Objective
Your mission
Buy (or use) a domain, configure DNS, and verify the app is live on the custom domain with HTTPS. Output: domain_setup.md.
You need: A deployed app on Vercel or Netlify. A domain name (or willingness to buy one).
Time: 30 minutes (plus DNS propagation time).
Step 1: buy a domain name (5 min)
Domain registrars sell domain names:
- Namecheap — affordable, good interface, free WHOIS privacy
- Cloudflare — at-cost pricing, excellent DNS management
- Porkbun — affordable, free WHOIS privacy
Tips: .com is gold standard ($10-15/year). If taken, try .app, .io, .dev. Avoid hyphens/numbers.
Why custom domains matter
A custom domain does three things: (1) Professionalism — yourbrand.com looks more trustworthy than yourbrand-xyz.vercel.app. (2) Memorability — users can remember and type your domain. (3) Ownership — you own the domain. If Vercel changes their free tier, you still have the domain and can point it elsewhere. The $10/year investment is one of the highest-ROI decisions for a project.
Write in your file:
## Domain
Registrar: [Namecheap/Cloudflare/Porkbun/other]
Domain: [yourdomain.com]
Cost: [$X/year]
Step 2: add custom domain in vercel/netlify (3 min)
Vercel: Project Settings → Domains → "Add Domain" → enter your domain Netlify: Site Settings → Domain Management → "Add custom domain" → enter your domain
The platform shows you the DNS records to add.
Write in your file:
## Domain Added to Platform
Platform: [Vercel/Netlify]
Domain added: [yourdomain.com]
DNS records shown by platform: [list the records]
Step 3: configure DNS records (5 min)
Log in to your domain registrar → find DNS settings → add the records shown by Vercel/Netlify.
For apex domain (yourdomain.com):
Type: A (Vercel)
Name: @
Value: 76.76.21.21
OR
Type: CNAME (Netlify)
Name: @
Value: [your-site].netlify.app
For WWW subdomain (www.yourdomain.com):
Type: CNAME
Name: www
Value: [your-app].vercel.app (or [your-site].netlify.app)
Write in your file:
## DNS Records Configured
1. A record: @ → [value] — [added/already set]
2. CNAME record: www → [value] — [added/already set]
DNS provider: [registrar name]
Step 4: wait for DNS propagation (5 min)
DNS changes take 5 minutes to 48 hours to take effect worldwide. Most are live within 30 minutes.
Check propagation:
dig yourdomain.com
Or use an online DNS checker (e.g., whatsmydns.net).
Write in your file:
## DNS Propagation
Propagation started: [time]
DNS resolving correctly: [yes/no — checked with dig or online tool]
Time to propagate: [approximate]
Step 5: verify SSL (2 min)
Vercel and Netlify automatically provision free SSL certificates via Let's Encrypt. Once DNS is configured, the platform detects your domain and sets up HTTPS automatically — no purchase needed.
Visit https://yourdomain.com — should show the lock icon.
Write in your file:
## SSL Verification
HTTPS working: [yes/no]
Lock icon shown: [yes/no]
SSL auto-provisioned by platform: [yes/no]
Step 6: set up WWW vs. non-WWW redirect (5 min)
Add both yourdomain.com and www.yourdomain.com to the platform. Choose one as primary — the other redirects automatically.
Write in your file:
## WWW Redirect
Primary domain: [yourdomain.com or www.yourdomain.com]
Secondary redirects to primary: [yes/no]
Both URLs tested: [yes/no — both work?]
You've pointed your domain's DNS at Vercel, but the domain still shows the old site an hour later. What is the most likely explanation?
DNS changes take time to spread across resolvers. Check with dig or an online lookup; the platform provisions SSL itself once the records resolve.