> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.calstudio.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Custom Domain

> Connect your AI apps to your own domain for professional branding

<Info>
  Custom domains allow you to publish your CalStudio AI apps and App Studios on your own branded domain, providing a seamless experience for your users without any CalStudio branding.
</Info>

## Overview

Custom domains solve a major limitation of AI chatbots - the ability to share and deploy them on your own website. With CalStudio, you can:

* Host your AI apps on your own domain (e.g., `yourdomain.com` or `chat.yourdomain.com`)
* Share your apps publicly without requiring user sign-ups
* Maintain complete brand consistency
* Build trust with professional URLs
* Improve SEO and discoverability
* Embed apps directly on your existing website

## Prerequisites

Before setting up a custom domain, ensure you have:

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="CalStudio Pro Plan" icon="credit-card">
    Custom domains are available on Pro plans and above
  </Card>

  <Card title="Domain Ownership" icon="globe">
    A registered domain with DNS management access
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Step-by-Step Setup Process

### Step 1: Sign Up and Access Dashboard

1. Sign up on the [CalStudio platform](https://calstudio.com/)
2. Once signed up, you'll see your dashboard

### Step 2: Create Your AI App

1. Click on the **"Create App"** button in your dashboard
2. Fill out the app creation form with:
   * **App Name**: Choose a descriptive name
   * **Description**: Brief explanation of your app's purpose
   * **AI Model**: Select your preferred model (GPT-4, GPT-3.5, Claude, etc.)
   * **System Prompt**: Define your AI's behavior and personality
   * **Knowledge Base**: Optionally upload files for your AI to reference
3. Click **"Create App"** to generate your AI application

### Step 3: Test and Launch Your App

1. Test your app thoroughly using the built-in chat interface
2. Make any necessary adjustments to the prompt or settings
3. When satisfied, click **"Launch"** to make it publicly available

### Step 4: Publish to Custom Domain

1. In your app's dashboard, find the **Status** row
2. Click on the **"Publish"** option
3. Select **"Custom Domain"** from the publishing options
4. Enter your desired domain:
   * **Root domain**: `yourdomain.com`
   * **Subdomain**: `app.yourdomain.com` or `chat.yourdomain.com`

### Step 5: Configure DNS Settings

CalStudio will provide DNS records based on your domain type:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Subdomain (Recommended)">
    For subdomains like `chat.yourdomain.com`:

    1. **You'll receive a CNAME record** from CalStudio
    2. Add this record to your DNS provider:
       ```
       Type: CNAME
       Name: chat (or your chosen subdomain)
       Value: [provided-by-calstudio].calstudio.app
       TTL: 3600 (or default)
       ```
    3. Save your DNS changes

    <Note>
      Subdomains are easier to configure and don't affect your main website or email settings.
    </Note>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Root Domain">
    For root domains like `yourdomain.com`:

    1. **You'll receive NS (Name Server) records** from CalStudio
    2. These will be AWS Route 53 nameservers (not CalStudio nameservers)
    3. At your domain registrar, update your nameservers to the provided AWS records, which typically look like:
       ```
       ns-1234.awsdns-12.org
       ns-5678.awsdns-34.co.uk
       ns-9012.awsdns-56.com
       ns-3456.awsdns-78.net
       ```
    4. This process can take 24-48 hours to propagate globally

    <Warning>
      NS delegation affects your entire domain. All existing DNS records (including email, subdomains, etc.) will need to be recreated in the new DNS system. Consider using a subdomain instead if you have existing services on your root domain.
    </Warning>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

### Step 6: Verify Deployment

1. **Wait for DNS propagation** (usually 5-30 minutes for CNAME, up to 48 hours for NS)
2. Visit your custom domain
3. Your AI app should now be live!

<Tip>
  Use [DNS Checker](https://dnschecker.org) to verify your DNS records have propagated globally.
</Tip>

## Visual Walkthrough

<Note>
  Follow these step-by-step instructions to publish your Custom GPT to a custom domain using CalStudio.
</Note>

### 1. Sign Up on CalStudio

Navigate to [CalStudio](https://calstudio.com/) and create your account to get started.

![CalStudio Homepage](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/0*uHJLvKetzJvffIZD.png)

### 2. Create Your App

Once you have signed up, click on the "Create App" button in your dashboard.

![CalStudio Dashboard](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/1*HCa_DcwIkyoGtln0SfEtSw.png)

### 3. Configure Your AI App

Fill out the form with the necessary details:

* Select the AI model of your choice (GPT-4, GPT-3.5, Claude, etc.)
* Add a name and description
* Define the system prompt
* Optionally, add a knowledge base for your AI bot

![Create App Form](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/0*Ti6zqt58jBZjPr76.png)

### 4. Test and Launch

Click on "Create App" and you'll have your Custom GPT app created in the dashboard. Test this app and launch it, making it available to anyone publicly.

![App Dashboard](https://miro.medium.com/v2/resize:fit:1400/format:webp/0*2sajd4pZE3gAeYWh.png)

### 5. Publish to Custom Domain

To publish the app on a custom domain, click on the Publish option under the status row:

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/calstudio/PG9Jjo236T5umoqt/images/publish-modal.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PG9Jjo236T5umoqt&q=85&s=e077e123b03b37c3cff889994ab5e595" alt="CalStudio Publish Modal" width="600" data-path="images/publish-modal.png" />

Select "Custom Domain" to publish it to a custom domain. You'll then need to provide the domain name:

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/calstudio/PG9Jjo236T5umoqt/images/publish-modal-domain-input.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PG9Jjo236T5umoqt&q=85&s=360a18c8a4db25f99ebffe65d6bf9e9d" alt="CalStudio Custom Domain Input" width="600" data-path="images/publish-modal-domain-input.png" />

### 6. Configure DNS Records

After entering your domain, you'll receive DNS records to configure:

#### For Subdomains

When publishing to a subdomain (e.g., `app.yourdomain.com`), you'll receive two CNAME records:

<img src="https://mintcdn.com/calstudio/PG9Jjo236T5umoqt/images/subdomain-record.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=PG9Jjo236T5umoqt&q=85&s=25b7cb6797eed3627a17764730d1b81e" alt="CalStudio Subdomain DNS Records Example" width="800" data-path="images/subdomain-record.png" />

**Example records you'll receive:**

1. **SSL Certificate Validation Record**:
   * This CNAME record is required for SSL certificate validation
   * It will have a long, unique name starting with an underscore
   * The value points to AWS Certificate Manager for validation

2. **Website CNAME Record**:
   * This points your subdomain to your CalStudio app
   * Name: Your chosen subdomain (e.g., `app.yourdomain.com`)
   * Value: An AWS load balancer URL

**Important:** After adding these records, your website will be available at your custom domain. The first CNAME record is specifically for SSL certificate validation.

#### For Root Domains

Root domains will receive NS (nameserver) records as described in the DNS settings section above.

## Video Tutorial

<Info>
  For a detailed video walkthrough of the custom domain setup process, watch this [helpful tutorial](https://youtu.be/z2jqALQbSbk).
</Info>

## Studio Custom Domains

<Info>
  Studios can also be published to custom domains, allowing you to create your own AI marketplace under your branded domain. For the full step-by-step guide, see the dedicated [Custom Domain for Studios](/account/studio-custom-domain) page.
</Info>

## SSL Certificates

<Check>
  CalStudio automatically provisions and manages SSL certificates for all custom domains using AWS Certificate Manager. Your app will be served securely over HTTPS.
</Check>

## Best Practices

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Use Subdomains" icon="sitemap">
    Subdomains are easier to manage and don't affect your main website
  </Card>

  <Card title="Test First" icon="flask">
    Thoroughly test your app before connecting a production domain
  </Card>

  <Card title="Monitor Uptime" icon="chart-line">
    Set up monitoring to ensure your custom domain stays accessible
  </Card>

  <Card title="Keep Records" icon="clipboard">
    Document your DNS configuration for future reference
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## How to Add CNAME Records

Here's how to add the two CNAME records in popular DNS providers:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Cloudflare">
    1. Log in to Cloudflare dashboard
    2. Select your domain
    3. Go to **DNS** → **Records**
    4. Click **Add record**

    **For the SSL validation record:**

    * Type: CNAME
    * Name: Paste the long underscore name (e.g., `_ce016fc2...`)
    * Target: Paste the AWS validation value
    * Proxy status: **DNS only** (gray cloud)
    * TTL: Auto

    **For the subdomain record:**

    * Type: CNAME
    * Name: Your subdomain (e.g., `app`)
    * Target: Paste the AWS load balancer URL
    * Proxy status: **DNS only** (gray cloud)
    * TTL: Auto
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="GoDaddy">
    1. Sign in to GoDaddy Domain Control Center
    2. Select your domain
    3. Click **DNS** → **Manage DNS**
    4. Click **ADD** under records

    **For each CNAME record:**

    * Type: CNAME
    * Host: The record name (remove your domain from the end if GoDaddy adds it)
    * Points to: The target value
    * TTL: 1 hour

    5. Save both records
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Namecheap">
    1. Sign in to Namecheap
    2. Go to **Domain List** → **Manage**
    3. Select **Advanced DNS**
    4. Click **Add New Record**

    **For each CNAME record:**

    * Type: CNAME Record
    * Host: The record name (without your domain)
    * Value: The target value
    * TTL: Automatic

    5. Save all changes
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Google Domains">
    1. Sign in to Google Domains
    2. Click your domain
    3. Go to **DNS** → **Manage custom records**
    4. Click **Create new record**

    **For each CNAME record:**

    * Type: CNAME
    * Host name: The record name
    * Data: The target value
    * TTL: 1 hour

    5. Save both records
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Domain not working after 48 hours">
    * Verify DNS records are correctly configured
    * Check for typos in the domain name
    * Ensure no conflicting A or AAAA records exist
    * Contact support with your domain details
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="SSL certificate errors">
    * CalStudio automatically handles SSL certificates
    * If using Cloudflare, ensure proxy is disabled (DNS only)
    * Allow up to 24 hours for certificate provisioning
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Email stopped working (root domain)">
    * This occurs with NS delegation
    * You'll need to recreate MX records in CalStudio's DNS manager
    * Consider using a subdomain instead to avoid email issues
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Want to remove custom domain">
    * Remove the domain in CalStudio dashboard first
    * Then update/remove DNS records at your provider
    * Your app will revert to the CalStudio subdomain
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="White-Label Branding" icon="palette" href="/account/pricing">
    Remove all CalStudio branding (Pro Plus)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Embed Your App" icon="code" href="/quickstart">
    Embed your AI app on existing websites
  </Card>
</CardGroup>