains, then your domain, then DNS, then Manage DNS records, then Add record | | Hover | Sign in, pick your domain, then DNS, then Add a record | | Porkbun | Domain Management, then Details, then DNS Records. An ALIAS record for @ also works | | Network Solutions | Account Manager, then My Domain Names, then Change Where Domain Points, then Advanced DNS | | Your DNS provider (if you see an orange cloud icon beside your records, or you manage DNS somewhere other than where you bought the domain) | DNS, then Records, then Add record. Leave the icon at its default |

Menu names change from time to time. If you don't see them, search that company's help for "add a DNS record".

Step 3: Press Check again

Most domains are ready within 15 minutes. It can take a few hours. You can close the page: we keep checking and email you the moment it's ready. The page shows each step as it happens:

Domain added
Checking your domain settings
Secure SSL Certificate
Your custom domain is live

If something is wrong, the page says what we see (for example "We see a different website at @") and what to change.

Step 4: Done

Visit your address. You'll see the padlock: that's your secure certificate. It renews on its own. Just leave the records in place.

If you want to disconnect

Press Disconnect next to your domain, then delete the records you added at your domain company. Your website stays at its free address.

If your website stops being on a paid plan

Your own address stops working a few weeks after the website is paused or no longer on a paid plan, when the secure certificate runs out. We email you before that happens and name the website and the domain. Make the website live again to keep your address. Updating a card that failed does not affect your domain while the grace period lasts.

Troubleshooting

| What you see | Likely cause | What to do | | --- | --- | --- | | Still "Waiting for your domain settings" after an hour | A record typed wrong, or an old value is still cached | Compare the name and value character by character. The Name is www only. Wait up to a few hours, then press Check again | | "www still points somewhere else" | The www CNAME has another value | Edit the existing www record instead of adding a second one | | "Your www address has an older address record" | An old A or AAAA record named www exists | Delete it. A name can only have one kind of record | | "We see a different website at @" | Old @ A records point to your previous website or a parked page | Delete them and keep only ours. This replaces what is there now | | "Older IPv6 address (AAAA) for @" | An AAAA record for @ points somewhere else | Delete it | | Getting your secure certificate for hours | Waiting for the next automatic retry | Press Check again. If it's still stuck tomorrow, email us with your domain | | "A security setting at your domain company blocks our certificate" | A CAA record only allows other certificate companies | Delete the CAA records, or add one for letsencrypt.org and one for pki.goog | | The page won't open after DNSSEC changes | A broken DNSSEC setting at your domain company | Turn DNSSEC off for the domain, or ask them to fix the DS record | | "Too many redirects" | Your domain company is also forwarding the domain | Turn off forwarding or redirect rules for www; keep only the DNS records | | My own address doesn't load yet, even though it says Live | The Internet hasn't caught up with your DNS changes yet. Your setup is done on our side, but it can take 30 to 60 minutes (the address without www can take the same time) | Give it a little while, then try again. If your browser still shows an old page or an error, try a private window or your phone on cellular, or clear your browser's DNS cache | | Works for you but not for others | Cached DNS on your computer | Wait, or try a phone on mobile data | | It worked, then stopped | The CNAME was removed or changed | Add the record again. We email you when it's back | | "Not verified within 7 days" | The records were never added | Remove the domain and add it again |

Never send anyone your domain company's password. If you'd like a hand, email us and we'll talk you through it on a call.

Limits

An account can connect up to 10 domains, and a website up to 5. To protect you and others we allow a few new domains per hour.