Cloudflare is our preferred Domain Registration partner. They are very cost-effective, secure, and make it easy to manage all your domains in one place.

This article will help you get set up, whether you already own a domain, or are registering a brand new one for the first time.

Registering a brand new domain

If you do not already own a domain through a different domain registrar, you can create a free Cloudflare account and register a domain directly through them.

Here is the official knowledgebase article from Cloudflare on registering a new domain.

Linking an existing domain using Cloudflare

If you have already purchased a domain through a different provider, like:

  • GoDaddy
  • BlueHost
  • NameCheap
  • etc

You can still get the benefits of Cloudflare without having to transfer your domain ownership. Here's how to link your domain to Cloudflare:

Updated video instructions with John:

While there are many DNS options out there, we find Cloudflare to be one of the most robust options. It allows you to easily connect both your www. and non-www. of your domain and even keep the appropriate path in a permanent redirect. You can even utilize Cloudflare as a DNS manager without changing where your domain actually lives (and it's free!). Follow these steps to walk through adding your domain into Cloudflare. 

Step 1: Create a Cloudflare account.

  • Click the cloud icon at the top left to go to the dashboard.
  • Click +Add a Site
  • Enter the site name and click “Add Site”.
  • You’ll be directed to the plan page, where you can choose the option you prefer. If you scroll to the bottom you can select the free option, and then click Continue. 

Step 2: Configuring DNS records and changing nameservers

  • On the next page, Freedomkit will scan for existing DNS records.
  • Double check that all DNS records have been brought over
  • Turn off Proxy (Orange Cloud Icon) wherever available
  • Click Continue to change nameservers. Before actually making the change, ensure you save the existing nameservers in case you need to switch back to your existing set up. 
  • CloudFlare will tell you where the nameservers already exist. (In the video example, it shows a GoDaddy account. You’d need to log in to your GoDaddy account and change the nameservers over to the Cloudflare.)
    • Note: it is critical to point to Cloudflare's nameservers. It's critical for activating your site successfully. Otherwise Cloudflare cannot manage your DNS and optimize your site.
  • Click “Done, check nameservers” to continue
  • Skip Quick Start Guide
  • Double check that everything is live. 

As long as you have input all of the nameservers in the domain registrar, then you're good to go.