Jan 7, 2026
Why a Custom Domain Matters
Every Framer site starts on a framer.app subdomain — something like yourproject.framer.app. It works for testing and development, but if you're launching a real website, a custom domain is non-negotiable.
A custom domain builds brand credibility. Visitors trust a site on yourbrand.com far more than one on a generic subdomain. It also matters for SEO — search engines treat custom domains as a stronger signal of authority compared to subdomains on shared platforms. And once you start building backlinks and organic traffic, those are tied to your domain. Owning it means you control your online presence long-term.
As of January 2026, Framer now offers free custom domains on paid plans, making it even easier to get a professional web address without leaving the platform.
Framer's Free Custom Domain Option
One of Framer's most notable 2026 updates is the inclusion of a free .com domain with Basic plans and above. Previously, you had to purchase a domain separately from a registrar like Namecheap or GoDaddy and then connect it manually.
Now, when you upgrade to a paid plan, Framer lets you search for and claim a domain directly from the Framer dashboard. If the .com you want is available, Framer registers it for you at no extra cost — the registration and annual renewal are included in your subscription.
To claim a free domain through Framer, open your project settings, navigate to the "Custom Domain" section, search for your desired domain, and if it's available, click to claim it. Framer handles the DNS configuration automatically — no manual setup required.
This is the simplest path to a custom domain if you're starting fresh. But if you already own a domain or want a specific TLD that isn't available through Framer's free offering, you'll need to connect it manually.
How to Connect a Domain You Already Own
If you purchased your domain from a registrar like Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, or Google Domains, connecting it to Framer requires updating your DNS records. Here's the step-by-step process.
Step 1: Add Your Domain in Framer
Open your Framer project and go to Site Settings → Custom Domain. Click "Add Custom Domain" and enter the domain you own — for example, yourbrand.com. Framer will display the DNS records you need to add at your domain registrar.
Step 2: Update DNS Records at Your Registrar
Log into your domain registrar's dashboard and navigate to the DNS management section. You'll need to add two types of records:
A Record: This points your root domain (yourbrand.com) to Framer's servers. Set the host/name to @ (which represents your root domain) and enter the IP address Framer provides.
CNAME Record: This points the www version (www.yourbrand.com) to Framer. Set the host/name to www and the value to the CNAME target Framer provides.
The exact steps vary by registrar, so here's a quick breakdown for the most popular ones.
Namecheap
Log in to Namecheap, go to Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS. Delete any existing A records for @ and any CNAME records for www. Add the new A record with host @ and the IP from Framer. Add the new CNAME record with host www and the target from Framer. Click save and wait for propagation.
GoDaddy
Log in to GoDaddy, navigate to My Products → DNS for your domain. Edit or add the A record for @ with Framer's IP address. Edit or add the CNAME record for www with Framer's CNAME target. Save changes.
Cloudflare
Log in to Cloudflare, select your domain, and go to DNS → Records. Add an A record for @ with Framer's IP. Add a CNAME for www with Framer's target. Important: set the proxy status to "DNS only" (gray cloud) rather than "Proxied" (orange cloud). Framer handles SSL and caching, so Cloudflare's proxy can interfere with the connection.
Google Domains
Log in to Google Domains, select your domain, and go to DNS → Custom Records. Add the A record for @ and the CNAME for www with the values from Framer. Save and wait for propagation.
Step 3: Wait for DNS Propagation
DNS propagation is the time it takes for your updated records to spread across the internet's DNS servers. This typically takes anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours, though most updates complete within 1-4 hours.
During propagation, your domain might work intermittently — loading your Framer site sometimes and showing an error other times. This is normal. Don't change your DNS records during this period, as that resets the propagation clock.
Step 4: Verify in Framer
Once propagation is complete, go back to your Framer project's Custom Domain settings. Framer will automatically detect that the DNS records are configured correctly and show a green checkmark next to your domain. Your site is now live on your custom domain.
SSL Certificates and HTTPS
One thing you don't need to worry about is SSL certificates. Framer automatically provisions and renews SSL certificates for every custom domain connected to the platform. Your site will serve over HTTPS by default, which is essential for both security and SEO — Google uses HTTPS as a ranking signal.
There's no manual setup, no certificate renewals to track, and no extra cost. This is a significant advantage over platforms like WordPress where SSL setup can be a headache depending on your hosting provider.
WWW vs Non-WWW Configuration
When connecting your domain, you'll need to decide whether your primary domain is yourbrand.com (non-www) or www.yourbrand.com (www). Framer lets you choose which is the primary version and automatically redirects the other to your chosen primary.
From an SEO perspective, it doesn't matter which you choose — Google treats them equally. The important thing is picking one and being consistent. Most modern brands use the non-www version (yourbrand.com) because it's cleaner and shorter.
When you set up both the A record and CNAME record as described above, Framer handles the redirect automatically. Visitors who type www.yourbrand.com will be seamlessly redirected to yourbrand.com (or vice versa, depending on your preference).
Setting Up Subdomains
Subdomains let you run separate sections of your site on different addresses — like blog.yourbrand.com or shop.yourbrand.com. In Framer, you can connect subdomains to separate Framer projects.
To set up a subdomain, create a new CNAME record at your domain registrar. Set the host/name to your desired subdomain (e.g., "blog") and point it to the CNAME target Framer provides. Then add that subdomain in the new Framer project's custom domain settings.
Keep in mind that from an SEO perspective, subdomains are treated as separate websites by Google. If you want your blog content to contribute to your main domain's authority, it's usually better to use a subfolder structure (yourbrand.com/blog) rather than a subdomain (blog.yourbrand.com). Framer's built-in CMS makes subfolder blogs straightforward — our Framer SEO guide covers this in detail.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Domain Not Connecting After 48 Hours
If your domain still isn't working after 48 hours, double-check your DNS records for typos. The most common mistake is entering the wrong IP address for the A record or adding a trailing period to the CNAME target. Also verify that you've deleted any conflicting records — old A records pointing to a previous hosting provider will interfere with the connection.
ERR_TOO_MANY_REDIRECTS
This usually happens when you're using Cloudflare with the proxy enabled (orange cloud). Switch to "DNS only" (gray cloud) for both the A record and CNAME record. Framer provides its own SSL and CDN, so Cloudflare's proxy creates a redirect loop.
"Domain Already in Use" Error
If Framer says your domain is already connected to another project, you'll need to remove it from the other project first. If you don't have access to that project, contact Framer support for help releasing the domain.
Site Loads But Shows Wrong Content
This typically means DNS is still propagating and you're seeing cached content from a previous hosting provider. Clear your browser cache, try an incognito window, or test from a different device. You can also use a tool like whatsmydns.net to check whether your DNS records have propagated globally.
Email Stopped Working After DNS Changes
If you have email configured on your domain (like hello@yourbrand.com through Google Workspace or another provider), be careful not to delete your MX records when updating DNS. Only modify the A and CNAME records that Framer requires — leave your MX, TXT, and any other existing records untouched.
How Custom Domains Affect SEO
Connecting a custom domain is one of the first SEO steps you should take when launching a Framer site. Search engines associate authority with domains over time — every backlink, every piece of indexed content, and every positive user signal builds your domain's reputation.
Once your custom domain is connected, make sure you also set up proper meta titles and descriptions for every page, submit your sitemap to Google Search Console, and configure your site's basic SEO settings. Our complete Framer SEO guide walks through each of these steps.
Also worth noting: if you're migrating from another platform and changing domains, you'll want to set up 301 redirects from your old URLs to preserve any existing search rankings. Framer's Pro plan and above support site redirects, making this process manageable.
Best Practices for Choosing a Domain
If you're claiming a free domain through Framer or purchasing one from a registrar, keep these guidelines in mind.
Keep it short and memorable. The best domains are easy to type, easy to spell, and easy to remember. Avoid hyphens, numbers, and unusual spellings.
Match your brand name. Your domain should be your brand name or as close to it as possible. If yourbrand.com isn't available, consider yourbrand.co or getyourbrand.com before resorting to unrelated alternatives.
Stick with .com when possible. While alternative TLDs like .io, .co, and .design are perfectly valid, .com remains the most recognized and trusted extension. If Framer's free domain offering includes your desired .com, that's your best option.
Think long-term. Changing domains later is painful — you lose accumulated SEO authority and risk broken links across the web. Choose a domain you'll be happy with for years, not just for your current project.
A custom domain is the foundation of your online presence. Whether you claim a free one through Framer or connect your own, getting this set up early means every piece of content you publish and every link you earn starts building authority on a domain you own and control.
