Custom Domains & DNS

A custom domain is your own web address (like yourbusiness.com) instead of the free Kite address that ends in .kite.space. Connecting one makes your site look professional and easy to remember. This section walks you through everything from your first connection to fixing a domain that isn't behaving.

What is a custom domain?

When you build a site with Kite, it's published to a free address such as your-site.kite.space. A custom domain lets visitors reach that same site at a name you own, such as www.yourbusiness.com. You buy or already own the domain from a registrar (the company you bought it from, like GoDaddy or Squarespace), and then you point it at Kite using DNS settings.

What is DNS?

DNS (Domain Name System) is like the internet's phone book. It tells browsers which server to load when someone types your domain. Connecting a domain to Kite means adding a couple of DNS records so your domain points to Kite's servers.

Before you start

A few things need to be true before you can connect a custom domain:

1. You must publish your site first. A custom domain points to a published site, so there has to be something live to point at. See How to publish.
2. Connecting a custom domain requires a paid plan. Free sites use the .kite.space address only. See Plans & trial.
3. You need access to your domain's DNS settings — either through the one-click flow or by logging in to your registrar.

You don't have to buy your domain from Kite

It doesn't matter where you bought your domain. What matters is that its DNS points to Kite. See Connect a domain from your registrar.

Articles in this section

• Connect a Custom Domain — the core how-to, covering both the one-click Entri flow and manual DNS setup.
• Connect a Domain from Your Registrar — where to find DNS settings at Squarespace, GoDaddy, Namecheap, OVH, Google Domains, Cloudflare, and more.
• www vs. Root Domain (and SSL) — choosing a primary address and avoiding "Connection Not Private" warnings.
• Transferring a Domain & Keeping Your Email — what happens to your registrar and your email when you connect to Kite.
• Move, Switch, or Reuse a Domain Across Sites — changing which site a domain points to.
• Troubleshoot a Connected Domain — fixes for 404s, old sites showing, SSL errors, and more.