Connect your own domain
Every store gets a free address on cartwhizz.com. To use your own (for example www.yourbrand.com), your plan must include custom domains; if it doesn't, the page shows Custom domains are not in your plan with See plans.
1. Request the domain
- Open Settings → Custom Domains and click Connect a domain.
- Under What are you connecting? choose Main domain (
yourbrand.com) or Subdomain (shop.yourbrand.com). A subdomain is the quickest to set up. - Enter the Domain name without
https://orwww., for exampleyourbrand.com. - Tick Also connect the www version of this domain so both
yourbrand.comandwww.yourbrand.comwork. - Click Connect domain. The DNS records tab shows the records to add.
2. Add the DNS records
Sign in where your domain's DNS is managed (GoDaddy, Hostinger, Namecheap, Cloudflare and so on; this may not be where you bought it). Open the DNS settings and add each record exactly as shown. Copy copies one value; Copy all copies them all.
| Record | Name / Host | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| TXT | _ecart-verify (or the full name shown) | Ownership: proves the domain is yours. |
| A (main domain) | @ | Store address: points your domain at your store. Use the IP address shown on the page. |
| CNAME (subdomain) | shop (your subdomain) | Store address for a subdomain. Use the target shown on the page. |
| CNAME | www | www address: sends www.yourbrand.com to your store. |
Tips:
- For a main domain, delete every other A and AAAA record for
@(for example from an old host, a parking page or Shopify). - Some DNS panels add your domain to the name automatically. If yours does, enter only the short name (
_ecart-verify,www). - Set TTL to 300 (5 minutes) if you can; otherwise the default is fine.
- Cloudflare: set each record to DNS only (grey cloud). Proxied (orange cloud) records can't connect to your store.
- Need help with DNS? on the page has steps for Cloudflare, Hostinger, GoDaddy, Namecheap, Amazon Route 53, Squarespace and moving from Shopify.
Keep your email working: don't change your MX or email TXT records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
3. Wait for the checks
Click Check connection, or just wait: CartWhizz keeps checking by itself. DNS changes can take up to 48 hours to spread. Each record shows Verified or Not found, and Request progress shows where you are:
Requested → DNS check → Review → Certificate → Live
Once the records are found, the request is reviewed, then the SSL certificate (https) is issued automatically. You don't need to buy or upload a certificate. The Security tab shows SSL certificate, HTTPS connection and Domain verification, and when the certificate is valid until. It renews by itself.
When the status is Live, your store opens at your domain.
4. Choose your main address (www or not)
With the www version connected, choose which one shoppers see:
- Open the domain and find Main address.
- Choose
www.yourbrand.comoryourbrand.com. - Click Save main address.
The other address then redirects to the main one, keeping the page visitors asked for. Search engines and shared links use the main address.
5. Make it your primary domain
If you have more than one domain, click Make primary on the one customers should see. Your other domains stay connected and send visitors to the primary one. Your free cartwhizz.com address keeps working too.
If something goes wrong
- Not found after 48 hours: check the record names and values for typos, and that you edited DNS at the company that manages your nameservers.
- Problem found: the page says what's wrong (for example an old A record still pointing elsewhere). Fix it at your DNS provider; CartWhizz checks again by itself.
- Declined: fix the reason shown, then Send again.
- Setup failed: the CartWhizz team retries or contacts you.
Remove a domain
Remove stops the store answering on that domain straight away; your store and products aren't deleted. Cancel request withdraws a domain that isn't live yet. Domain and email renewals stay with your domain provider.