How to Connect a Custom Domain to Carrd

To connect a custom domain to Carrd, you need a Carrd Pro account. Log into your domain registrar's DNS settings and create two A Records pointing to Carrd's provided IP addresses. Then, add a CNAME record for 'www' pointing back to your bare domain. Finally, verify the connection in your Carrd dashboard and wait for initialization.

What Is Carrd and How Does DNS Routing Work?

Carrd is a platform for building simple, responsive one-page websites:

How it works: When you publish a Carrd site with a custom domain, Carrd assigns unique IP addresses to your site. You add these as A records in your DNS. Visitors type your domain, DNS resolves to Carrd's servers, and your one-page site loads.

Important: Carrd provides your specific IP addresses in the dashboard, they're unique to your site, not universal.

Why It Matters: Professional URL Without Heavy Hosting

The Carrd advantage:

• No monthly hosting fees ($19/year for Pro)

• No server management

• Automatic SSL included

Perfect for creators: Photographers, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who need a polished web presence without WordPress complexity.

Your portfolio deserves better than yourname.carrd.co.

Decision Framework: Root Domain vs Subdomain

Root domain: Your entire domain points to Carrd. Best when Carrd is your only website.

Subdomain: Only a subdomain points to Carrd. Your main domain can host a different site.

For subdomains: Add a single A record for the subdomain instead of @ records.

Implementation Steps: Connect Your Domain

Step 1: Upgrade to Carrd Pro Custom domains require Pro Standard ($19/year) or higher.

Step 2: Add Domain in Carrd Open your site → Publish → Select "Custom Domain" → Enter your domain exactly as desired.

Step 3: Copy Carrd's DNS Records Scroll down to see your unique records:

• Two A records for @ (root domain)

• One CNAME record for www

Step 4: Open NameSilo DNS Manager Log into NameSilo → DNS Manager → Select your domain.

Step 5: Delete Existing A Records Remove any default parking page or old host A records. This is critical, conflicting records prevent Carrd from loading.

Step 6: Add First A Record

• Type: A

• Host: @

• Value: [First IP from Carrd]

• TTL: 3600

Step 7: Add Second A Record

• Type: A

• Host: @

• Value: [Second IP from Carrd]

• TTL: 3600

Step 8: Add CNAME Record

• Type: CNAME

• Host: www

• Value: yourdomain.com (your bare domain)

• TTL: 3600

Step 9: Publish and Wait Return to Carrd, click "Publish Changes." Initialization takes 10-60 minutes.

Common Mistakes

Leaving old A records: Default parking page records conflict with Carrd's IPs. Delete all existing A records before adding Carrd's.

Using generic IPs: Carrd assigns unique IPs per site. Use the ones in your dashboard, not from tutorials.

Adding AAAA records: Remove IPv6 (AAAA) records for @. They cause conflicts.

Domain forwarding enabled: Disable any forwarding or masking before connecting.

Not waiting: Initialization takes up to an hour. Don't panic.

What This Means for You

NameSilo's DNS Manager makes adding Carrd records simple. Delete old records, add Carrd's IPs, and publish.

Need a domain for your Carrd site? Search available names and launch your portfolio today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a custom domain on Carrd for free? 

No. Requires Pro Standard ($19/year).

What are the Carrd IP addresses? 

Unique per site, check your Carrd dashboard.

How long does Carrd DNS take to update? 

10-60 minutes for initialization.

Why is my Carrd domain not working? 

Conflicting A records or DNS not propagated.

Do I need SSL for Carrd? 

Carrd provides free automatic SSL.

Can I use a subdomain with Carrd? 

Yes. One A record for the subdomain.

How do I redirect root domain in Carrd? 

Carrd auto-redirects www to root.

Does NameSilo work with Carrd? 

Yes. Full DNS support.