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Connecting a custom domain to your store

Updated May 16, 2026

Connecting a Custom Domain to Your Store

By default, your Strawlo store lives at something like yourstore.strawlo.com. That works — it's fast, it has SSL, customers can reach it.

But at some point most merchants want their own domain. yourbrand.com prints better on receipts, looks cleaner on business cards, and is easier for customers to remember.

You can connect any domain you already own (or buy a new one) to your Strawlo store in about ten minutes. Here's how.

First — Will My Old Link Stop Working?

No. Your yourstore.strawlo.com link keeps working forever, even after you connect a custom domain. Both addresses point to the same store, so anything you've shared on WhatsApp, Instagram, or with customers stays live.

You don't have to "switch over" — you just gain a second, prettier address.

Before You Begin

You'll need:

  1. A Business+ plan. Custom domains are included on the Business+ plan at no extra cost.
  2. A domain name you own. Buy one from any registrar — they all work the same with Strawlo. See the list below.
  3. Access to your DNS settings at that registrar (just your login).

Step 1 — Buy a Domain (If You Don't Have One Yet)

A domain name usually costs $10–15 per year. These are the registrars we recommend:

  • Namecheap — cheap renewals, clean dashboard. Our top pick for most merchants.
  • Cloudflare Registrar — at-cost pricing (often the cheapest), and DNS setup is the easiest of any provider.
  • Porkbun — low prices, free WHOIS privacy and SSL included, fun branding.
  • Hostinger — popular in Ghana and West Africa, accepts mobile money in some regions.
  • GoDaddy — well-known, frequent promos on first-year prices.
  • Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains) — simple, reliable.

A few tips when picking a name:

  • Keep it short and memorable. kofifashion.com beats kofis-amazing-fashion-store.com.
  • Avoid hyphens and numbers if you can — they're hard to say out loud.
  • .com is still the most trusted. .shop, .store, and .co are fine alternatives if your .com is taken.
  • Turn on auto-renew. Losing your domain means losing your storefront address.

Step 2 — Add Your Domain in Strawlo

Once you have a domain, log in to your Strawlo dashboard and go to:

Settings → Domain → Add Domain

Type your domain (e.g. kofifashion.com) — without www. or https:// — and hit Add.

Strawlo will show you one DNS record you need to add at your registrar. For a root domain like kofifashion.com, it looks like this:

Setting Value
Type A
Host / Name @
Value 76.76.21.21

For a subdomain like shop.kofifashion.com, it's a CNAME instead:

Setting Value
Type CNAME
Host / Name shop (or whatever subdomain)
Value / Target cname.vercel-dns.com

Keep that tab open. You'll need that value in the next step.

Step 3 — Add the DNS Record at Your Registrar

This is the part that scares most people, but it's just copying one value into one field. Pick your provider below for the exact steps.

Namecheap

  1. Log in → Domain List → click Manage next to your domain
  2. Open the Advanced DNS tab
  3. Under Host Records, click Add New Record
  4. Type: A Record, Host: @, Value: 76.76.21.21, TTL: Automatic
  5. Save (the green checkmark)

Full guide: Namecheap's DNS help

GoDaddy

  1. Log in → My Products → Domains → click your domain
  2. Click DNS → Add
  3. Type: A, Name: @, Value: 76.76.21.21, TTL: 1 Hour
  4. Save

Full guide: GoDaddy's DNS help

Cloudflare

Cloudflare is the easiest option because it supports CNAME records at the root domain.

  1. Log in → select your domain → DNS → Records → Add Record
  2. Type: CNAME, Name: @, Target: cname.vercel-dns.com
  3. Important: Click the orange cloud to turn it grey (DNS only). The orange proxy blocks SSL.
  4. Save

Full guide: Cloudflare DNS documentation

Porkbun

  1. Log in → Domain Management → click the Details icon next to your domain
  2. Scroll down to DNS Records and click the pencil icon to edit
  3. Click Add to create a new record
  4. Type: A, Host: leave blank (for root), Answer: 76.76.21.21, TTL: 600
  5. Save

Full guide: Porkbun DNS help

Hostinger

  1. Log in to hPanel → select your domain → DNS / Nameservers
  2. Under DNS Records → Add Record
  3. Type: A, Name: @, Points to: 76.76.21.21, TTL: 14400
  4. Save

Full guide: Hostinger DNS help

Squarespace Domains (formerly Google Domains)

  1. Log in at domains.squarespace.com → select your domain
  2. DNS → DNS Settings → Custom Records → Add Record
  3. Host: leave blank, Type: A, Data: 76.76.21.21
  4. Save

Full guide: Squarespace Domains DNS help

Optional but Recommended: Add a WWW Record

So that www.yourdomain.com also works, add a second record at the same registrar:

Setting Value
Type CNAME
Host / Name www
Value cname.vercel-dns.com

Customers will type www half the time. Better to have it covered.

Step 4 — Wait (Briefly)

DNS changes don't take effect instantly. Here's what's normal:

  • Most cases: 5–30 minutes
  • Some providers: 1–2 hours
  • Worst case: Up to 48 hours (rare — usually only on slow registrars)

Strawlo checks your DNS automatically every 30 seconds while you're on the Domain settings page, and in the background every 15 minutes. You don't need to do anything — the moment your records propagate, you'll see a Verified badge.

You can also click Check Now to trigger a manual check at any time.

SSL / HTTPS

Once your domain is verified, a free SSL certificate is provisioned automatically. This means:

  • Your store is accessible via https://yourdomain.com
  • The padlock icon appears in customers' browsers
  • All data is encrypted in transit
  • No extra cost — SSL is included

You don't need to do anything for SSL. It's handled for you.

Removing a Custom Domain

If you want to stop using a custom domain:

  1. Go to Settings → Domain
  2. Click Remove Domain
  3. Confirm

Your store reverts to the default yourstore.strawlo.com subdomain. You can add a different custom domain anytime.

Common Mistakes (and Quick Fixes)

"It's been an hour and still not verified." Check that the A record host is @ (not your full domain name). Some providers auto-append your domain — so @ becomes kofifashion.com and that's correct. The value should be exactly 76.76.21.21.

Using Cloudflare and seeing an SSL error? Make sure the proxy cloud is grey, not orange. The orange proxy blocks Strawlo's SSL certificate from being issued.

Typed www.kofifashion.com into Strawlo? Use the root only — kofifashion.com. Strawlo handles the www part for you with the optional CNAME above.

Domain works on phone but not laptop (or vice versa)? That's DNS still propagating. Give it another 15–30 minutes, or try an incognito window.

Site not loading at all?

  • Make sure you added either an A record pointing to 76.76.21.21 or a CNAME pointing to cname.vercel-dns.com.
  • Cloudflare users: proxy must be off (grey cloud).
  • Try an incognito/private window to rule out browser caching.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a custom domain cost?

The Strawlo feature is included in your plan at no extra cost. You only pay your registrar for the domain itself (typically $10–15/year).

Can I use a subdomain like shop.mywebsite.com?

Yes. Add a CNAME record for shop (or whatever subdomain you want) pointing to cname.vercel-dns.com.

Can I connect multiple domains to one store?

Currently each store supports one custom domain. Choose the one that best represents your brand.

Will my old strawlo.com subdomain still work?

Yes — see the very top of this article. Both addresses serve the same store.

Do I have to buy a domain from a specific provider?

No. Any registrar works as long as you can edit DNS records.

What happens to my custom domain if I downgrade my plan?

If you downgrade to a plan without custom domains, your domain stops working and your store reverts to the default subdomain. Re-upgrading restores it.

Can I set up a custom domain from the mobile app?

Yes. The Strawlo iOS app has the same Domain settings screen — add domain, view DNS instructions, and verify.

DNS Record Quick Reference

Record Type Name/Host Value/Target Required?
Root domain A @ 76.76.21.21 Yes (for root domains)
Root domain (alt) CNAME @ cname.vercel-dns.com Only if your provider supports CNAME at root (e.g. Cloudflare)
WWW subdomain CNAME www cname.vercel-dns.com Recommended

Need Help?

If you're stuck:

Send us your domain name and the registrar you're using — we'll help you get it connected.

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