Connect a custom domain

Serve your community from your own domain, such as community.example.com, instead of your Mateflow subdomain. You add one DNS record (a CNAME) at your domain provider, and Mateflow verifies it and sets up HTTPS (SSL) for you.

Who can do this: Owners and admins, in the admin console. The creator dashboard shows the domain's status. · Where: Web: Admin → Settings → General, with status also in the creator dashboard. · Plan: Custom domains depend on your platform plan. Your Mateflow subdomain is always available.

Before you connect a custom domain

• You need a domain you own and access to its DNS settings at your registrar or DNS host.
• Decide between a subdomain, like community.example.com, and a root (apex) domain, like example.com. A subdomain is the simplest, because it only needs a CNAME record. Most DNS providers don't allow a CNAME on a root domain.
• Pick the domain you plan to keep. After you connect a custom domain, you can change it only once every 30 days, and removing the domain doesn't reset that timer.

Connect your custom domain in the admin console

1. Go to Admin → Settings → General and scroll to Domain Settings.
2. In the Custom Domain row, click Connect Domain. If the button says Upgrade to connect, your platform plan doesn't include custom domains.
3. Enter your Domain Name and click Connect.
4. The panel now shows the DNS record to add, with its Type, Host, and Value. Each has a copy button.

Add the DNS record at your domain provider

1. Sign in to the site where you manage your domain's DNS.
2. Add a new record using the exact Type, Host, and Value from the Mateflow panel. Copy them rather than typing them.
3. The Host is the first part of a subdomain (for example, community) or @ for a root domain. Many providers add your domain name to the host automatically, so don't type it twice.
4. Delete any other record that uses the same host, such as an old A or CNAME record.

You only need the one record Mateflow shows. For a root domain, the panel explains that you can use an ALIAS or ANAME record if your provider offers one, or connect a subdomain like www.example.com instead.

Verify the custom domain and wait for HTTPS

Back in the Mateflow panel, click Verify Configuration. While the panel is open, Mateflow keeps checking and shows where things stand:

• "Checking your domain configuration…"
• "Waiting for DNS to take effect. This can take up to 48 hours."
• "DNS verified — issuing your HTTPS certificate…"
• "Your domain is live and secured with HTTPS."

You can close the panel and come back later. Click Manage Domain in the Custom Domain row to reopen it. The badge next to Custom Domain shows the overall status: Pending verification, Active, or Failed. If something goes wrong, see Troubleshoot custom domain issues.

Check your custom domain in the creator dashboard

Go to Dashboard (app.mateflow.com) → Communities, open your community, and click Domain. The page shows your default subdomain and your custom domain's status, from "Domain added · awaiting DNS check" to "DNS verified · SSL active".

This page is read-only. To connect, verify, or remove a domain, click Manage domain in community admin, which opens Admin → Settings → General. Only the community owner can use that button.

What happens to your Mateflow subdomain

Your Mateflow subdomain keeps working after you connect a custom domain, so members can reach your community at either address and old links don't break. If you remove the custom domain, your community's address goes back to the subdomain.

You can also change the subdomain itself: click Edit Subdomain in the Mateflow Subdomain row, click Check to see if the new name is available, then Save Changes. You can change the subdomain once every 30 days.

Remove or change a custom domain

1. In the Custom Domain row, click Manage Domain.
2. Click Remove, then confirm. Your community's address goes back to the Mateflow subdomain.

To switch to a different domain, remove the current one and connect the new one. If the 30-day limit applies, the panel shows "You can change this domain again in" and the number of days left.

Related articles

• Troubleshoot custom domain issues
• Customize your logo, favicon, and social image
• Check plan usage and limits