Custom domain guide
How to connect a Squarespace Domains domain to Render
The exact records to add at Squarespace Domains, 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
- ALIAS
- Name
- Data
Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
- Type
- CNAME
- Name
- Data
Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
| Type | Name | Data |
|---|---|---|
| ALIAS | 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 Squarespace Domains
Sign in, then go to Domains→your domain→DNS→DNS Settings→Custom Records
The domain has to use Squarespace's nameservers (Nameserver Connect).
- 3
Clear what's in the way
Domains come with a "Squarespace Defaults" group that points the domain at a Squarespace site. Delete it (the trash icon next to Squarespace Defaults) if the domain is moving away from Squarespace.
- 4
Add the record for www
Click Add record and add:
- Type
- CNAME
- Name
- Data
Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
Type Name Data CNAME Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
- 5
Point the bare domain
Squarespace Domains has an ALIAS record, which can point the bare domain at a hostname. It keeps working if Render changes its addresses.
- Type
- ALIAS
- Name
- Data
Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
Type Name Data ALIAS Replace the capitals with your own value from the host's dashboard.
- 6
Wait, then check
Changes at Squarespace Domains take effect within 48 hours. 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.
- To add an ALIAS record, first turn off DNS Security Extensions under DNS, then DNSSEC.
- Squarespace asks for your password again before adding a record.
- A CNAME can't use @ as its name.
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 Squarespace Domains 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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