Connecting a Custom Domain to Your Site (Nameserver vs. CNAME)

When you are ready to take your website live on ZipWP Cloud, you will need to connect your custom domain (e.g., yourbusiness.com) to replace the temporary staging URL. ZipWP Cloud supports two methods: Nameservers and CNAME..

This article explains both methods, when to use each one, and how to set them up.

What is a Nameserver Connection?

A nameserver connection points your entire domain to ZipWP Cloud. Once updated, ZipWP automatically manages all DNS records for your domain.

Benefits

• Simplest setup — just update your nameservers once and you are done.
• Faster propagation
• No need to manually configure additional DNS records.
• Fully secure and safe

When to Use

Choose this method if you want ZipWP Cloud to handle all your DNS needs. It is the recommended option for most users.

Already have existing DNS records?

No problem. If you currently use email hosting, TXT verification records, or other DNS settings, simply copy those records before switching nameservers. Once your domain is connected to ZipWP, you can re-add them directly in ZipWP’s DNS manager so everything keeps working smoothly.

How to set up

• Simply copy your existing records before switching nameservers
• Log in to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains).
• Navigate to the DNS or Nameserver settings for your domain.
• Replace the existing nameservers with:
  ns1.zipwpcloud.com
ns2.zipwpcloud.com
• Save your changes.
• Return to your ZipWP dashboard and click Verify Domain.
• Once your domain is connected to ZipWP, you can re-add those records directly in ZipWP’s DNS manager.

This way, you keep everything working smoothly without giving up the convenience of managing your site in one place.

What is a CNAME Connection?

A CNAME connection points only your website to ZipWP Cloud, while your domain’s nameservers remain with your current provider. All other DNS records (email, apps, third-party tools) continue to be managed where they are.

Benefits

• Keeps all your existing DNS management in place.
• Ideal if your domain is tied to services like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or Cloudflare.

When to Use

• You already have complex DNS configurations.
• You prefer to keep DNS management outside ZipWP.

How to set up

• Log in to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains).
• Go to the DNS settings or DNS management section.
• In your ZipWP dashboard, click on the domain you want to connect. This will display the unique CNAME record values specific to your site.
• Add a new CNAME record with the values shown:
  • Hostname → (your root domain, depending on what ZipWP shows)
  • Points to → (the unique value generated by ZipWP, e.g., xxxxxx.zipwpcloud.com)
  • TTL → 300 (or leave the default if your registrar does not allow changes)
• Save your changes.
• Return to your ZipWP dashboard and click Verify Domain to complete the connection.

Note: The Hostname and Points to values are unique per site and only appear in your ZipWP dashboard once you click on the domain. Always copy those exact values to avoid errors.

Verifying Your Domain

Once you have updated your DNS settings, ZipWP Cloud handles the rest automatically. Your domain is verified, SSL is provisioned, and your site goes live.

• Nameserver method — Everything is handled automatically after the nameservers are updated.
• CNAME method — Verification is automatic once the CNAME record is correctly added.

DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to propagate globally, though they often complete much sooner.

Troubleshooting

If your site is not live after 48 hours, try the following:

• Check your DNS records — Make sure the values match exactly what is shown in your ZipWP dashboard, and remove any conflicting A or CNAME records
• Check propagation status — Use a tool like WhatsMyDNS to confirm your records have updated globally.
• Still not working? — Reach out to ZipWP Support and we will be happy to help.

Summary

We hope this guide helped you out and made connecting your custom domain to ZipWP Cloud a little easier.

Whether you choose the simplicity of Nameservers or the flexibility of CNAME, connecting your domain to ZipWP Cloud is a straightforward process. Both methods are secure and fully supported.

If you run into any issues or have questions along the way, do not hesitate to contact ZipWP Support. We are always here to help.