IMPORTANT NOTICE BEFORE YOU START:
We strongly recommend using a subdomain (like links.mycoolsite.com) for connecting your domain to LinkPod. Subdomains are easier to manage and work with more providers.
This guide is only for customers who insist on using a root domain (like mycoolsite.com) and whose domain provider does not support CNAME records at the root level.
Examples:
✅ Subdomain: links.mycoolsite.com
⚠️ Root Domain: mycoolsite.com
If you do not need a root domain, stop here and go to this guide instead: How to Add Your Own Domain to Your LinkPod Account
We cannot provide support for setting up Cloudflare. For help, reach out to your domain registrar or Cloudflare Support.
🧠 What’s This All About?
You want to use your own domain (like mycoolsite.com) with LinkPod. But LinkPod needs you to set up something called a CNAME record, and your current domain provider doesn't let you do that at the root level (mycoolsite.com without www.).
Don’t worry. We’ll help you move your domain’s DNS to Cloudflare, which does allow this — using a clever trick under the hood.
🔧 What You’ll Need First
Getting set up is easy, there are just two things you need to follow this guide.
- Access to your domain registrar (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains).
- A free Cloudflare account
📘 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Create a Cloudflare Account
- Go to https://dash.cloudflare.com/sign-up
- Click Sign Up and create a free account.
- Once logged in, click "Add a Site" at the top.
2. Add Your Domain
- Enter your domain name, like mycoolsite.com
- Choose the Free Plan when asked.
- Click Continue.
3. Copy Your Existing DNS Records
Cloudflare will now try to import your current DNS settings automatically. Take a moment to check:
- Are your email settings (MX records), and other DNS entries copied?
- If anything’s missing (your registrar may not allow full export), go to your domain provider and manually copy over any DNS records into Cloudflare’s dashboard.
💡 You can skip any existing records you don’t recognize if you’re unsure — but don’t delete MX records if you use email with your domain!
4. Add the CNAME Record for LinkPod
Now comes the magic.
- In Cloudflare’s DNS tab, click “Add record”.
- Type: CNAME
- Name: @ (this means your root domain like mycoolsite.com)
- Target: app.linkpod.co
- Proxy Status: Make sure this is OFF
🎯 Cloudflare uses something called CNAME flattening to allow CNAME records at the root, even if your domain registrar doesn’t support it. That’s why we’re doing this.
5. Update Your Domain Registrar’s Nameservers
Cloudflare will now show you two nameservers, something like:
- ella.ns.cloudflare.com
- noah.ns.cloudflare.com
To finish the setup:
- Go to your domain registrar (where you bought your domain).
- Look for DNS Settings or Nameservers.
- Replace the current nameservers with the ones Cloudflare gave you.
- Save your changes.
🕓 DNS changes may take up to 24 hours to fully update worldwide — but usually happen faster.
6. Final Check and Activation
Once Cloudflare detects your nameservers have changed:
- You’ll get an email confirmation from Cloudflare.
- Your domain will now be fully managed by Cloudflare.
- The CNAME at the root will now work properly — pointing to LinkPod!
✅ You're Done!
You’ve now moved your domain’s DNS to Cloudflare, enabled root CNAME support, and are ready to use your domain with LinkPod or any other service that requires a root-level CNAME.
🛟 Common Questions
Q: Will my email still work? A: Yes — as long as you copy your MX (email) records from your old DNS settings into Cloudflare.
Q: What if I see errors or downtime? A: Double-check your Cloudflare DNS tab to make sure all necessary records (especially email and website redirects) were copied over.
Q: Is Cloudflare really free? A: Yes! The basic DNS and CDN service is completely free and more than enough for most people.