Introduction
Connecting a custom domain to your Rapyd Cloud website ensures visitors can reach your site at an address you own — like yourcompany.com. Rapyd Cloud manages all custom domains through its Cloudflare integration, giving every connected domain enterprise-grade DNS, CDN, and security out of the box.
When you add a domain, Rapyd Cloud detects your current DNS provider and offers two connection paths:
Cloudflare API — If your domain is already on Cloudflare (or you create a free account), you share an API token so Rapyd can manage DNS automatically. No nameserver change required.
Cloudflare Nameservers (NS) — If your domain is with another registrar, you update your nameservers to the Rapyd-provided Cloudflare nameservers for full DNS delegation.
Both methods unlock the same set of features. To learn more about the differences between them and which one suits your setup best, see our Guide to Custom Domains.
This guide walks you through the full setup process for each path. Read on to get started.
What You'll Get
Once your domain is connected — regardless of which method you choose — Rapyd Cloud's Enterprise Cloudflare stack activates automatically:
Global Cloudflare CDN: Improve your site's speed and reliability with Rapyd Cloud's Content Delivery Network (CDN). Static content is cached and delivered from edge servers worldwide, ensuring a fast experience for every visitor.
Web Application Firewall (WAF): Our WAF provides robust protection against malicious attacks, adding an automatic security layer to every connected domain.
Full Page Caching (FPC): Boost performance further with full page caching, which serves entire pages from the edge without hitting your origin server on every request.
Simplified DNS Management: Manage all DNS records directly within the Rapyd Cloud dashboard, which means no need to juggle multiple platforms.
Faster Support for DNS Issues: With DNS records visible in your dashboard, our support team can diagnose and resolve problems quickly, minimizing downtime.
Before You Begin
Make sure you have the following ready:
An active Rapyd Cloud site (the site you want to connect the domain to).
A purchased domain name ready to configure.
Access to your domain registrar or DNS provider (e.g., Cloudflare, GoDaddy, Namecheap).
Subdomain note: You cannot add a subdomain (e.g., blog.yourdomain.com) unless the parent domain (yourdomain.com) is already connected to your Rapyd site. Attempting to do so will trigger a "Parent domain required" error.
How to Connect a Custom Domain
Step 1: Navigate to Domain Settings
Sign in to your Rapyd Cloud account at my.rapyd.cloud.
Go to Sites and select the site you want to connect your domain to.
Click Manage, then open the Domains tab.
Click + Add domain
Step 2: Enter Your Domain
In the popup, enter your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com).
WWW Preference: Choose whether visitors should land on the naked domain (yourdomain.com) or the www version (www.yourdomain.com).
Redirect Behavior: Toggle whether the non-preferred version (e.g., www.yourdomain.com if you chose the naked domain) should redirect to your primary choice or remain inaccessible.
Auto-detection: If Rapyd already manages your domain (e.g., from a previous setup), the system will auto-validate without requiring manual DNS configuration. You can skip ahead to verifying your domain status.
Step 3: Connect Your Domain
After entering your domain, Rapyd presents the two different connection paths. Follow the section that matches your situation.
Path A: Your domain is managed at your registrar (Nameserver Delegation)
Use this path if your domain is registered with a provider other than Cloudflare (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, Hostinger). This method delegates full DNS control to Rapyd Cloud's Enterprise Cloudflare setup by updating your domain's nameservers.
Get the Rapyd Cloudflare Nameservers
After clicking Add domain in the Rapyd dashboard, the system will display a pair of Cloudflare nameservers assigned to your domain.
Copy both nameserver addresses.
Update Nameservers at Your Registrar
Log in to your domain registrar.
Navigate to your domain's DNS or nameserver settings.
Replace the existing nameservers with the two Rapyd-provided Cloudflare nameservers.
Save your changes.
For registrar-specific instructions on changing nameservers, see our detailed guide: What Are Nameservers and How to Change Them for Your Domain.
Propagation time: Nameserver changes typically take a few minutes to a few hours to propagate globally, though in rare cases it can take up to 24 hours.
Path B: Cloudflare Users (API Integration)
Use this path if your domain is already managed by Cloudflare — or if you've created a free Cloudflare account to manage it. This method uses the Cloudflare API to automate DNS record management, so no nameserver change is required.
Don't have a Cloudflare account? You can create one for free at cloudflare.com. Add your domain to Cloudflare, then come back to this step. This is the recommended approach for most users, and it only takes a few minutes.
Generate a Cloudflare API Token
Log in to your Cloudflare account.
Go to My Profile > API Tokens > Create Token.
Use the "Edit zone DNS" template.
Under Zone Resources, select Include > Specific zone > and choose your domain.
Click Continue to summary, then Create Token.
Copy the generated token.
Paste the Token in Rapyd
Back in the Rapyd Cloud dashboard, paste your Cloudflare API token into the token field.
Click Add domain.
Rapyd will validate the token and begin managing your domain's DNS automatically.
That's it. Your domain will activate once Rapyd configures the required DNS records through the Cloudflare API. This typically happens within moments.
Step 4: Verify Your Domain Status
After completing either Path A or Path B, return to the Domains tab in your site's dashboard to check the connection status. You'll see one of the following:
Status | Meaning | What to Do |
Active | Domain is fully connected and serving your Rapyd site. | Nothing — you're all set. |
Pending Validation | DNS changes are still propagating, or a step is incomplete. | Click Configure DNS to review your settings, or wait for propagation to complete. |
Expired | The domain connection has timed out, or there is an issue with domain registration or SSL. | Re-initiate the setup from your dashboard or contact support. |
You can also verify propagation externally using a tool like What's My DNS.
Step 5: Confirm Your Site Is Live
Once the status shows Active:
Open a browser and navigate to your custom domain.
Confirm that your Rapyd site loads correctly.
Test both the www and non-www versions to ensure redirects are working as expected.
If your domain is not connecting or you experience any issues, reach out to our support team via live chat or at [email protected] so we can assist you.
FAQs and Troubleshooting
Can I switch between the Cloudflare API and Cloudflare NS methods?
Yes. If you initially connected via nameservers and later set up a Cloudflare account, you can migrate to the API method (or vice versa). See How to Migrate Your Domain to Rapyd Cloud for details.
How long does it take for DNS changes to take effect?
When using the Cloudflare API method, changes are typically instant. For the nameserver method, propagation usually takes a few minutes to a few hours, though it can take up to 24 hours in rare cases.
What happens if I don't complete the DNS setup?
Your domain status will show as Pending Validation and your domain won't serve your Rapyd site until the connection is finalized.
Do both methods give me CDN, WAF, and caching?
Yes. Both the Cloudflare API and Cloudflare NS methods activate the full Rapyd Enterprise Cloudflare stack, including CDN, WAF, and Full Page Caching.
I see a "Parent domain required" error. What does that mean?
This appears when you try to add a subdomain (e.g., blog.yourdomain.com) before the parent domain (yourdomain.com) is connected. Add and verify the parent domain first, then add the subdomain.
My domain shows "Expired" in the dashboard. What should I do?
This usually means the connection timed out before DNS was validated, or there's an issue with your domain's registration or SSL. Re-initiate the domain setup from the dashboard. If the issue persists, contact Rapyd support.
How do I check if my DNS changes are working?
Use What's My DNS to verify propagation, or click Configure DNS in your Rapyd dashboard to review the current state.
My site isn't loading after connecting the domain. Why?
Ensure DNS propagation is complete and that you followed all steps for your chosen connection method. If you used the nameserver method, double-check that both nameservers were entered correctly at your registrar.