How to Connect a Custom Domain to Your Online Store

To connect a custom domain to your online store, buy a domain from a registrar and add the DNS record your store platform gives you. That is usually an A record pointing at the platform's IP address, or a CNAME pointing at a hostname. Then wait for the platform to verify the record and issue an SSL certificate. Most of the work happens in your domain provider's DNS settings, and it usually takes minutes rather than hours.

Key takeaways

• A custom domain such as example.com or shop.example.com replaces the platform subdomain your store starts with.
• On OpenStock, you add an A record pointing at the platform IP shown in your dashboard. OpenStock then verifies DNS and provisions SSL automatically.
• If your DNS is on Cloudflare, set the record to DNS-only (grey cloud), otherwise SSL cannot be issued.
• Most failures come from a wrong IP, leftover records, conflicting AAAA records, or a proxied record.
• When moving domains, choose one canonical hostname and redirect old URLs where you can.

Subdomain vs custom domain

Most hosted store platforms give every store a free address on their own domain. On OpenStock, every store gets https://<store-slug>.openstock.io. This works immediately and needs no setup, which makes it ideal while you are testing products and payments.

A custom domain is an address you own, such as example.com. It has three practical advantages:

• Trust and branding. Buyers recognize your name, and links look like they belong to you.
• Portability. If you ever change platforms, you repoint the domain and your links keep working. This matters more than people expect; see our guide to Sellix alternatives for what a platform move involves.
• Consistency. One domain can serve your store, your docs and your support pages under the same name.

On OpenStock, custom domains are available on Silver and higher plans. On the Elite plan, OpenStock purchases the domain for you. Plan details are on the pricing page.

Buying a domain

You can buy a domain from any accredited registrar. When choosing one, a few things matter more than the first-year price:

• Renewal price. Promotional first-year pricing is common, so check what renewal costs.
• DNS editor. You need to be able to add and remove A, AAAA and CNAME records. Nearly every registrar supports this, but some interfaces are clearer than others.
• WHOIS privacy and account security. Turn on two-factor authentication. Losing control of your domain means losing control of your store's address.
• Auto-renew. An expired domain takes your store offline. Enable auto-renew and keep your payment method current.

Apex domain vs subdomain

You can connect either the apex (also called the root or naked domain), such as example.com, or a subdomain, such as shop.example.com.

• Use the apex if the domain exists only for your store. It is the shortest address to share.
• Use a subdomain if you already have a website, blog or landing page on the apex. Many sellers keep example.com for a marketing site and put the store at shop.example.com or store.example.com.

Either works on OpenStock. The only difference is the value you enter in the "Name" or "Host" field of the DNS record.

A records vs CNAME records

DNS records tell browsers where to find your domain. Two types matter here.

An A record maps a name directly to an IPv4 address. For example, "shop.example.com lives at this IP." A records work at the apex and on subdomains.

A CNAME record maps a name to another hostname. For example, "shop.example.com is an alias for stores.someplatform.com." Because of how DNS works, a standard CNAME cannot sit at the apex alongside the other records your domain needs. Some DNS providers offer workarounds called CNAME flattening or ALIAS records. A name cannot have both a CNAME and other records such as an A record at the same time.

There is also the AAAA record, which is the IPv6 equivalent of an A record. It matters mainly as a source of conflicts, covered in the troubleshooting section below.

OpenStock uses an A record, so the same instructions work whether you connect an apex domain or a subdomain.

How to connect a custom domain on OpenStock

The flow lives in your dashboard under the custom domain settings. If you are on the Free plan, you will be prompted to upgrade to Silver first.

Step 1: Enter your domain and choose a store

Type the domain you want to use, for example example.com or shop.example.com. If you paste a full URL, the dashboard strips https:// and any path. Then select the store you want to connect it to.

Step 2: Add the A record at your DNS provider

The dashboard shows the exact record to add:

Log in to wherever your DNS is managed. That is usually your registrar, or Cloudflare if you moved your nameservers there. Add the record exactly as shown. Copy the IP using the copy button in the dashboard rather than typing it by hand.

The Name/Host field is relative to your domain. Most providers use @ for the root and just the label (such as shop) for subdomains. If your domain uses a multi-part ending such as .co.uk, enter only the part before your registered domain, or @ for the root, according to your provider's conventions.

Step 3: If you use Cloudflare, switch the record to DNS-only

In Cloudflare, records can be "Proxied" (orange cloud) or "DNS only" (grey cloud). Set your store's A record to DNS only. When the record is proxied, visitors reach Cloudflare's IPs instead of OpenStock's, so OpenStock cannot verify the record or issue your SSL certificate. Cloudflare's documentation explains proxy status in more detail.

Step 4: Verify

Click "I've Added the Record". OpenStock checks your DNS automatically every 15 seconds for several minutes. If the record is not visible yet, the dashboard shows which IPs it found and which IP it expected. That makes it easy to spot a typo or an old record. You can also click "Check Now" to re-check immediately.

DNS changes usually propagate within a few minutes, but they can take up to 48 hours in some cases. If automatic checking stops before your record is visible, come back later and verify again.

Step 5: SSL and go live

Once DNS is verified, OpenStock connects the domain to your store and provisions an SSL certificate. The dashboard then shows the domain as verified, with SSL active. Your store is served over HTTPS at your domain. Connected domains are listed in the same screen, where you can also unlink them.

Troubleshooting

If verification does not pass, work through these causes in order. They account for most problems.

Wrong IP address

Compare the "found" IPs in the dashboard with the expected IP. A single wrong digit is enough to fail. Re-copy the value from the dashboard.

Old or duplicate records

Registrars often create default records for parking pages or site builders. If there is another A record for the same name pointing elsewhere, some visitors will reach the wrong server, and verification may see mixed results. Delete any A records for that name that do not point to the OpenStock IP. Also remove any CNAME on the same name, because a CNAME cannot coexist with an A record.

Conflicting AAAA records

If an AAAA (IPv6) record exists for the same name, visitors on IPv6 networks will be sent to that address instead. This can also interfere with certificate issuance. Unless you were specifically told to keep it, remove AAAA records for the hostname you are connecting.

Proxied records

On Cloudflare or any similar proxy service, a proxied record hides the real IP. Switch it to DNS-only. You will see this quickly in the dashboard, because the found IPs will not match the expected one.

TTL and caching

TTL (time to live) tells resolvers how long to cache a record. If an old record had a long TTL, some networks may keep serving it until the TTL expires. You cannot speed this up retroactively. If you are planning a move, lower the TTL on the existing record a day ahead so the switch takes effect faster. Your own computer and browser may also cache DNS, so test from a different network or a phone on mobile data.

Nameservers point somewhere else

If you edit DNS at your registrar but your nameservers point to another provider, such as Cloudflare or an old host, your changes have no effect. Make the change wherever the nameservers point.

SEO considerations when moving domains

If your store already has traffic on a platform subdomain or another domain, a move needs a little care to protect search visibility and existing links.

• Choose one canonical hostname. Decide whether your store lives at example.com, www.example.com or shop.example.com, and use that everywhere. Search engines treat these as different sites.
• Redirect old URLs where you control them. If you are leaving a domain you own, set up permanent (301) redirects from old URLs to the matching new ones, not just to the home page. Google's guidance on site moves with URL changes is a good reference.
• Update your links. Change the store link in your Discord server, bot messages, social profiles and any embedded checkout pages.
• Fill in product SEO fields. OpenStock has a per-product SEO tab. Moving domains is a good moment to review titles and descriptions.
• Verify the new domain in search tools such as Google Search Console, and keep any old domain registered so old links do not break.

For the bigger picture of setting up a store, read how to sell digital products online. If you are still choosing gateways, see payment methods for digital products. Platform reference material is in the docs, and the full feature list is on the features page.

If you do not have a store yet, you can create an OpenStock account, set it up on the free subdomain, and add a custom domain once you upgrade.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take for a custom domain to work?

DNS changes usually propagate within a few minutes, but they can take up to 48 hours. On OpenStock, verification runs automatically after you add the record. Once DNS is verified, the domain is connected and an SSL certificate is provisioned.

Should I use an A record or a CNAME for my store?

Use whatever your platform specifies. OpenStock uses an A record pointing at the platform IP shown in your dashboard, which works for both apex domains and subdomains. A standard CNAME cannot be used at the apex alongside other records, which is one reason A records are common for root domains.

Why is my domain not verifying on OpenStock?

The most common causes are a typo in the IP, an old A or CNAME record for the same name, an AAAA record sending IPv6 traffic elsewhere, or a Cloudflare record left in proxied (orange cloud) mode. The dashboard shows the IPs it found compared with the expected IP, which usually points to the problem.

Do I need to buy an SSL certificate?

No. After OpenStock verifies your DNS, it provisions SSL for the domain automatically. If you use Cloudflare, the record must be DNS-only (grey cloud) for SSL to be issued.

Which OpenStock plans include custom domains?

Custom domains are available on Silver, Gold, Emerald and Elite. On Silver through Emerald, you link a domain you own. On Elite, OpenStock purchases the domain for you. The Free plan uses the store's openstock.io subdomain.

Will changing my store's domain hurt SEO?

A domain change can cause a temporary dip, but careful handling limits the impact. Pick one canonical hostname, use permanent redirects from old URLs you control to the matching new URLs, update links everywhere, and monitor the new domain in search tools after the switch.