To connect a custom domain to Render.com, open your Render Dashboard, locate your web service, and add your domain under Settings. For your apex root domain, point an A record to Render's load balancer IP. For subdomains, create a CNAME record pointing to your internal .onrender.com address. Render provisions SSL automatically after DNS verifies.
How Render Routes Traffic to Custom Domains
Render hosts web services and static sites behind a global load balancer. Traffic flow with a custom domain:
Visitor → DNS lookup → Your A/CNAME record → Render load balancer → Your service container
Key constraint: Render currently uses IPv4 only. Remove any existing AAAA records before adding Render DNS configuration. AAAA records pointing to IPv6 addresses will interfere with routing and certificate issuance.
Supported service types: Only web services and static sites support custom domains. Cron jobs and background workers do not.
Why It Matters: Moving Off .onrender.com
Deploying under yourapp.onrender.com signals an unfinished project. A custom .com address signals production readiness, builds brand trust, enables proper SEO attribution, and allows SSL on your own domain.
The switch takes under 10 minutes once DNS propagates.
Step 1: Add Domain in Render Dashboard
Open your service Dashboard → select your web service or static site → Settings → scroll to Custom Domains.
Add your domain Click "+ Add Custom Domain." Enter your domain (e.g., yourdomain.com).
Render auto-pairs root and www. Adding yourdomain.com automatically adds www.yourdomain.com with a redirect, and vice versa.
Copy the DNS target. Render shows the exact values you need. Keep this tab open.
Step 2: Configure DNS at NameSilo
Delete conflicting records first. Remove any existing A records for @ and any AAAA records.
For the root/apex domain: Add an A record:
For www subdomain: Add a CNAME record:
- Value: yourapp.onrender.com (use your actual Render subdomain)
Cloudflare users: Use CNAME for both root and www, pointed at yourapp.onrender.com. Set proxy status to "DNS only" (grey cloud) during initial setup. Cloudflare does not support A records when proxying is enabled for Render.
Verify propagation with dig yourdomain.com A or dnschecker.org before returning to Render.
Automated Certificate Issuance: Let's Encrypt via Render
Once DNS resolves correctly, return to the Render Dashboard → Custom Domains section.
Click Verify next to your domain. Render checks DNS and, once confirmed, automatically requests a certificate from Let's Encrypt. No manual configuration is needed.
Certificate issuance typically completes within a few minutes of successful DNS verification. The Custom Domains panel shows certificate status. If verification fails, wait a few minutes and retry; DNS propagation may still be in progress.
Do not use proxy mode (Cloudflare orange cloud) during verification. Enable it after Render confirms the certificate is issued and valid.
Common Mistakes
Leaving AAAA records active: Render does not support IPv6. Any AAAA record causes routing failures and prevents certificate issuance. Delete all AAAA records before proceeding.
Using the wrong CNAME target: The CNAME must point to your specific yourapp.onrender.com subdomain, not a generic Render address. Copy the exact value from your dashboard.
Enabling Cloudflare proxy before verification: Orange cloud mode intercepts Render's certificate validation. Complete verification in grey cloud mode first.
What This Means for You
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the IP address for Render A records?
216.24.57.1, Render's load balancer IP.
How do I map a custom subdomain to Render?
CNAME pointing to yourapp.onrender.com.
Why is my Render custom domain showing a certificate error?
DNS not yet verified, or AAAA records still present.
Does Render support free SSL for custom URLs?
Yes. Let's Encrypt certificates provision automatically after DNS verification.
Should I proxy my Render domain through Cloudflare?
Only after verification completes. Use DNS only mode initially.
How long does Render domain routing take?
10-15 Minutes to a few hours for DNS propagation. Certificate issues within minutes after that.
Can I connect multiple apps to one domain?
No. One custom domain maps to one Render service.
How do I update DNS records at NameSilo?
Domain Manager, Click on Domain → DNS Tab , edit or add records in DNS Manager.
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