Custom domains: connect or buy one

A custom domain puts your live app at an address like pawsomewalks.com or app.yourcompany.com. You can connect a domain you already own, or buy a new one without leaving Phluffle. Either way, HTTPS is set up for you.

Pro Custom domains are part of Live Deploy, so you need Pro and a published app first.

#Where to find it

1. Open the prototype and click Live in the top bar (or Manage on its card in Live apps).
2. Find Custom domain in the Live dialog.
3. Choose Buy a domain or Use one you own.

#Connect a domain you own

1. Click Use one you own.
2. Type your domain, like yourcompany.com or app.yourcompany.com, and click Connect.
3. Phluffle shows "At the company where you bought the domain, add this record:" with the Type, Name and Value to use.
4. Sign in where you manage the domain's DNS (usually the company you bought it from) and add that record exactly as shown.

The record depends on the kind of domain:

Always copy the values from the dialog; they're specific to your app.

Tip If you already have a website on yourcompany.com, connect a subdomain like app.yourcompany.com instead, so your existing site keeps working.

#Wait for it to connect

Phluffle checks your DNS automatically every few minutes. Until it finds the record, the domain shows Waiting for DNS, with a note on what it found:

• "No DNS record found yet. Changes can take a few minutes, sometimes up to a few hours." The record hasn't shown up yet. Give it time.
• "It points somewhere else right now (…)." The domain has a record, but not the right one. Check for an old record with the same name and remove or change it.

Click Check now to check straight away. When it works, the status changes to Connected and HTTPS is set up automatically.

#Buy a domain in Phluffle

1. Click Buy a domain.
2. Type a name, like pawsomewalks or pawsomewalks.com, and click Search.
3. Phluffle shows up to 8 options across endings such as .com, .co, .io, .app, .net, .org, .dev, .studio, .design and .shop, each with its price per year.
4. Click Buy next to the one you want.
5. Fill in the registrant details and tick the box to confirm them.
6. Click Continue to payment and pay on the secure checkout page.

Some names can't be bought here. Instead of a price, you'll see:

• Taken: someone already owns it.
• Premium name: the registry charges extra for it, and Phluffle doesn't sell those.
• Being bought right now: someone is in the middle of checking out with it.
• Not available here: Phluffle can't sell that one.

Every domain is "Registered in your name for a year with free WHOIS privacy, pointed at your app and HTTPS set up for you." Domains are paid for separately from your Pro plan and don't use credits.

#Your registrant details

Domains are registered to a real person or company, so registries require a name, address, phone number and email. You'll fill in:

• First name and Last name
• Company (optional)
• Street address, City, State / province, ZIP / postal code and Country
• Phone and Email

These details go to the registrar and are hidden from public WHOIS. You'll also confirm that they're your real details, that you'll own the domain, and that you agree to the registration agreement.

#After you pay

You don't need to add any DNS records. Phluffle registers the domain, points it at your app and connects it for you. The Live dialog shows "Registering {domain}…" while it works.

• It usually connects within a few minutes, occasionally up to an hour.
• You'll get an email, "{domain} is yours", when it's registered.
• If the registrar doesn't accept the order, you're refunded in full automatically and we email you. Refunds can take 5–10 days to show on your statement.

Once a domain is registered, its price isn't refundable.

#Renew a domain you bought

Domains bought in Phluffle are registered for one year and don't renew automatically.

• We email you about 30 days and again about 7 days before it expires, with a Renew for a year button.
• In the last 60 days, Renew for a year also appears under the domain in the Live dialog.

If a domain lapses, your app stays live at its .phluffle.app address, but the domain stops working and someone else could register it.

Good to know You own domains you buy here. To move one to another registrar, contact us and we'll send you the transfer code.

#What changes once a domain is connected

• Your app is on your domain, with HTTPS.
• It's still at its Phluffle address too, like pawsome-walks.phluffle.app. The Live apps card shows "also at" that address.
• Search engines are pointed to your domain, so the two addresses don't compete in search results. The SEO Optimizer updates this for you.

#Remove or change a domain

Click Remove domain in the Live dialog. The app goes back to just its Phluffle address, and you can connect a different domain.

Removing a domain you bought doesn't cancel it; you still own it until it expires. It appears under Use one you own, marked "yours, bought here", with a Use it button, so you can connect it to this app or another live app later.

#Troubleshooting

It says DNS changed. The domain was connected, but its DNS no longer points at your app. Someone may have edited the record at your DNS provider. Put the record from the dialog back, then click Check now.

It's been hours and it still says Waiting for DNS. Check the record for typos, make sure the Name is right (some providers add your domain automatically, so app becomes app.yourcompany.com), and remove any older record with the same name.

"That domain is already connected to another app." A domain can only be connected to one live app at a time. Remove it from the other app first.

#Related

• Publish your app with Live Deploy
• SEO Optimizer
• Plans and credits