# How to set up a custom Substack domain

You can publish your newsletter on [Substack](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/e-mail/e-mail-marketing/substack-as-business-model/) using the domain of your choice. For this fee-based option, all you need is your own web address and a corresponding CNAME entry with your provider.

## What are the requirements for a Substack custom domain?

Newsletters and podcasts created with Substack come with a default web address that typically looks like this: `user.substack.com`. For a one-time fee, however, you can publish your site **under a unique address** and stand out from the competition. All you have to do is [register a domain](https://www.ionos.ca/domains/domain-names "Register a domain cheaply with IONOS") with a [domain registrar](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/domains/domain-administration/domain-registrar/) and create a [CNAME record](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/hosting/technical-matters/cname-record/) that points to it.

### Registering a Substack domain with an IONOS account

If you want to use a custom domain on Substack, you’ll need your own web address, which you can purchase from the [IONOS website](https://www.ionos.com/ "From Website to Cloud - IONOS"). To do this, click on the **Domains & SSL** tab and then **Domain Names** in the menu that opens .

[![Image: IONOS: Option for domain names](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/f/4/csm_ionos-buy-domain_1ff10336b5.webp "IONOS: Option for domain names")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/ionos-buy-domain.png) With IONOS, you can choose from a wide range of products such as domains, hosting or servers. Next, use the domain checker to see if the domain name you want is available. Enter the name you’d like in the search field where it says *Find your domain now* and click **Check**.

The tool will then check whether the domain is available. If the address is taken, the checker will suggest **options with alternative domain extensions**. There are many [alternatives to the .com domain](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/domains/domain-extensions/alternatives-to-the-com-domain/), which means there’s a good chance you’ll be able to find a variation of the name you want if your initial choice is already taken. Otherwise, keep using the domain checker until you find a name that is both suitable and available.

[![Image: IONOS Domain Checker: Domain taken](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/1/e/csm_ionos-desired-domain-taken_8280d14268.webp "IONOS Domain Checker: Domain taken")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/ionos-desired-domain-taken.png) The domain checker from IONOS checks the status of the domain name and also provides you with suggestions for other domain extensions. As soon as you have found a domain for your Substack site, click on **Add to cart**. There you have the option to combine the domain with other IONOS products such as web hosting. Since you only need a domain, click on **Continue** and then **Domain only**. To complete the purchase, create an IONOS account or select payment via PayPal instead.

## How to set up a custom Substack domain step by step with IONOS

As soon as you have your own domain, you can **connect it to your Substack profile** at any time. Below we explain how to set this up using a IONOS domain as an example.

### Step 1: Unlock your own domain in Substack

If you want to publish under your own domain on Substack, you’ll first have to pay a fee of $50 (Last updated: January 2024). To unlock this feature, follow the steps below.

1. Log in to your Substack profile and open the dashboard.
2. Click on **Settings**.
3. Select **Domain**.
4. Click on **Add custom domain**
5. Enter your credit card number and the expiration date. Click on **Unlock Custom Domains** to complete the purchase process.

[![Image: Unlock custom domain in Substack](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/a/5/csm_substack-unlock-custom-domain_0449ec5385.webp "Unlock custom domain in Substack")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/substack-unlock-custom-domain.png) You can only publish your Substack under a custom domain once you have paid the one-time fee. ### Step 2: Create CNAME entry

As soon as you have unlocked the option for custom domains in Substack, you can link your Substack to the domain you just purchased. Instead of using the Unlock feature, you can insert your domain in the field that appears after clicking **Add custom domain**. You will then receive information for your CNAME record from Substack. Here’s how to create the entry if you have a domain from IONOS:

1. Log in to your IONOS customer account via the [login page](https://login.ionos.ca/ "IONOS Customer Account: Login").
2. Open the product category **Domains & SSL**.
3. Select the domain registered for Substack.
4. Click on the **DNS** tab in the top menu of the domain.
5. Click **Add record** and then select **CNAME** in the field labeled **Type**.
6. Enter the CNAME information you received and click **Save**.

[![Image: CNAME entry for IONOS domain](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/2/1/csm_ionos-new-cname-record_34749de421.webp "CNAME entry for IONOS domain")](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2024/ionos-new-cname-record.png) Example CNAME entry for a IONOS domain  Note The names for the individual fields in the CNAME record differ from provider to provider. For IONOS, enter the name you received from Substack in the **Host Name** field. The target value needs to be entered in the **Points to** field.

### Step 3: Check the status of your Substack domain

After linking your Substack to your custom domain, it can take up to 36 hours to complete configuration. You can check the progress at any time in the **Domain** menu of your Substack settings. Use the **Check status** button to do this.

Tip In our Digital Guide, you can also learn how to connect [Gmail with a custom domain](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/e-mail/technical-matters/gmail-with-custom-domain/).


This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/domains/domain-tips/substack-with-custom-domain/](https://www.ionos.ca/digitalguide/domains/domain-tips/substack-with-custom-domain/) for AI/LLM consumption.