Custom domain guide
How to connect a Cloudflare domain to Render
The exact records to add at Cloudflare, written the way its form asks for them, for both www and the bare domain.
Checked 16 October 2026
In short
The records you'll add
- Type
- CNAME
- Name
- Target
Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
- Type
- CNAME
- Name
- Target
Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
| Type | Name | Target |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard. | |
| CNAME | Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard. |
Step by step
Set it up
- 1
Add the domain in Render first
In Render, go to Service→Settings→Custom Domains→Add Custom Domain and enter your domain (for example www.example.com). Adding the bare domain also adds www and redirects it to the bare domain.
Each workspace includes custom domains (2 on Hobby, more on paid plans).
- 2
Open the DNS records at Cloudflare
Sign in, then go to your domain→DNS→Records
The domain has to be on Cloudflare's nameservers.
- 3
Clear what's in the way
Look for existing A, AAAA or CNAME records on the same name: Cloudflare won't let a CNAME sit next to them.
- 4
Add the record for www
Click Add record and add:
- Type
- CNAME
- Name
- Target
Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
Type Name Target CNAME Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
- 5
Point the bare domain
Cloudflare flattens a CNAME on the bare domain, so one record pointing at Render is enough.
- Type
- CNAME
- Name
- Target
Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
Type Name Target CNAME Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
- 6
Wait, then check
Changes at Cloudflare take effect within minutes. Once Render sees the records, it issues the certificate for https by itself. Use the check below to see what the world sees.
Check your domain
Once the records are in, see whether the world can see them pointing at Render.
Changes can take from a few minutes to a day to show up everywhere.
Good to know
Common snags
- Remove any AAAA records for the domain while you set it up: Render uses IPv4 only.
- A CNAME at @ is allowed: Cloudflare flattens it automatically, so there's no ALIAS record type.
- Set Proxy status to DNS only (grey cloud) for another host's records, unless that host's guide says otherwise. Proxying can stop the host from issuing its certificate.
Still not working?
Questions
Before you start
Should I use www or the bare domain with Render?
Adding the bare domain also adds www and redirects it to the bare domain. www always works with a single CNAME; the bare domain depends on what Cloudflare offers, covered in step 5.
Why does my site show a certificate error?
The certificate is issued once Render sees your records, which can take a while after DNS changes. If it stays, check for old records on the same name (parking pages, AAAA records) and, at Cloudflare, that the record is set to DNS only.
Will this affect my email?
No. Email uses MX records, which these steps don't touch. Only change the records for @ and www.
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