Open your site, go to Settings › General › Domain and click Connect domain. Dotsy shows the DNS records to add at the company that manages your domain, checks for them every 30 seconds, and sets up HTTPS for you once they appear.
You need a domain you already own (Dotsy doesn't sell domains) and a plan that includes custom domains: Core and up. Until then your site lives on its free yoursite.dotsy.site address. See pricing for how many sites each plan can put on your own domains.
Before you start
- Log in to the company where your domain's DNS is managed. That's usually where you bought it (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Porkbun, Cloudflare and so on).
- Decide which addresses you want:
example.com,www.example.com, or both. We recommend both: one becomes the Primary address and the other redirects to it.
Steps
- Open your site in the dashboard and go to Settings › General.
- Under Domain, click Connect domain and type your domain.
- Dotsy detects your DNS provider and shows the records to add, with Copy name and Copy value buttons. Usually that's a CNAME pointing at
custom.dotsy.site, plus a TXT record that proves you own the domain. - Add the records at your DNS provider and save. If your provider uses Cloudflare, set the record to DNS only (grey cloud), not Proxied.
- Go back to Dotsy. Each record turns to Found as Dotsy sees it. HTTPS usually follows within a few minutes; it can take up to 15.
- When you see Your domain is live, you're done. If you connected both addresses, pick the one you want with Make primary.
You can leave the page while it checks. Dotsy keeps watching and tells you when the domain is live.
Can Dotsy add the records for me?
Sometimes. If Dotsy offers Connect automatically (recommended) or Set up automatically, it can add the records at your provider for you, using your provider sign-in or an API key you paste in. This works for GoDaddy and Name.com API keys.
My provider won't accept a CNAME on the bare domain
Many providers don't allow a CNAME on @ (the bare example.com). Dotsy tells you which case you're in:
- The provider has ALIAS or ANAME. Namecheap, Porkbun, Gandi and Name.com, among others, call a root CNAME an ALIAS or ANAME. Choose that type for the
@record and use the same value. - The provider has no alternative. At GoDaddy, Route 53, DigitalOcean, IONOS, OVH, Hover, Bluehost and Network Solutions, Dotsy connects
www.example.comand asks you to forwardexample.comto it. With a GoDaddy API key, Dotsy can set up that forward (a permanent 301) for you.
FAQ
How long does it take?
Usually a few minutes after you save the records. DNS changes can take longer to spread at some providers; Dotsy keeps checking, so you don't need to stay on the page.
Do I need to buy an SSL certificate?
No. Dotsy sets up HTTPS for every connected address at no extra cost.
Will my email stop working?
No, as long as you only add the records Dotsy shows. Don't delete your MX records; they handle email and Dotsy never needs them.
I'm moving an existing site. Will my old links still work?
Yes, if your Dotsy pages keep the same paths. Read How do I move my existing website to Dotsy? before you switch the DNS.
Can I put several sites on one domain?
Each address (like www.example.com or shop.example.com) points at one Dotsy site. A site can have up to 4 addresses.