How To Get Your Own Custom Domain

A domain is your address on the internet, like 'google.com' or 'amazon.com'. Using your own domain instead of a yourname.offeringtree.com address makes your site look more professional to your clients.

Custom domains are included on all subscription plans.

Where to start

In your admin site, go to Site Settings and select the Domains tab. From there you can either buy a domain from OfferingTree or connect one you already own.

Option 1: Buy a domain from OfferingTree

Search for the name you want and select it. There is a one-time $15 charge. We register the domain, set up its DNS and connect it to your site for you, and we will email you when it is live, usually within a day. After that we renew it for you each year for as long as your subscription is active.

Option 2: Use a domain you already own

Enter your domain and click Connect domain. If you leave off the www, we add it for you. You will then see the two DNS records to add at the company that manages your domain.

The CNAME sends www to your OfferingTree site. The A record sends your bare domain (without the www) to your www address. Some providers show the host for the A record as blank, as "root", or as your domain name rather than @.

If a record with the same host already exists, edit it rather than adding a second one. Most providers create www and @ records for you when you buy a domain, and two records on the same host will stop your site from working.

Once the records are saved, click Check my DNS. Your site usually goes live within a few minutes, though DNS changes can take a few hours to reach everyone. You do not need to contact us to finish the setup.

Instructions for your specific domain provider

The Connect screen detects who manages your domain and links you straight to the right guide. You can also browse them all here: Custom Domains help articles, with step-by-step instructions for GoDaddy, Squarespace, Wix, Namecheap, Name.com, Google Domains, Bluehost, HostGator, IONOS, Hover, Network Solutions, Cloudflare and many more.

Using Cloudflare? Set the www record to DNS only (grey cloud, not orange). If it stays proxied, visitors will see a Cloudflare error instead of your site.

Managing your DNS records

If your domain was bought through OfferingTree, or its DNS is hosted with us, the Domains page also lists your DNS records and lets you add, edit and delete them. The two records that point your domain at your site are marked "Managed by OfferingTree" and cannot be changed, so your site cannot be taken offline by accident. This is also where records for a custom email address live.

Add a second domain

You can have one more domain alongside your primary one. The second domain redirects visitors to your primary domain, so an older or alternative spelling of your name still reaches your site. Click Add another domain and either buy one or connect one you own, exactly as above.

Either domain can be the primary one. Use Make primary to swap them, and your site address changes to the new primary. Two domains is the limit, so remove the second one first if you want to use a different domain.

Still stuck?

Email us at support@offeringtree.com with your domain name and we will take a look.