The default URL for a Caffeine app looks like your-project.caffeine.xyz. That works fine for experimenting, but if you are sharing an app with real users — a client portal, a community platform, a product you are proud of — the address matters. A domain like mydomain.com signals that this is a real, finished product. It builds trust with your users before they even see the app.
Custom Domains let you use your own domain name as the address for a Caffeine project, replacing the default URL entirely. You have two ways to get a custom domain working with Caffeine:
- Buy through Caffeine — search, purchase, and connect a domain entirely inside the platform using Caffeine Credits. No external registrar or DNS configuration required. See Buying and Managing Custom Domains for more details.
- Bring your own domain — use a domain you already own at an external registrar. Caffeine provides the DNS records you need to configure with your registrar, then connects the domain to your app. See Connecting a Domain You Already Own for more details.
Plan requirement
Custom Domains are available on Plus and Pro plans. You cannot purchase or manage domains on a Basic or Starter plan, though domains you already own are not removed if you downgrade.
What a custom domain does and doesn't include
A custom domain gives your app a professional public address. It does not include email hosting — owning mydomain.com through Caffeine does not give you a you@mydomain.com inbox.
However, your custom domain does affect outbound email. If your app sends emails (order confirmations, newsletters, verification emails, etc.), those emails are sent from your custom domain rather than the default Caffeine domain. For domains purchased through Caffeine, this works automatically. For external domains, you need to add the mail DNS records that Caffeine provides during setup — see Connecting a Domain You Already Own for details.
Ownership
Domains purchased through Caffeine: You own the right to use the domain for as long as it is registered. Caffeine acts as the registrar. Transferring a domain out of Caffeine to another registrar is supported but subject to timing restrictions. Under ICANN policy, domains cannot be transferred within 60 days of initial registration. After that window, contact support and the team will initiate the transfer manually — the process involves DNS updates and coordination on both sides and can take several days.
Domains you bring from an external registrar: You retain full ownership and management of the domain at your existing registrar. Caffeine only provides the DNS configuration needed to point the domain at your app.
Frequently asked questions
Do I actually own the domain, or is it Caffeine's?
For domains purchased through Caffeine, you own the right to use the domain. Transfers out to another registrar are possible after the 60-day ICANN lock period — contact support to initiate one. For domains you bring from your own registrar, you retain full ownership at that registrar.
Can I bring a domain I already own into Caffeine?
Yes. Caffeine supports connecting a domain you already own at an external registrar. You do not need to transfer the domain — you stay with your existing registrar and configure the DNS records that Caffeine provides. See Connecting a Domain You Already Own for the setup steps.
Does a custom domain affect email sending?
Yes. If your app sends emails, they are sent from your custom domain. For domains purchased through Caffeine, the required email DNS records are set up automatically. For external domains, you must add the mail DNS records (DKIM, SPF, and DMARC) at your registrar — without them, emails will not be delivered. See Email Sending for more details on how email works in Caffeine apps.
What happens to my domain if I cancel my subscription?
Your domain remains registered and continues routing traffic to your app. However, it becomes inaccessible inside the Caffeine platform — you cannot purchase new domains, reassign existing ones, or manage them until you resubscribe to a qualifying plan. Future renewal support is still being developed — see the troubleshooting article for details on expiration.
What happens to my domain if I downgrade my plan?
Your domain remains registered and continues routing traffic to your app. However, it becomes inaccessible inside the Caffeine platform — you cannot purchase new domains, reassign them to different projects, or manage them in any way until you upgrade back to Plus or Pro.