Domains

Connecting a custom domain

Point a domain you already own at your Instantsite website, or buy one through Instantsite, and verify it.

You can put your website on a domain you already own, or buy one through Instantsite and skip most of the setup.

Buying a domain through Instantsite

From Domains in your dashboard, choose to buy a new domain and search for the name you want. Available names are shown with their price.

A domain bought here is verified for you automatically; you do not add any DNS records. It usually finishes on its own; the dashboard shows the progress.

Purchased domains have their own renewal date and an auto-renew switch you control from the same screen. A domain is a separate charge from your subscription: your plan does not include the cost of a domain name.

Connecting a domain you already own

Connecting takes three DNS records, added at whichever company you bought the domain from. The dashboard shows the exact values for your domain and a Verify control beside each step.

Prove the domain is yours
Add the verification CNAME shown in the dashboard, then press Verify. DNS changes take time to spread. If the check does not pass immediately, wait and try again.
Let us issue an HTTPS certificate
Add the CNAME record shown for the certificate step and verify it. This lets the certificate authority confirm you control the domain. Some DNS providers append your domain automatically, so follow the Host / Name hint shown in the dashboard.
Send traffic to us
Add the A routing record shown in the dashboard and verify it. Use the exact Host and Value shown for the domain you connected.

Root domain or subdomain?

Using the root

yourbusiness.com has no prefix. In the routing step, add the A record shown in the dashboard. Most DNS providers use @ for the root Host / Name.

Using a subdomain

www.yourbusiness.com or another prefixed address can also be connected. Use the exact Host and routing value shown in the dashboard for that hostname.

How long verification takes

DNS changes have to spread across the internet before we can see them. That is usually quick, but it can take several hours depending on your provider and the record's time-to-live setting. There is nothing to do in the meantime except verify again later.

HTTPS

Once the certificate step passes, your website is served over HTTPS with a certificate we request and renew for you. You do not buy, install or renew anything; keep the certificate CNAME from step two in your DNS so the certificate can remain managed automatically.

Assigning it to a website

A verified domain is not serving anything until it is attached to a website and that website is published. Attach it from the Domains screen, then publish.

Verify the domain: all three steps green.
Assign it to the website you want it to serve.
Publish that website.

Renewals and expiry

A domain you bought through Instantsite shows its expiry date and its auto-renew setting on the Domains screen. With auto-renew off, an expired domain stops resolving and your website becomes unreachable at that address. The website itself is untouched, and an Instantsite address still works.

If verification will not pass

The record type matches the dashboard exactly. A record created with a different DNS type will not verify.
The Host / Name is correct. Some providers append your domain automatically; follow the shorter-host hint shown in the dashboard when it appears.
There is no older, conflicting record of the same type on the same host.
You have waited long enough for the change to spread.

Still stuck? Troubleshooting publishing and domains covers the specific failures, and support can look at your domain with you.