Choosing the right option for moving your Squarespace domain

Change where your custom domain leads visitors by moving, connecting, forwarding, or pointing the domain.

Last updated January 28, 2025

If you have a Squarespace-managed domain, there are a few ways to change where it leads visitors. The best way to do that depends on what type of site you want it to lead to.

If you want to direct traffic to…

This guide will help you choose the best option.

Tip

If you have a third-party domain, visit Moving a third-party domain between Squarespace sites instead.

Move or connect a domain

If you want your domain to go to a Squarespace site, you can move it. This merges your domain's billing and permissions with the site's. If your domain is currently parked, you can choose to connect it instead; this keeps the domain's billing and permissions separate.

Use the table below to understand the differences between moving and connecting and decide which option is best for you.

  Move Connect

What visitors see

The site you moved your domain to.

The site you connected your domain to.

Eligibility

Any domain can be moved to a Squarespace website.

Only parked Squarespace domains can be connected to a Squarespace site.

Use if...

  • You want your domain and website subscriptions to have the same billing and permission information
  • You want the same contributors to have access to your domain and website.
  • You want to take advantage of the free domain or free Google Workspace offers.
  • You want to use different payment methods to pay for your domain and your website
  • You want team members to manage your domain without granting them access to your website

How to set it up

Use the steps in Moving a Squarespace domain between Squarespace sites. Use the steps in Connecting a Squarespace domain to a Squarespace site.

Forward or point a domain

Tip

This is an advanced step. We recommend moving or connecting if possible.

You can forward or point a domain to direct it to a site or page. Whether you should forward or point your domain depends on what you want visitors to see when they go to your domain:

  • Forward - Visitors see the new site, and the URL changes to the second site’s URL
  • Point - Visitors see the new site, but the URL doesn't change
  Forward Point

What visitors see

The new site. The URL changes to the new site’s URL.

The new site. The URL doesn't change.

What you need

  • The domain or subdomain name
  • A target URL, either on the same Squarespace site or any non-Squarespace site
  • The domain or subdomain name
  • A target URL to enter as a CNAME OR an IP address to enter as an A record, from any non-Squarespace site

How to set it up

Use the steps in Forwarding a Squarespace domain.

Use the steps in Pointing a Squarespace domain.

Point a subdomain

To point a subdomain to another Squarespace site, follow our steps for setting up the correct records on both sites. It’s not possible to point a domain or subdomain to a different page of the same Squarespace site.

Other moving options

If the options above don't match what you want to do, use the table below to understand other methods of redirecting your domain's traffic.

If you want to...

Try this instead

Use the same site with a different domain name

Follow our steps to change your primary domain and maintain your online following

Move the domain to a different platform because you're leaving Squarespace

Transfer the domain away from Squarespace to your new provider

Forward traffic from an inactive or changed URL to an active page

Create a URL redirect

Direct a primary domain to a different page on your site

Set a new homepage

Direct a subdomain to the homepage on the same site

Create a subdomain and set it as the primary domain

Direct a domain/subdomain to a specific page on a different site

Follow our steps to forward your domain using a preset

Forward or point a domain/subdomain you registered through a third party

Follow your provider's documentation

Forward traffic from an active domain, and all of its URL slugs, to a new domain

Follow our steps to set up path forwarding

Rebrand your site with a new domain

If you keep your old domain linked to your site, it will automatically redirect to your new domain. To learn more, visit Maintaining your online presence after changing your domain.

 

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Choosing the right option for moving your Squarespace domain