Set up a custom root domain

Last updated: September, 2026

This article will guide you through setting up a custom root domain in your community.

❗Important: Please note that by setting up a custom domain, you will lose Google, Facebook, and Twitter sign-in/sign-up options with Circle. Members using those sign-in methods can log in only if they have set a password for their Circle account.

If your members do not have a Circle account password, they can request a new one using this link: login.circle.so/users/password/new.

 ℹ️ If you are looking to set up a custom root domain hosted by Cloudflare in your community, see Set up a custom root domain hosted by Cloudflare.

To set up a custom root domain in your community, it's crucial to make sure that the CNAME records are correctly added to your domain host’s DNS settings.

Once you enter your domain in your community's custom domain settings, we provide the necessary CNAME record details to add to your domain host's DNS settings.

To get your CNAME record details:

1. Click the community name or logo (or the dropdown icon next to it) in the top-left corner and select Settings.

2. Scroll down to the Website section and select Custom domain.

3. In the Enter your custom domain field, add your domain.

   • ❗Important: Important: For root domain setup, you must add www before your domain in the Enter your custom domain field. For example, if your domain is community.com, you must enter www.community.com in the field.

4. Copy the Host/Name and Target/Value information displayed in the Set up a CNAME record in your DNS provider field.

5. See Step 2: Set up CNAME records in this article for the next steps.

   

In a separate browser window or on a browser tab, go to your domain host’s platform and set up a CNAME record.

When adding a CNAME record, transfer the exact Host/Name and Target/Value information copied from your community’s custom domain settings and paste it into the CNAME record editor to avoid errors.

💡 Tip: When you are adding a Host/Name for a CNAME record, most domain hosting platforms assume the domain link. Hence, you should only enter the www in the field unless it is required by your domain host to use the whole URL.

For example, when setting up www.community.com as a domain, you should only enter www in the Host/Name field when adding a CNAME record.

Please refer to the example of the properly set CNAME record in Google Domains.

Below are links to popular hosting platforms, along with guides for setting up a CNAME. If you don't see yours below, searching your platform along with the keyword CNAME should point you in the right direction.

• 101 Domains

• A2 Hosting

• Bluehost

• Cloudflare (please ensure that the Proxy status toggle is turned off for CNAME record) 

• DNSimple

• Dreamhost

• Godaddy

• Google Domains

• GreenGeeks

• Hostgator

• Hostinger

• Namecheap

• SiteGround

• Squarespace

• Westhost

• Wix

You can use CNAME lookup tools such as Mxtoolbox to test the CNAME record you just added. Successful CNAME setup shows a result (DNS Record found) similar to the one shown below. Once you confirm this, please follow the next step for the final setup.

💡 Tip: If your test shows a result DNS record not found, please go back to your CNAME record setup in the domain host’s DNS settings and ensure there are no typos. You can also reach out to your domain host’s support to get help in adding the record.

To confirm the custom domain set up in your community:

1. Click the community name or logo (or the dropdown icon next to it) in the top-left corner and select Settings.

2. Scroll down to the Website section and select Custom domain.

3. Make sure you have entered the domain with www at the beginning (e.g., www.domain.com) in the Enter your custom domain field.

4. Click Setup domain in the top-right corner.

5. Important: If your DNS already has CAA records, you will also need to add a new CAA record to successfully set up the custom domain in your community. Once you click Setup domain, it will automatically check and prompt you with an additional step if a new CAA record needs to be added to your DNS. For a detailed guide, see the section below.

If your DNS has Certification Authority Authorization (CAA) records set for any purpose, you will need to add a new CAA record to ensure the proper setup of the custom domain in your community. 

As per the details given in step 3 of your community’s custom domain page, add a new CAA record in your DNS:

1. Head to your DNS provider account and navigate to the area where you manage your DNS records.

2. Create a new DNS record and select CAA as the record type.

3. In the record editor, enter @ in the Host/Name field.

   • ℹ️ If your DNS provider doesn't support the use of @ in the Host/Name field, you can leave it empty.

4. In the Target/Value field, select issue and then enter the following value: “pki.goog”

   • ℹ️ If your DNS provider doesn't offer the option to choose issue, simply paste the entire value into the field: 0 issue “pki.goog”

5. Save the record.

Here is an example of adding a CAA record in Namecheap.

Here is an example of adding a CAA record in Google Domains.

Once the CAA records are added, navigate back to your community’s custom domain page, enter your domain, and click Setup domain again. Your domain will now show up in a pending status while we verify it on our end.

After your domain is verified, your custom domain status will become active, and all the default community links will auto-direct to the new domain.

Once your domain is active in the community, when you browse through your settings, spaces, and posts, all of those URLs will match the new domain URL 🎉

You can also test the redirect from your default community URL to your new domain by navigating to your community using the community URL.

For example, let’s assume:

• Your custom domain is www.domain.com.

• Your default community URL (Circle domain) is community.circle.so.

When you go to community.circle.so to access your community content, it will automatically redirect you to your new custom domain (www.domain.com)!

📚 To learn about how updating your domains affects the URLs and configurations, see Key things to consider before updating the custom domain section in the Updating custom domain to a different one.

Most domain hosting platforms provide default domain redirects for your root domain from non-www to www URL (e.g., domain.com to www.domain.com). This ensures that even when the user enters your domain URL in their browser without www, they will be taken to your custom root domain URL.

Once you have set up your domain, you can test this out in an incognito browser session.

❗If the non-www URL does not work, please refer to domain hosting documentation or contact their support to see if the option for domain redirect is available to you in your DNS settings.

In case your domain hosting platform does not support it, you can fix this by setting up your domain and a redirect in Cloudflare using a free account.

📚 To learn more about setting up a redirect using Cloudflare, see Create a redirect if your root domain is inaccessible without using WWW.

• Set up a custom subdomain

• Set up a custom root domain hosted by Cloudflare

• Removing custom domain