How to use a custom domain for your publication

Every beehiiv account comes with a built-in beehiiv subdomain, providing an instant online home for your newsletter. While a custom domain (like your own website URL) isn't required to use beehiiv, adding one can offer a more personalized and professional touch. This guide will show you how to add and configure a custom domain for your beehiiv publication.

With a custom domain, you can set it as your Web Domain or Redirect Domain for hosting your publication online, and/or use it as your Email Domain for sending newsletters. 

We offer 2 custom domain setup options:

• Entri Setup: A streamlined process compatible with many domain providers.
• Manual Setup: For advanced users familiar with managing DNS records.

This article will guide you through the initial steps to set up a custom domain. From there, you can follow the instructions for either the Entri or Manual Setup process. Finally, we’ll address common questions about using custom domains with beehiiv.

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How to get started setting up your custom domain

Click on the steps in the interactive image to review them, and/or view the written instructions below.

1. From the left panel Dashboard, scroll down and click on Settings.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Your publication settings will open. If you have multiple publications, select one from the dropdown options. Select Domains from the left panel.
   
   On the right side under Connect to an Existing Website Domain, click on the Set Up Custom Domain button.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. In the Configure Web Domain section, you'll see your built-in beehiiv subdomain in the Use field. To switch to a custom domain, select Enable a new domain or subdomain, then enter your custom domain in the field provided. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Pro Tip: We recommend using a subdomain as your Web Domain.
   
   This could be the www version of your custom domain, if you’re not using the URL for another website or this could be a subdomain like, newsletter (ie. newsletter.domain.com). The latter would be used in the instance where you’re using your custom domain for your personal/company website. 

    

4. In the Redirect Web Domain section, you can set an alternate URL, such as your root domain or another subdomain, to redirect users to your beehiiv site.
   
   By default, the No Redirect option is preselected.
   
   If you don’t need a redirect and only want to configure a Web Domain without adding a Redirect Web Domain, simply click Next to continue.
   
   
   
   
   
   
5. Otherwise, to set up a Redirect Domain, click on No Redirect to reveal alternate options.
   
   If you added a subdomain as the Web Domain, choose Redirect your root domain to your beehiiv website, then click Next to proceed.
   
   To add a different custom domain or subdomain, select Redirect something else. Enter the alternate domain or subdomain, then click Next to proceed.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Pro Tip: If you’re using a subdomain like newsletter (newsletter.domain.com) for your Web Domain, we’d suggest using a different subdomain as the redirect.
   
   In this instance, you wouldn’t want to use your root or www domain (if pointing at a different website) as the redirect URL. This needs to point to another URL that would redirect users back to your beehiiv site, so it could be something like news, blog, or another subdomain of your choosing.

    

6. In the Configure Email Domain section, you can customize the sending email address that appears in your subscribers' inboxes. Choose between: Enable a new domain or subdomain, Enable the same domain, or Use free beehiiv subdomain.
   
   If you choose Enable a new domain or subdomain, enter your preferred email address in the Domain field.
   
   
   Pro Tips: If you use your domain for regular email, we recommend you select Enable a new domain or subdomain and use a subdomain to ensure healthy deliverability.
   
   Additionally, if you’re wanting to use the same sending domain that you were using on a different platform, you can select Enable a new domain or subdomain and then enter the email address in the Domain section.
   
   Only do this, if your email address reputation is in good standing and isn’t also being used on another platform.
   After making your selection, click Next to continue.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. In the Review and Set Up section, you’ll see a Summary of your selections. Review this information, then click Finish Set Up to receive your DNS records. If you need to make any corrections, click on the Back button.
   
   
   

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Choose a domain setup method

You can set up a custom domain using one of two methods: the Entri Setup which supports many domain providers or a Manual Setup option.

Supported domain providers for Entri Setup

The domain providers are listed alphabetically in the 3 columns below. 

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How to use Entri to set up a custom domain

Click on the steps in the interactive image to review them, and/or view the written instructions below.

1. In the popup, select the Set up with Entri option and click Proceed with Verification to view and copy your personalized DNS records.
   
   
   
   
   
   Reminder: beehiiv has partnered with Entri to assist in setting up your DNS records. By selecting this option, you authorize Entri to configure your DNS records with your domain provider and agree to Entri's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
2. Another popup will appear to confirm your choice. Click Continue.
   
   
   
   
   
   
3. Entri will then analyze your domain and determine who your DNS provider is.
   
   
   
   
   
   

4. You’ll be prompted to log in to your DNS provider. Enter the Username and Password associated with your account, then click Continue.

   Note: In this example, we’re using a Namecheap domain.
   
   
   
   
   
   

5. Your domain provider may send a verification code to your email. Navigate to your inbox, copy the code, and enter it in the Enter code field. Once entered, click Continue.

   Tech Note: Some domain providers may not require a verification code to complete your DNS setup.
   
   
   
   
   
   
6. Entri will retrieve your information and configure your DNS records for you. Once the setup is complete, a confirmation message will appear stating that your custom domain is now configured. Click Done to finish.
   
   
   
   
   
   
7. After configuration, you’ll be redirected to your Domains page. A badge labeled Entri Verification in Progress may be present, this indicates that the verification process is still ongoing.
   
   
   
   
   
   When the process is complete, the badge will update to Live for both your Email and Web domains.
   
   
   
   
   
   
8. Finally, you’ll need to set up a DMARC record for your Email domain. Refer to our DMARC article for guidance on generating the record and completing the setup. Once the DMARC record is properly configured, the yellow banner will disappear.
   
   
   

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How to manually set up a custom domain

Click on the steps in the interactive image to review them, and/or view the written instructions below.

1. In the popup, select the Set up Manually option and click Proceed with Verification to view and copy your personalized DNS records.
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. A new popup will provide you with the DNS records needed for setup within your domain provider’s account.
   
   Click each tab — Web, Email, and/or Redirect — to view and copy the corresponding DNS records. To copy a record, simply highlight the text and copy it. Then, you can paste it into your domain provider account.
   
   After you've set up all of your records with your domain provider, click Verify Setup.
   
   Verification times may vary, and you might need to click the Verify Setup button again after setting it up with your domain provider. You can click the button once every 10 minutes, so simply check back after a short wait to confirm completion.
   
   
   
   
   
   Tech Note: If the popup closes and you're redirected to the main Domains page, click the 3 dots next to any domain option to open the dropdown menu. Then, select Verify to return to the popup.
   
   
   
3. Once your domain is verified, a checkmark (✓) will appear next to the domain type. When all are configured, click on Copy to Clipboard & Close to store your DNS records.
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. Once your setup is complete, a Live badge will appear next to the verified domains.
   
   
   
   
   
   Reminder: If you created an Email Domain, you'll also need to set up a DMARC record. You’ll receive a yellow notification prompting this action. For instructions on generating a DMARC record, refer to this article. The yellow banner will vanish after you have configured a DMARC record.

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Frequently asked questions about custom domains

Can I remove or delete a custom domain?

Yes, please refer to this article for instructions on how to remove a custom domain from your beehiiv account.

Why am I seeing this error message during my setup?

Error Example: Connecting this domain will overwrite your existing website on another provider.
The domain you entered has existing website hosting records. By connecting this domain you will overwrite the existing website and disable it.



If you run into this error, you’ll want to ensure the custom domain you're adding is available for use with your beehiiv site. If it's currently used for another website, it's best to set up a subdomain (like, news or blog). For example, using ‘blog’ would create a URL like blog.mywebsite.com. This way, your beehiiv site will be hosted on the subdomain without affecting your existing website.

Additionally, if you're repurposing an old website for beehiiv, clicking Finish Setup will overwrite your records if you use Entri. When using the Manual Setup option, make sure to remove any old website DNS records before adding the new ones.

Why won’t it accept the URL I entered for my domain?



If the Redirect Location field shows red and asks you to ‘Please enter a valid URL’ you’ll want to ensure there are no extra characters or spaces before or after the domain URL you entered. This can cause the system to not recognize the URL as valid. Double-check the URL to confirm it is correct and properly formatted.

Why am I stuck on Entri verification when I selected Manual?

If you're encountering this issue, try removing your domain and starting the process again. Please refer to this article for instructions on how to remove a custom domain from your beehiiv account.

Can I change the email username or web URL for my domain?
Yes, you can easily change your email username or web URL regardless of if you are using a verified domain or a beehiiv subdomain. Please refer to this article for instructions on changing the name, email username, or web URL of your publications.
Tech Note: Updating your email username or web URL will automatically update the other, as these fields are linked. This change will also update your publication URL and affect any existing links or backlinks.