Use a YWT Domain with an External Host
Configure DNS records to point your YWT-registered domain to an external hosting provider like Vercel, Netlify, or GitHub Pages.
Use a YWT Domain with an External Host
You do not have to use YWT's built-in hosting to put your domain to work. Many developers prefer external platforms like Vercel, Netlify, or GitHub Pages for deploying their sites. This guide shows you how to configure the DNS records at YWT so your domain points to your external host.
Before you begin
- You need a domain registered at YWT. If you do not have one yet, see Register a domain or Transfer a domain.
- Your domain should be using YWT nameservers so you can manage DNS in your YWT account. If you want to keep managing DNS at YWT, do not switch nameservers.
- You should have already created a project or site at your external hosting provider and have it ready to accept a custom domain.
Nameservers at YWT vs. switching nameservers. Some hosting providers ask you to change your nameservers to theirs. You can do this, but it means you lose access to YWT's DNS manager and must manage all DNS at the external provider. In most cases, it is simpler to keep YWT nameservers and add the required DNS records directly. All the instructions below assume you are keeping YWT nameservers.
Provider-specific DNS configuration
Vercel supports custom domains through A records (for the root domain) and CNAME records (for subdomains).
Add your domain in Vercel
- Open your Vercel project dashboard.
- Go to Settings > Domains.
- Add your domain (e.g.
example.ch). - Vercel will show you the DNS records to configure.
DNS records at YWT
Add the records Vercel shows in the YWT DNS manager. The values below are examples of Vercel's general-purpose records, but your project dashboard is the source of truth.
Root domain (example.ch):
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 76.76.21.21 |
www subdomain:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | www | value shown by Vercel, such as cname.vercel-dns-0.com |
Vercel may show domain-specific DNS values. Always use the values shown in your Vercel project's domain settings rather than copying from this guide.
Netlify uses a load balancer IP for root domains and a CNAME for subdomains.
Add your domain in Netlify
- Open your Netlify site dashboard.
- Go to Domain management > Add custom domain.
- Enter your domain and confirm.
DNS records at YWT
Root domain (example.ch):
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 75.2.60.5 |
www subdomain:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | www | yoursite.netlify.app |
Replace yoursite with your actual Netlify site name.
Netlify also supports ALIAS/ANAME records for the root domain. If Netlify shows different values for your site, use the values in the Netlify dashboard.
GitHub Pages supports custom domains with A records for the root and a CNAME for subdomains.
Configure GitHub Pages
- In your GitHub repository, go to Settings > Pages.
- Under Custom domain, enter your domain (e.g.
example.ch). - Check Enforce HTTPS once DNS is verified.
DNS records at YWT
Root domain (example.ch):
Add four A records pointing to GitHub's servers:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 185.199.108.153 |
| A | @ | 185.199.109.153 |
| A | @ | 185.199.110.153 |
| A | @ | 185.199.111.153 |
www subdomain:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| CNAME | www | yourusername.github.io |
Replace yourusername with the GitHub Pages default domain for the repository owner, such as yourusername.github.io or yourorg.github.io.
AAAA records (optional, recommended)
For IPv6 support, also add these AAAA records:
| Type | Name | Value |
|---|---|---|
| AAAA | @ | 2606:50c0:8000::153 |
| AAAA | @ | 2606:50c0:8001::153 |
| AAAA | @ | 2606:50c0:8002::153 |
| AAAA | @ | 2606:50c0:8003::153 |
The general process is the same for any hosting provider:
Step 1: Get the required DNS records from your host
Your hosting provider will tell you which DNS records to add. This is usually one of:
- An A record pointing to their server's IP address (for root domains).
- A CNAME record pointing to a hostname they provide (for subdomains or root domains if they support CNAME flattening).
- Sometimes both.
Step 2: Add the records at YWT
Open the YWT DNS manager for your domain and add the records exactly as your hosting provider specifies.
Step 3: Verify at your host
Most providers have a verification step that checks whether the DNS records are in place. Run that check and wait for confirmation.
If your provider asks you to change nameservers instead of adding DNS records, you have two options: (1) keep YWT nameservers and ask your provider for the equivalent DNS records, or (2) change your nameservers in the YWT domain settings. Option 1 is usually simpler because it keeps all your DNS management in one place.
General steps
Regardless of provider, the workflow follows this pattern:
Register or transfer your domain at YWT
Make sure your domain is active in your YWT account and using YWT nameservers. See Register a domain or Transfer a domain.
Add the domain to your external host
In your hosting provider's dashboard, add your custom domain to the relevant project or site. The provider will show you the DNS records you need to create.
Configure DNS records at YWT
Open the YWT DNS manager and add the records your hosting provider specified. Double-check the record types, names, and values.
Wait for propagation
DNS changes typically propagate within a few minutes when using YWT nameservers, but can take up to 48 hours in rare cases. You can use dig yourdomain.ch or an online propagation checker to monitor progress.
Verify and enable HTTPS
Once your domain resolves to your external host, verify the connection in your hosting provider's dashboard. Most providers (Vercel, Netlify, GitHub Pages) will automatically provision an SSL certificate for your domain.
Tips
- Lower your TTL before switching. If you are migrating from one host to another, reduce the TTL on your DNS records to 300 seconds (5 minutes) a day in advance. This ensures the switch happens faster.
- Test with a subdomain first. If you are nervous about changing your root domain, try connecting a subdomain like
staging.example.chfirst. Once you confirm it works, apply the same approach to the root domain. - Keep YWT for email. Even if your website is hosted elsewhere, you can still manage MX, SPF, and DKIM records at YWT for email delivery. See Email setup.
Next steps
- Review the DNS record types reference for a full explanation of each record type.
- Learn about managing DNS records in your YWT account.
- Read about common DNS setups for more examples and recipes.
Set Up Email for Your Domain
Configure DNS records to use your YWT domain with an external email provider like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, or ProtonMail.
Migrate from Another Registrar
Complete guide to migrating your domain, DNS records, and services from another registrar to YourWebTech (ywt.ch).