How to use a custom domain for your publication

Every beehiiv account comes with a built-in beehiiv subdomain, giving your newsletter an instant home on the web. While a custom domain isn’t required, adding your own URL (like www.yousite.com) can offer a more personalized and professional presence.

This guide walks you through how to add and configure a custom domain to be used for your beehiiv publication. With a custom domain, you can:

• Use it as your web domain or redirect domain to host your publication.
• Set it as your email sending domain and branded link for newsletters.

beehiiv offers two ways to set up your custom domain:

• Entri Setup: A guided setup process compatible with many domain providers.
• Manual Setup: For advanced users familiar with managing DNS records directly.

The main steps to set up a domain are:

1. Add your custom domain to beehiiv: Enter your preferred domain or subdomain for your website, redirect URL, and email sending domains. 
2. Add your DNS records using Entri or Manual: Connect your domain by adding the required 12 DNS records (automatically generated for you).
3. (Optional) Set up branded links: If you are adding branded links, complete a quick two-step update to one of your DNS records following the instructions below. 
4. Go live with your domain: Once setup is complete, each domain status will update to Live in your dashboard.

This guide covers the entire custom domain setup process, from adding your domain information and connecting your DNS records (via Entri or Manual setup), to optionally setting up branded links and confirming your domain is live.

Click on the steps in the interactive image to explore them, or follow the written instructions below.

1. Click on Settings in the bottom left corner of your dashboard.
    
2. Your publication settings will open. If you have access to multiple publications, select the desired publication in the top left corner. Scroll down the left panel and click Domains.
    
3. On the right side, under Connect to an Existing Website Domain, click on the Set Up Custom Domain button. 
   
   
   

4. In the Configure web domain section, you'll see your built-in beehiiv subdomain in the Use field. To switch to a custom domain, go to Enable a new domain or subdomain and enter your custom domain in the field provided. 
   
   
   

5. In the Redirect web domain section, you can set an alternate URL, such as your root domain or another subdomain, to redirect users to your beehiiv site. 
   
   By default, the No redirect option is preselected. If you don’t need a redirect, simply click Next to continue.
   
   
   
6. (Optional) If you do want to add a redirect domain, click on one of the alternate options below. 

• Recommended: If you used a subdomain (like newsletter.domain.com) as your web domain, select Redirect your root domain to your website, then click Next.
• To use a different custom domain or subdomain, select Enable a new domain or subdomain, enter it, and click Next to proceed.
  
  
  

7. In the Configure email domain section, you can customize the sending email address that appears in your subscribers' inboxes. 
   
   Choose from: 

• Enable a new domain or subdomain
• Enable the same domain
• Use free beehiiv subdomain 

When selecting Enable a new domain or subdomain, you’ll need to enter your preferred email domain in the field provided. This field also allows you to enter an alternate custom domain or subdomain.

If you use your domain for regular email, we recommend you select Enable a new domain or subdomain and use a subdomain to ensure healthy deliverability.

Additionally, if you want to use the same sending domain you used on a different platform, enter that address here, but only if your sender reputation is strong and it’s no longer in use elsewhere.

After making your selection, click Next to continue.

8. In the Review and set up section, you’ll see a Summary of your selections. Double-check that everything looks correct, then click Finish Set Up to generate your DNS records. 
   
   If you need to make any corrections, click the Back button to adjust your entries before continuing.
   
   
   

You can set up a custom domain using one of two methods: the automated Entri Setup which supports many domain providers or a Manual Setup option.

The domain providers are listed alphabetically in the columns below. For the most up-to-date information about supported domain providers, please see Entri’s supported providers list.

Click on the steps in the interactive image to explore them, or follow the written instructions below.

1. From the popup, select the Set up with Entri option and click Proceed with Verification to view and copy your personalized DNS records.
   
   
   

2. A confirmation popup will appear. By choosing this option, you authorize Entri to configure DNS records with your domain provider on your behalf. Click Continue to proceed. 
   
   
   
3. Entri will analyze your domain and automatically identify your DNS provider.
   
   
   

4. You may be prompted to log in to your domain provider or enter a verification code sent to your email.
   
   Once verified, click Authorize with [your provider name] (e.g., Authorize with Cloudflare) to allow Entri to create your DNS records.

   Some providers may not require verification codes. You can continue without this step if not prompted.
   
   

   

5. Entri will automatically retrieve your domain information and configure all required DNS records. Once setup is complete, you’ll see a confirmation message that your [custom domain] is now configured. Click Done to return to the Domains page.
   
   
   
6. Back on the Domains page, you may see a badge labeled Entri Verification in Progress while the system completes setup.
   
   
   
   
   Once verification finishes, the badge will update to Live for your web domain. You can refresh the page to check progress.

7. While optional, we recommend setting up branded links during your initial domain configuration to help improve deliverability. Once Entri verification completes, the branded links badge will show Action Required, and a banner will appear at the top of the page prompting you to complete setup.
   
   Click the Action Required badge (or the link in the banner, if visible) to continue.
    
8. Branded Links setup is in two parts, the first of which you’ve already completed. In the popup, click on the Verify with Entri button to begin branded link setup.
   
   
   
9. A confirmation popup will appear. Click Continue. 
   
   
   

10. You may be prompted to log in to your domain provider or provide additional information to verify your domain provider account. Some providers may not require verification codes.
    
    
    
11. Entri will update your DNS record for branded links. When the update is complete, click Done to return to the Domains page.
    
    
    
    
    After returning to the Domains page, you may still see the setup banner briefly while verification finalizes. The banner will disappear once your branded link configuration is complete.

12. All beehiiv users on a custom domain are required to set up DMARC authentication. Follow this guide for full DMARC instructions. 

After your custom domain setup is complete, you can:

• Remove your domain at any time from the domain settings page.
• View and copy your DNS records for safekeeping or reference.
• Update your email username for your publication.
• Review our Custom Domain FAQs for additional troubleshooting tips.

Click on the steps in the interactive image to explore them, or follow the written instructions below.

1. From the popup, select the Set up Manually option and click Proceed with Verification to view and copy your personalized DNS records.
   
   
   

2. A new popup will display the DNS records needed to verify your domain ownership. Copy the TXT record shown and add it to your domain provider’s DNS settings.
   
   Highlight and copy each field — Type, Name, and Value — then paste them into your provider’s account.
   
   When you’ve added the record, click Verify to continue.
   
   
   

3. Click through the Web, Redirect, and Email tabs to view and copy the required DNS records. For each record, copy the Type, Name, and Value fields and paste them into your provider’s DNS settings.

After entering all records for a tab, click Verify to move to the next.

Once all records are added correctly, the Action required badge will update to Completed, and you’ll move to the next step.

While optional, we recommend setting up branded links during your initial domain configuration to help improve deliverability. Setting up branded links is a two-part process.

4. Branded link setup part 1: Copy both branded link records shown (each with Type, Name, and Value) and add them to your DNS provider.
   
   After adding them, click Verify. If the setup is correct, you’ll proceed to part 2.
   
   
   
5. If you return to the Domains page before proceeding to step 2, you may see a Configuring Email badge; this simply means beehiiv is still processing your branded link setup.
   
   Once ready, the badge will update to Action Required, and a banner at the top of the page will prompt you to continue.
   
   Click the Action Required badge (or the banner link, if visible).  
    
6. Branded link setup part 2: Copy the Value listed for the final CNAME record and paste it into your provider’s DNS settings. Click Verify to complete this step.

7. You’ll return to the Domains page. You may see a Configuring DNS badge while the update finalizes. Once complete, the Branded Links badge will show Live.

8. All beehiiv users on a custom domain are required to set up DMARC authentication. Follow this guide for full DMARC instructions. 

After your custom domain setup is complete, you can:

• Remove your domain at any time from the domain settings page.
• View and copy your DNS records for safekeeping or reference.
• Update your email username for your publication.
• Review our Custom Domain FAQs for additional troubleshooting tips below.