Before getting started

  1. Visit your account Profile to see your Kartra username. You will need this information to complete the integration.
  2. Contact your domain registrar’s support if you need help locating the DNS settings or creating a CNAME.
  3. If you already have a CNAME configured for www or your desired subdomain from a previous integration with another app, you must delete it and create a new one pointing to your Kartra account. The domain integration with your previous provider will stop working.

Step 1: Create a forwarding rule (main domain only)

First part of the setup process is done with the service provider where you purchased the domain.

Log into your domain registering service and go to DNS settings (sometimes called DNS Management or Domain Management).

If you are integrating a main domain, create a Forwarding rule that redirects from YourDomain.com to https://www.YourDomain.com. Instructions below capture most common cases.

Create a permanent redirect 301 to forward your domain

  1. Replace YourDomain in the image with your actual domain name
  2. The configuration must be set to Permanent redirect (301) and Forward path
  3. The forwarding rule ensures that users going to YourDomain.com are redirected to https://www.YourDomain.com and not elsewhere. Your domain provider’s support team can confirm if this is possible. 

Note: If your domain provider does not support domain forwarding, we recommend you use our subdomain option to avoid this entire step. When connecting a subdomain, you only need a CNAME (see Step 2).

Step 2: Create a CNAME record

Next, create a CNAME record and point it to your Kartra account. Instructions below capture most common cases.

Create a CNAME record in your DNS settings

In your DNS settings, add a new record:

  • Type: CNAME
  • Host: Depending on which option you choose, enter either www if integrating with your main domain, or enter your desired subdomain.
  • Target or Value: Enter username.kartra.com (replace username with your Kartra username).
  • TTL: Default value

Note: If you're unsure how to create a CNAME record in your domain host account (e.g., GoDaddy, Google Domains, Namecheap, etc.), we recommend contacting their support team. They can guide you through the process and help you add records to your account.

Step 3: Add your domain to Kartra

The next part of the setup process is done in Kartra.

  1. Visit Kartra Settings > Domains and add a domain by clicking the add domain button in the top right.
  2. Select if you’d like to create Only the main domain or Use a sub-domain, add the address and favicon and click Next in the upper right.
    • Pro Tip: If you already have a published site you want to keep associated with your main domain, a subdomain would better suit your needs.
    • The screenshot below shows how to set up a subdomain as home.YourDomain.com.
      Connect a custom subdomain to Kartra
  3. Tick the box to acknowledge Yes, I have completed the steps above to link my custom domain to Kartra in my domain service provider’s account and click Next in upper right.
    Set the index and 404 pages for your domain
  4. Set up your Index (home) and 404 error pages and click Next in the upper right.
    • Important: Do not input the domain you are connecting to Kartra as the external URL option for the index page. This will create an endless loop. 
  5. It can take up to 24 hours for a domain integration to be connected. After the domain connects in Kartra, you can use it to brand your Kartra asset URLs.

Custom domain processing

Custom domain connected

Important

  • Kartra will automatically provision a secure SSL certificate to your domain upon integration. This certificate ensures a secure environment for hosting checkout pages.
  • Kartra's comprehensive network, including all integrated domains, is safeguarded by the cloud-based server our system uses. You don’t need a personal CloudFlare account or other related accounts as long as you follow our setup instructions.

Support

If the CNAME was not created correctly, the domain won’t connect with Kartra and it will disappear from the Domains area. 

Reach out to our support team with full-screen images of the CNAME and Forwarding settings you created in your domain service provider’s account. This will allow Kartra support agents to see all your settings in the context of your account.