# Custom domain

> The community answers on a Memberfy subdomain or on a domain of your own. How to choose, how to request it, the DNS record, what changes for members and what to watch out for when switching.

Every community answers at an address, and that's how the platform knows which community to show. It can be a Memberfy subdomain or a domain of your own.

| | Example | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Memberfy subdomain | `excelschool.memberfy.net` | To get started quickly, without touching DNS |
| Custom domain | `community.excelschool.com` | To keep the community at your brand's address |

## What it's for

- **The whole brand is yours**: people see your address, not another company's.
- **The link is easier to remember and to trust**: `community.yourcompany.com` says whose it is.
- **The platform's emails** point to your address.

## How it works

### Subdomain or root domain

Prefer a **subdomain** of your domain (`community.yourcompany.com`, `members.yourcompany.com`): the company website stays where it is, at `yourcompany.com`, and the community gets its own address.

### The DNS record

For the domain to answer on Memberfy, it points to the platform with a **CNAME** record at your domain provider (Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Registro.br…). The Memberfy team gives you the exact target, because it is unique to each domain.

### The certificate

The platform issues the domain's HTTPS certificate once the record is pointed. It can take a few hours after DNS propagates.

### One community, one domain

Each domain leads to a single community. Two addresses can't lead ambiguously to the same community, and two communities can't use the same domain.

## Step by step

*Role: owner.*

1. **Choose the address**: preferably a subdomain, like `community.yourcompany.com`.
2. **Ask the Memberfy team**, through the contact email, telling them the address.
3. **Create the CNAME record** the team gives you, at your domain provider.
4. **Wait for propagation** (from minutes to a few hours) and for the certificate.
5. **Check it**: open the new address; the community opens with the HTTPS padlock.
6. **Tell your members** and update the links you've shared.

The **Domain** field in **Settings › General** shows the current address. Don't change it yourself: the community will only answer at the new address.

## What changes for members

| | |
|---|---|
| **The address** | Old links stop leading to the community: update whatever you've shared |
| **Sign-in** | Stays the same: email and password |
| **Emails** | Start pointing to the new address |
| **The link preview** | Can take a few hours to update in apps |

## Frequently asked questions

**Can I use the root domain (`yourcompany.com`)?**
It's possible, but the company website goes offline at that address. Prefer a subdomain.

**I use Cloudflare. Do I need anything special?**
Create the CNAME as the team tells you.

**How much does it cost?**
Memberfy doesn't charge for a custom domain; the domain itself comes from your provider.

**Can I go back to the Memberfy subdomain?**
Yes, by arranging it with the team.

## Related

- [General settings](/configuracoes/configuracoes-gerais)
- [How to get your community](/primeiros-passos/como-ter-sua-comunidade)