Updated: Oct 22, 2024
How to add and configure custom domains
When to use a custom domain
All beehiiv accounts are ready to roll with a built-in beehiiv subdomain where your newsletter can live online. So while you certainly don’t need a custom domain (like your own website) to use with beehiiv, we'll show you how to add and set one up should you want to.
This article will guide you through adding custom domains to your beehiiv publication so that they can be used as a Web Domain and/or Redirect Domain where your publication will live online, as well as an Email Domain to be used to send your beehiiv newsletter.
Tech Note: beehiiv accounts who are using or plan to be using a custom domain must also set up DMARC authentication as an added layer of security. Refer to this article for instructions on setting DMARC up for your account.
We’ve broken the process down into the 4 sections below the video, simply click each to reveal the instructions.
Configuring custom domains video tutorial
Disclaimer: The beehiiv platform has been updated since this video was recorded, so some parts of the user interface may look different from your current account view. Specifically, for section A, please refer to written steps 4-6, as they differ from what's shown in the video.
How to add and configure custom domains
- From the left hand panel in your account, go to Settings > Publication > then click on the Domains tab found up top.
-
Scroll down to the Verified Domains section and click on Add Custom Domain.
-
Enter your custom domain URL and click on Add Domain.
- After adding a domain, the verification process will be activated. Click the Back button on the domain form to exit.
- Under Verified Domains, the newly added domain will appear as "Verifying." Click the three-dot icon next to the domain name and select Verify from the dropdown. You can also choose to Remove the custom domain from this menu if needed.
-
The right panel will open with your custom TXT record for you to add to the DNS records of your domain. Keep this tab open for easy reference.
- In a separate tab, log into the domain host and navigate to the DNS records, then refer back to your beehiiv tab to add the TXT record to the DNS records. Be sure to save the new addition.
- Once you've added your TXT record to your DNS records, refer back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify.
-
If all is correct, you will see ‘Verified’ next to a green checkmark icon under that particular domain. Congrats! 🎉
- From the Domains tab in your beehiiv account, scroll down to the Web Domain section and click on Select Custom Web Domain.
-
Select a domain from the dropdown list of already Verified Domains that you'd like to be your Web Domain.
-
Click on Configure Domain to confirm.
-
You’ll be prompted to Verify Domain Configuration and should follow the instructions in the box that pops up.
If you’re adding a root domain (yoursite.com for example) as the Web Domain, then it will provide you with this A record.
Type: A
Name: @
Value/Data: 104.16.243.55
If you’re adding a subdomain (www.yoursite.com for example) as the Web Domain, then it will provide you with this CNAME record.
Type: CNAME
Name: subdomain of your choosing (i.e. www, blog, newsletter)
Value/Data: cname.beehiiv.com
Note: If you have an existing website, you will want to use a subdomain for your beehiiv site, so that your existing website is not disrupted when you set up your DNS records.
- In a separate tab or window, log into your domain host and navigate to your DNS records, then refer back to your beehiiv tab to add either the A record or the CNAME record that you were provided to your DNS records.
-
Refer back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify Setup.
- If all is correct, then your domain will be verified, and you will see the green success checkmark under your Web Domain. Congrats! 🎉
Now that you have added one or more custom domains to your account, you can configure one to use as a Web Domain where your beehiiv publications will live.
- From the Domains tab in your beehiiv account, scroll down to the Redirect Domain section and click on Select Custom Redirect Domain.
-
Choose an option from your Verified Domains and click Configure Domain.
-
You’ll be prompted to Verify Domain Configuration and should follow the instructions in the box that pops up.
If you’re adding a root domain (yoursite.com for example) as the Redirect Domain, then it will provide you with this A record that you will need to add to your DNS records.
Type: A
Name: @
Value/Data: 104.16.243.55
Or, if you’re adding a subdomain (www.yoursite.com for example) as the Redirect Domain, then it will provide you with this CNAME record that you will need to add to your DNS records.
Type: CNAME
Name: subdomain of your choosing (i.e. www, blog, newsletter)
Value/Data: cname.beehiiv.com
- In a separate tab or window, log into your domain host and navigate to your DNS records, then refer back to your beehiiv tab to add either the A record or the CNAME record that you were provided to your DNS records.
-
Go back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify Setup.
- If all is correct, then your domain will be verified, and you will see the green success checkmark under your Redirect Domain. Congrats! 🎉
- From the Domains tab in your beehiiv account, scroll down to the Email Domain section and click on Select Custom Email Domain
-
Select a domain from the dropdown list of already Verified Domains that you'd like to be your Email Domain.
-
Click on Configure Domain to confirm.
-
Click on the three dots and select Verify.
-
You will then be provided with 3 CNAME records that you will need to add to your DNS account to verify for sending.
- In a separate tab or window, log into your domain host and navigate to your DNS records, then refer back to your beehiiv tab to add the CNAME records that you were provided to your DNS records. Be sure to save the new addition.
- Go back to your beehiiv account page and click on Verify Setup.
-
Once verified, you’ll see the green checkmark confirming your email domain is ready. Congrats! 🎉
- Under your verified Email Domain, click on Update Email to change your email username.
-
Type in the name you’d like to use for the “from” emails that your subscribers will see. Click on Confirm to verify.
-
Your Email Username is now set up for sending and your username is set. Congrats! 🎉
A. Verify a custom domain
(Optional) If you like to add additional domains that you may use as either a Web, Email, or Redirect Domain, you can click the Add Custom Domain button and repeat the process.
Tech Note: A new custom domain site (or any beehiiv site) defaults to the Signup Page when there are no published posts or content on your Home Page. This happens because there isn’t any live content available. Once you publish a post, visitors and subscribers will be directed to your designated Home Page.
B. Configure a Web Domain
Tech Note: It can take up to 24 hours to propagate a new DNS record. During this time, your beehiiv account might show the status as 'Verifying Configuration' which means that you may need to wait. If you have fully set up a custom domain and are still experiencing issues after 24 hours, we recommend taking a full screenshot of your DNS records. Then, head to the Help page in your account to submit a support ticket or ask our chatbot, Buzz, for further assistance.
C. Configure a Redirect Domain
Now that you have added one or more custom domains to your account, you can configure one to use as a Redirect Domain.
D. Configure an Email Domain
Now that you have added one or more custom domains to your account, you can configure one to use as your Email Domain.
Option to update your email username
You will automatically be assigned a working email username for your publication but you have the option to change this. It will be the email address that your subscribers will see your newsletters being sent from.