How to Connect a Custom Domain
Make your landing page available at your own domain — whether it's a root domain like brand.com or a subdomain like list.brand.com
By default, your Waitlistly landing page is hosted at yourname.waitlistly.live. You can connect your own custom domain to make it look more professional. Waitlistly supports both root domains (e.g., brand.com) and subdomains (e.g., list.brand.com, waitlist.brand.com).
Before You Start
- You need a published Waitlistly page (deploy your page first)
- Access to your domain's DNS settings at your domain registrar or DNS provider (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, Google Domains, etc.)
- Know which type of domain you want to connect — see the two options below
1Go to Your Project's Deploy Settings
Navigate to your Dashboard, select your project, and go to the Deploy tab. You'll see a Custom Domain section.
2Enter Your Custom Domain
Type your domain into the Custom Domain field and click Add Domain. You can enter either:
- A root domain — e.g.,
brand.com - A subdomain — e.g.,
list.brand.comorwaitlist.brand.com
After clicking Add Domain, Waitlistly will show you the exact DNS records you need to add. Follow those instructions, or use the reference tables below.
3Configure DNS Records
Log in to your DNS provider and add the record that matches your domain type. The setup is different depending on whether you're connecting a subdomain or a root domain.
Option A: Subdomain
Use this if you're connecting something like list.brand.com, waitlist.brand.com, or join.brand.com
Add a CNAME record at your DNS provider:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | CNAME |
| Name / Host | list(your chosen subdomain prefix) |
| Target / Points to | cname.vercel-dns.com |
| TTL | Auto or 3600 |
Example: To connect list.brand.com, set Name to list and Target to cname.vercel-dns.com
Option B: Root Domain (Apex)
Use this if you're connecting your bare domain like brand.com (without any prefix)
Add an A record at your DNS provider:
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | A |
| Name / Host | @ |
| Value / Points to | 76.76.21.21 |
| TTL | Auto or 3600 |
Note: Some DNS providers use @ for the root, others leave the Name field blank. Check your provider's documentation if unsure.
Important Notes
- Remove conflicting records: If you already have an A, AAAA, or CNAME record for the same hostname, delete it before adding the new one. Duplicate records will cause conflicts.
- Only add one record type: For subdomains, add a CNAME only. For root domains, add an A record only. Don't add both.
- The exact values shown in your Waitlistly dashboard after adding the domain are the most accurate — always use those if they differ from this guide.
Using Cloudflare?
If your DNS is managed by Cloudflare, you must set the proxy status to "DNS only" (grey cloud icon) instead of "Proxied" (orange cloud). Cloudflare's proxy interferes with Vercel's SSL certificate provisioning.
To do this: Go to your Cloudflare DNS settings, find the record you just added, and click the orange cloud icon to toggle it to grey ("DNS only").
4Wait for DNS Propagation
DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate globally. In most cases, it takes about 5 to 30 minutes.
You can check whether your DNS records have propagated using dnschecker.org — search for your domain and check that the correct value appears.
- For subdomains: search your full subdomain (e.g.,
list.brand.com) and check the CNAME record showscname.vercel-dns.com - For root domains: search your domain (e.g.,
brand.com) and check the A record shows76.76.21.21
5Verify Your Domain
Once DNS has propagated, go back to your Waitlistly deploy settings and click "Verify Domain". The system will check that your DNS records are pointing correctly.
- Configured — DNS is pointing correctly. Your domain is live.
- Pending — DNS hasn't propagated yet. Wait and try again.
- Misconfigured — DNS records are incorrect. Double-check the values above.
You're All Set!
Your landing page is now accessible at your custom domain. SSL certificates are automatically provisioned by Vercel — no extra setup needed. It may take a few minutes after verification for HTTPS to become active.
Quick Reference
| Domain Type | Example | Record | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subdomain | list.brand.com | CNAME | list | cname.vercel-dns.com |
| Root domain | brand.com | A | @ | 76.76.21.21 |
Troubleshooting
Domain shows "Pending" after adding DNS records
DNS propagation can take up to 48 hours in rare cases. Most of the time it resolves within 30 minutes. Things to check:
- Verify the DNS record exists using dnschecker.org
- Make sure there are no conflicting records (e.g., an existing A record when you added a CNAME)
- If using Cloudflare, ensure proxy is set to "DNS only" (grey cloud)
- Some providers require a trailing dot on the CNAME target (e.g.,
cname.vercel-dns.com.) — try adding it if verification fails
Domain shows "Misconfigured"
This means DNS records exist but are pointing to the wrong place. Common causes:
- CNAME is pointing to something other than
cname.vercel-dns.com - A record is pointing to an IP other than
76.76.21.21 - You added a CNAME for a root domain (root domains need an A record, not CNAME)
- Multiple conflicting DNS records exist for the same hostname
Fix the records at your DNS provider, wait a few minutes for propagation, then click "Verify Domain" again.
SSL certificate errors / "Not Secure" warning
SSL certificates are provisioned automatically by Vercel after DNS is verified. If you see certificate warnings:
- Wait 5-10 minutes after verification — certificate generation is not instant
- If using Cloudflare, make sure the proxy is off (grey cloud / DNS only). Cloudflare's proxy conflicts with Vercel's SSL
- Try accessing the domain in an incognito/private window to rule out browser caching
- If the issue persists after an hour, remove the domain and re-add it
Can I use both brand.com and www.brand.com?
Waitlistly connects one domain per project. If you want brand.com to work, add it as your custom domain using an A record. To also have www.brand.com redirect to it, set up a redirect at your DNS provider or registrar — most providers offer URL forwarding from www to the root domain.
I added the wrong domain — how do I change it?
Go to your project's Deploy settings and click "Remove Domain" to disconnect the current domain. Then add the correct domain. Don't forget to update your DNS records to match the new domain.
Where do I find DNS settings for my provider?
- GoDaddy: My Products → DNS → Manage Zones → Search your domain
- Namecheap: Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS
- Cloudflare: Select your domain → DNS → Records
- Google Domains: My domains → Manage → DNS
- Route 53 (AWS): Hosted zones → Select your domain → Create record
Need More Help?
Contact us at hello@waitlistly.live