Vercel Custom Domains

Right now your Vercel project lives at something like your-project.vercel.app. Which works! But what if you want your OWN domain, something like myawesomesite.com? Let's set that up.

Why Use a Custom Domain?#

The default .vercel.app URL gets the job done. A custom domain is just better for a handful of reasons.

Looks Professional#

myportfolio.com looks a whole lot more legit than my-portfolio-abc123.vercel.app. If you're showing your work to potential employers or clients, a custom domain makes a good first impression.

Easier to Remember#

Custom domains are shorter and easier to remember. People can actually type your URL without having to look it up.

Brand Identity#

Your domain is part of your brand, and a custom one helps you plant your flag online.

You Own It#

You control a custom domain. Even if you leave Vercel someday, your domain comes with you. (Lowkey my favorite perk on this whole list.)

Where to Buy a Domain#

Before you can add a custom domain to Vercel, you have to own one. Here are some popular places to buy them.

• Vercel - Yes, Vercel sells domains too!
• Namecheap - Affordable and user-friendly
• Cloudflare - At-cost pricing, no markup

Prices bounce around, but a .com is pretty cheap per year. Watch the renewal price too, since some registrars charge more after year one.

Adding a Domain You Already Own#

Already got a domain from somewhere else? Here's how to hook it up to Vercel.

Step 1. Go to Your Project Settings#

Log in to Vercel, click on your project, then click the "Settings" tab.

Step 2. Find Domains Section#

In the left sidebar, click "Domains."

Step 3. Add Your Domain#

Type your domain name (like mysite.com) and click "Add."

Step 4. Configure DNS#

Vercel will show you the DNS records you need to add. There are two common ways to do it.

Option A. Use Vercel's nameservers

Vercel can manage your whole domain for you. You'll update your registrar to point at Vercel's nameservers. This is the easiest option.

Option B. Add specific records

Keep your current DNS provider and just add records that point to Vercel. Usually that means these two.

• An A record pointing to Vercel's IP
• A CNAME record for www

Step 5. Wait for Verification#

After you update DNS, Vercel checks the records. That can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on how fast the DNS updates spread.

Step 6. Done!#

Once it's verified, your custom domain is live. Go visit it and you'll see your Vercel project.

Understanding DNS Records#

DNS confuses basically everybody at first, so don't sweat it. Here's the simple version.

What is DNS?#

DNS is like a phone book for the internet. When someone types mysite.com, DNS tells their browser where to find your actual server.

A Records#

An "A" record points your domain to an IP address. It basically says "when someone looks for mysite.com, send them over here."

CNAME Records#

A CNAME is like a nickname. It says "for www.mysite.com, go look up this other name instead," and Vercel gives you the name to point it at.

Nameservers#

Nameservers are the source of truth for your domain's DNS. If you use Vercel's nameservers, Vercel controls all your DNS settings.

Automatic SSL Certificates#

This is one of my favorite things about Vercel. SSL certificates are automatic.

What is SSL?#

SSL (now called TLS) is what puts the padlock in your browser and the "https" in your URL. It encrypts the data going back and forth between your visitors and your site.

No Configuration Needed#

When you add a custom domain to Vercel, this happens on its own.

1. Vercel automatically requests an SSL certificate
2. The certificate is installed automatically
3. HTTPS just works

You don't lift a finger and you don't pay a dime extra.

Automatic Renewal#

SSL certificates expire after a while. Vercel renews them for you before that happens, so you'll never have to think about it.

Managing Multiple Domains#

Vercel lets you add more than one domain to a project. That comes in handy for a few things.

www and non-www#

You probably want both mysite.com and www.mysite.com to work. Vercel can redirect one to the other.

Different TLDs#

You could have mysite.com and mysite.io both pointing to the same project.

Subdomains#

You can add subdomains like blog.mysite.com or docs.mysite.com.

Domain Settings#

Inside your project's domain settings, you can set up a few things.

Redirect Rules#

Choose whether www.mysite.com redirects to mysite.com or the other way around.

Production Domain#

Got more than one domain? Pick which one is the "main" production domain.

Remove Domains#

If you don't want a domain connected anymore, you can remove it here.

Buying a Domain Through Vercel#

No domain yet? Vercel makes this part easy.

Step 1. Go to Domains#

In your project settings, click "Domains."

Step 2. Search for a Domain#

Type the domain you want. Vercel tells you if it's available and what it costs.

Step 3. Purchase#

If it's available, click "Buy" and go through checkout.

Step 4. Automatic Configuration#

Vercel connects the domain to your project automatically. Zero DNS setup needed!

Troubleshooting#

Domain Won't Verify#

• Make sure you typed the DNS records in EXACTLY as shown
• Wait longer, because DNS can take up to 48 hours
• Double-check you're editing the right domain at your registrar

Site Shows Wrong Content#

• Clear your browser cache
• Try a different browser or incognito mode
• Give DNS a bit more time to finish propagating

SSL Certificate Issues#

• This usually fixes itself within minutes
• If not, try removing and re-adding the domain
• Contact Vercel support if it keeps happening

TL;DR#

• Custom domains make your project look professional
• You can buy a domain through Vercel or use one you already own
• Vercel handles DNS setup when you use their nameservers
• SSL certificates are automatic and free
• DNS changes can take a while to spread

What's Next?#

Hey, you finished the Vercel chapter! Look at everything you can do now.

• Deploy projects from GitHub
• Use preview deployments for testing
• Configure environment variables
• Add serverless functions
• Connect custom domains

You're ready to put your projects out there for the whole world to see. In the next module we'll start adding the other pieces most apps need, starting with how people sign up and log in...