How to Use a Custom Domain for Short Links

Custom domains let you replace urlnix.live with your own branded domain for all your short links. Instead of urlnix.live/summer, your links look like go.yourbrand.com/summer. Setup takes about 5 minutes and requires only a CNAME record in your DNS settings.

Prerequisites

  • A URLNIX Pro account
  • A domain name registered with any domain registrar (Namecheap, GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Google Domains, etc.)
  • Access to your domain's DNS settings

Step 1: Add the Domain in URLNIX

  1. In your URLNIX Dashboard, go to Settings → Custom Domains
  2. Click Add Domain
  3. Enter your domain or subdomain (e.g., go.yourbrand.com)
  4. URLNIX will show you the CNAME record to add to your DNS

Step 2: Add the CNAME Record in Your DNS

In your domain registrar or DNS provider's control panel, create a new DNS record:

  • Type: CNAME
  • Host / Name: the subdomain (e.g., go if you're using go.yourbrand.com)
  • Value / Points to: the CNAME target shown in URLNIX (e.g., cname.urlnix.live)
  • TTL: Auto or 300 seconds

If you want to use your root domain (yourbrand.com without a subdomain), your DNS provider needs to support ALIAS, ANAME, or CNAME Flattening records. Most modern providers (Cloudflare, AWS Route 53) support this.

Step 3: Verify and Activate in URLNIX

Return to URLNIX Dashboard → Settings → Custom Domains. URLNIX checks your DNS automatically every few minutes. Once the CNAME propagates, the domain status changes to Verified and your custom domain is live.

DNS propagation typically takes 5–30 minutes for major registrars but can take up to 48 hours in rare cases.

Creating Links with Your Custom Domain

After verification, select your custom domain from the domain dropdown when creating a new short link. Links you create will use your domain: go.yourbrand.com/abc123.

Existing urlnix.live links continue to work unchanged — they are not affected by adding a custom domain.

SSL / HTTPS

URLNIX automatically provisions an SSL certificate for every verified custom domain using Let's Encrypt. Your short links will be served over HTTPS with no additional setup required. The certificate provisions within a few minutes of domain verification.

Multiple Domains

Each Pro workspace can connect up to 5 custom domains. You might use one domain per brand or region:

  • go.brandone.com — for Brand One campaigns
  • link.brandtwo.io — for Brand Two campaigns

When creating a link, select which domain to use from the dropdown. Analytics are tracked per link regardless of which domain it uses.