FreeurlHere is how to use your own domain for short links: add a domain you own to your shortener, create one or two DNS records at your registrar, wait for them to be found, and then pick that domain when you create a link. With Freeurl the whole job takes about ten minutes of work, plus some waiting on DNS. This guide walks through each step, shows a worked example, and covers the mistakes that cause most failed setups.
Why bother with your own domain?
A link like go.yourbrand.com/spring tells people who sent it before they click. A random shared domain does not. That matters when you put links in emails, print, social bios or text messages, where people are cautious about unknown addresses. (If that worry sounds familiar, see our checklist on whether short links are safe.)
It also gives you control. If you ever switch tools, links on your own domain can be pointed somewhere else. Links on someone else's domain stay with them.
The trade-off: you now own a small piece of infrastructure. If your domain lapses or you delete the DNS records, every link on it stops working. Set a renewal reminder before you print anything.
What you need before you start
- A domain name you own, or a subdomain of one. You can buy one at any registrar.
- Access to that domain's DNS settings. This is usually under "DNS", "DNS zone" or "Advanced DNS" at your registrar.
- A free Freeurl account. You can connect custom domains to Freeurl at no cost, and a free account can connect up to 3 domains.
Should you use a subdomain or the root domain?
This is the choice that trips people up, so make it first.
A subdomain looks like go.yourbrand.com or link.yourbrand.com. It is safe to add because it does not touch your main website or your email. Most people should pick this.
A root domain is the bare name, like yourbrand.com. Use it only if the whole domain is a dedicated short domain, such as a short name you bought just for links. If your main website already lives on the root domain, pointing it at a shortener would send your visitors to the wrong place.
Rule of thumb: website on the domain, use a subdomain. Domain bought only for links, use the root.
How to set up your own domain for short links, step by step
These steps use the subdomain go.yourbrand.com as the example. Swap in your own name.
Step 1: Add the domain in Freeurl
Log in, open Domains and press Add domain. Type the full name, for example go.yourbrand.com. The dashboard then shows the exact records for your case. Use those, not a copy from a blog post, because values are specific to your account.
Step 2: Create the DNS records
For a subdomain, Freeurl asks for two records:
- A CNAME record with host go and value cname.freeurl.net.
- A TXT record with host _freeurl-verify.go and a verification code that the dashboard generates for you.
The CNAME sends visitors to Freeurl. The TXT record proves you control the domain.
For a root domain, DNS rules do not allow a CNAME at the bare name, so Freeurl asks for an A record that points to its server address instead. Copy that address from the dashboard. For more on how CNAME records behave and why they have these limits, Cloudflare's CNAME explainer is a clear reference.
Step 3: Enter the records at your registrar
Open your registrar's DNS page and add each record. Two details cause most errors here:
- The host field. Some registrars want only go. Others want the full go.yourbrand.com. If a check fails, try the other format.
- Conflicting records. A name can have only one CNAME, and a CNAME cannot share a name with other records. If go already has an old record from a past project, delete it first.
Step 4: Press Check DNS
Back in Freeurl, press Check DNS. Once both records are found, the domain turns green and Freeurl sets up a free HTTPS certificate automatically, so your links open with the padlock. DNS changes usually show up within minutes, but can take a few hours. If it is not green after an hour, do not keep changing things. Wait, then re-check your records for typos.
Step 5: Use the domain on a link
When you create a new short link, select your domain from the list, or set it as your default so every new link uses it. You can also shorten a URL for free on the standard domain if you only need a quick one-off.
A worked example
Say Dana runs a small bakery at sweetcrumb.com. Her website is on that domain, so she picks the subdomain go.sweetcrumb.com.
She adds go.sweetcrumb.com in the Freeurl dashboard. At her registrar she creates a CNAME with host go pointing to cname.freeurl.net, plus the TXT record the dashboard gave her. She presses Check DNS after fifteen minutes and sees the domain turn green.
Now she creates a link to her holiday order form. The result is go.sweetcrumb.com followed by a short word she chose. She prints it on her boxes. Customers see her bakery's name in the link, and she can see click counts for each campaign.
What if my domain will not verify?
Work through this list in order:
- Check the host format. Try go and then the full name.
- Look for a second CNAME. Delete any old record on the same host.
- Check Cloudflare settings. If your DNS is on Cloudflare, set the record to DNS only (the grey cloud) until verification completes.
- Wait. Propagation is usually quick but can take hours.
- Check for typos in the TXT verification code. Copy and paste it rather than typing it.
Does a custom domain help SEO?
Not directly, and nobody should promise otherwise. Short links are mostly redirects, and their job is to be clicked, not to rank. Where a branded domain helps is trust and click-through: people are more willing to tap a link with a name they recognize.
One thing to keep in mind if you publish many links: Google's spam policies cover sneaky redirects and doorway pages, which means redirects that show search engines something different from what users see. Ordinary short links that send everyone to the same page are fine. Do not use your short domain to funnel people to content that differs from what a crawler sees.
Picking a good short domain or subdomain
Keep it short and easy to say out loud. go, link and to are common subdomain choices. Avoid hyphens and numbers, which people mistype. If you plan to read links aloud in videos or podcasts, say the whole address to a friend and ask them to write it down. If they get it wrong, pick another name.
Also think about slugs. A link like go.sweetcrumb.com/holiday is easier to remember and track than a random string. If you tag links with campaign data, our guide to UTM parameters shows how to keep your reports clean.
Limits to know about
- A free Freeurl account can connect up to 3 domains. The setup page does not describe higher limits, so check the dashboard if you need more.
- Your domain registration is separate. You pay your registrar for it, and Freeurl does not renew it for you.
- If you remove the DNS records or let the domain expire, links on it stop working.
- The root domain option needs a dedicated domain. Do not use it if your website is there.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a domain to use custom short links?
Yes. You need a domain or subdomain you control. If you already own a website domain, you can use a free subdomain of it, such as go.yourbrand.com, at no extra cost.
How long does it take for a custom short domain to work?
DNS changes usually show up within minutes but can take a few hours. Once Freeurl finds your records, the domain turns green and an HTTPS certificate is set up automatically.
Should I use a subdomain or my root domain?
Use a subdomain if your website lives on the root domain. Use the root domain only when it is a dedicated short domain, because pointing it at a shortener would send your website visitors to the wrong place.
How many custom domains can I connect for free?
A free Freeurl account can connect up to 3 domains. Connecting a domain is free, but you still pay your registrar for the domain itself.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to buy a domain to use custom short links?
Yes. You need a domain or subdomain you control. If you already own a website domain, you can use a free subdomain of it, such as go.yourbrand.com, at no extra cost.
How long does it take for a custom short domain to work?
DNS changes usually show up within minutes but can take a few hours. Once Freeurl finds your records, the domain turns green and an HTTPS certificate is set up automatically.
Should I use a subdomain or my root domain?
Use a subdomain if your website lives on the root domain. Use the root domain only when it is a dedicated short domain, because pointing it at a shortener would send your website visitors to the wrong place.
How many custom domains can I connect for free?
A free Freeurl account can connect up to 3 domains. Connecting a domain is free, but you still pay your registrar for the domain itself.