Connect Your Domain
This page explains how to give your store its own web address. It is written for everyone — you do not need any technical knowledge. Go to Shop Settings > Domain in the dashboard to follow along.
You have two choices:
| Option | Example | Cost | Setup time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free subdomain | yourstore.ecomplify.net | Free | Instant |
| Custom domain | yourstore.com (with or without www) | You buy the domain | 5–30 minutes |
Option 1: Free Subdomain (easiest)
If you don't own a domain, use a free Ecomplify subdomain. HTTPS (the padlock) is automatic — nothing to configure.
- Go to Shop Settings > Domain.
- Select Subdomain.
- Type a name (lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only), e.g.
mystore. - Wait for the green Available check.
- Click Save Domain.
Your store is now live at https://mystore.ecomplify.net. Done!
Option 2: Custom Domain (your own .com)
Use this if you bought a domain from a provider like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Hostinger, Cloudflare, or Squarespace.
Good news: one connection covers both versions of your domain. Whether you enter yourstore.com or www.yourstore.com, both addresses will reach your store — visitors are automatically redirected to the version you prefer (see Choosing between www and the bare domain below).
There are only two steps: tell your domain provider where to send visitors (Step A), then tell Ecomplify your domain name (Step B).
Step A: Add two DNS records at your domain provider
DNS records are like signposts. They tell the internet: "when someone visits yourstore.com or www.yourstore.com, send them to Ecomplify's servers." You add two records — one for the bare domain, one for www — so your store works no matter which version a visitor types.
- Log in to the website where you bought your domain (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).
- Find the DNS settings (sometimes called "DNS Management", "Manage DNS", "DNS Records", or "Zone Editor").
- Add these two records (the Domain page in your dashboard shows the same values with copy buttons):
| Record | Type | Name (also called Host) | Value (also called Target, Points to, or Content) | TTL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bare domain | A | @ | 35.157.120.136 | Leave the default (or 1 hour) |
| www | CNAME | www | cname.ecomplify.net | Leave the default (or 1 hour) |
- Save both records.
35.157.120.136 is a fixed address reserved for Ecomplify stores. Set it once and you will never need to update it, even when we upgrade our servers.
If you're connecting something like shop.mybrand.com, you only need one record: a CNAME with Name = shop and Value = cname.ecomplify.net. The A record is only for bare domains.
In the CNAME record, the Name/Host field is YOUR side (www). The Value/Target field is OUR side (cname.ecomplify.net). Do not swap them.
✅ Correct: Name = www → Value = cname.ecomplify.net
❌ Wrong: Name = cname.ecomplify.net → Value = www.yourstore.com
❌ Wrong: Name = www.yourstore.com (most providers only want www here — they add your domain automatically)
❌ Wrong: Value = yourstore.com or any address of your own — the value must always be cname.ecomplify.net
Step B: Save your domain in the dashboard
- Go to Shop Settings > Domain.
- Select Custom Domain.
- Enter your domain — either form works, e.g.
yourstore.comorwww.yourstore.com. - Wait for the green Available check. This confirms neither version of your domain (with or without www) is used by another store — if you're re-entering a domain your own shop already holds, it still shows as available.
- Under www redirect, pick which version visitors should land on (you can change this later — see below).
- Click Save Domain.
- Click Verify & Activate HTTPS. This checks your DNS records and turns on the security padlock. It usually takes under a minute.
When you see "HTTPS is now active on your domain!" you are done. Visit your domain to see your store.
Choosing between www and the bare domain
When you connect a custom domain, Ecomplify automatically claims both versions for your store: yourstore.com (the "bare" or "root" domain) and www.yourstore.com. You do not need to connect them separately, and no other store can ever take the other version.
Both addresses reach your store, but visitors and search engines are redirected to one of them — the one you pick:
- Redirect yourstore.com → www.yourstore.com — www is your main address
- Redirect www.yourstore.com → yourstore.com — the bare domain is your main address
By default, the version you typed when connecting becomes the main one. To change it later:
- Go to Shop Settings > Domain.
- Under www redirect, pick the other option from the dropdown.
- The preference saves immediately — no need to verify your domain again.
The HTTPS certificate covers both versions, so the padlock works whichever address a visitor types. Just make sure you added both DNS records from Step A — the bare domain needs the A record to work.
Finding DNS settings at popular providers
- GoDaddy — My Products → your domain → DNS → Add New Record
- Namecheap — Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS → Add New Record
- Hostinger — Domains → your domain → DNS / Name Servers → Add Record
- Cloudflare — your domain → DNS → Add Record. Important: set the cloud icon to DNS only (grey cloud), not "Proxied" (orange), otherwise HTTPS activation can fail.
- Squarespace Domains (former Google Domains) — your domain → DNS → Custom Records
Troubleshooting
"Could not activate HTTPS" or verification fails
- Wait 15–30 minutes after adding the records — DNS changes take time to spread (up to 24–48 hours with some providers), then click Verify & Activate HTTPS again.
- Double-check both records: an
Arecord with Name@and Value35.157.120.136, and aCNAMErecord with Namewwwand Valuecname.ecomplify.net. The most common error is swapped fields — see the warning box above. - Make sure there is no other old record (A record or CNAME) also using the name
wwwor@. Delete the old one — only one record per name. - On Cloudflare, set the records to DNS only (grey cloud).
My domain shows another website or a parking page
- An old record or website forwarding is still active for
wwwor the bare domain. Remove it, keeping only the two records from Step A.
Only one version of my domain works (with or without www)
- Both versions need their own DNS record: the bare domain needs the
Arecord (Name@), and www needs theCNAMErecord (Namewww). Check that both exist at your provider.
"Domain is already in use" when I try to connect
- Another store has connected this domain — or its www/bare twin. Both versions always belong to one store, so if
www.yourstore.comis taken,yourstore.comis too. If it's your own other shop, disconnect the domain there first.
How do I check my DNS records are correct?
- Visit dnschecker.org. Choose CNAME and type
www.yourstore.com— the result should showcname.ecomplify.net. Then choose A and typeyourstore.com— the result should show35.157.120.136. If either shows nothing or something else, fix the record at your provider.
Can I switch back to a free subdomain?
- Yes. Click Delete next to your domain, then set up a subdomain. Your store data is never affected by domain changes.
Common questions
Do I need to buy SSL/HTTPS separately? No. Ecomplify issues the certificate for free when you click Verify & Activate HTTPS, and it covers both the www and bare versions of your domain.
Do I need to connect www and the bare domain separately? No. Connecting either one automatically covers both — they always belong to the same store. Use the www redirect setting to choose which one visitors land on.
Will changing my domain delete my products or orders? No. The domain is only the address — your store content stays exactly the same.
Can I use a subdomain of my own domain, like shop.mybrand.com? Yes. In Step A add only a CNAME record with Name = shop (no A record needed), and in Step B enter shop.mybrand.com.