You connect a domain to HubSpot through Settings > Website > Domains & URLs. Once connected, that domain hosts your HubSpot-built website pages and blog. The setup takes around 15 minutes if your DNS records are accessible, and HubSpot verifies the connection automatically.
This guide explains what domain management in HubSpot covers and how to run the connection process. It also covers the most common issues that come up for Southeast Asian teams.
What is domain management in HubSpot?
Domain management in HubSpot covers the connection between your web addresses and the HubSpot content system. Through the Domains & URLs settings, you can:
- Connect a primary domain for your main website (for example,
yourcompany.com) - Add secondary domains for different regions or brands
- Set up subdomains for specific content types (for example,
blog.yourcompany.comorinfo.yourcompany.com) - Configure redirects at the domain level
- Choose the default language and content settings per domain
HubSpot distinguishes between your primary domain (the one that sets the base URL for your whole site) and secondary domains (additional connected domains that can host separate content or redirects).
What do you need before connecting a domain?
Before you start the domain connection process in HubSpot, confirm these are in place:
- Access to your domain registrar or DNS provider (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, or your local provider)
- Permission to add or edit DNS records (CNAME or A record)
- A HubSpot account with CMS Hub or a Marketing Hub subscription that includes website pages
- The domain itself: either one you already own or one you have just registered
If your domain is managed through a local registrar in Thailand or Southeast Asia, the DNS interface may look different from the examples in HubSpot’s support documentation. The record types remain the same. You add a CNAME or A record pointing to HubSpot’s servers regardless of the registrar.
How do you connect a primary domain in HubSpot?
In HubSpot, go to Settings (the gear icon) then navigate to Website > Domains & URLs. Click Connect a domain.
Choose what you want to host on this domain. For most teams, start with website pages on the primary domain.
Type the exact domain or subdomain you want to connect. For a root domain (for example, yourcompany.com), HubSpot will prompt you to use a www prefix or set up an apex domain redirect.
HubSpot displays the specific CNAME or A record values you need to add at your registrar. Copy these exactly, including the host value and the points-to value.
Log in to your registrar and find the DNS settings for the domain. Add the record. DNS propagation typically takes a few minutes to a few hours. HubSpot checks automatically.
Return to Settings > Domains & URLs and click Verify. Once HubSpot confirms the DNS record exists, the domain status changes to Connected.
Once connected, you can start building and publishing HubSpot website pages on that domain. You can also choose a CMS theme to control the visual style of every page published under it.
What is the difference between a primary domain and a secondary domain?
Your primary domain is the base URL that HubSpot uses for your main site. It appears in the URL of every page you publish unless you override it at the page level.
A secondary domain is an additional connected domain. You might add a secondary domain to:
- Host a regional version of your site (for example, a .th domain for Thai-language content)
- Redirect a legacy domain to your new primary
- Separate a product brand from the main company website
Both types go through the same connection process. The distinction matters when you are building pages: you pick which domain a page publishes to inside the page-level settings.
How do you handle subdomains in HubSpot?
Subdomains are the most common setup for HubSpot pages, because many teams already have a main website on a separate platform and want to run only specific sections through HubSpot. A typical pattern looks like this:
- yourcompany.com serves the main website (existing platform)
- info.yourcompany.com hosts HubSpot landing pages
- blog.yourcompany.com hosts the HubSpot blog
Each subdomain goes through the same connection steps as a primary domain. You add a separate CNAME record for each one at your DNS provider. HubSpot treats each subdomain as an independent connected domain.
For landing pages, a subdomain like info. or go. is a clean separation: your main site stays untouched, and your HubSpot-generated pages have their own URL space.
What do you do if your domain verification fails?
Verification failures usually come down to one of two causes.
DNS propagation is still in progress. After you add a record at your registrar, it can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate globally. Wait, then retry the verification in HubSpot.
The record was entered incorrectly. Common mistakes include adding a trailing dot to the CNAME value or using the full domain in the Host field instead of just the hostname. Compare what you entered at your registrar against the values shown in HubSpot’s settings, character by character.
If you are using Cloudflare, make sure the orange cloud (proxy) is turned off for the CNAME record pointing to HubSpot. Cloudflare’s proxy layer sits between HubSpot’s verification check and the actual record, which causes the check to fail. Set it to DNS-only (grey cloud) for the connected domain record.
Frequently asked questions
Can I connect more than one domain to a single HubSpot portal?
Yes. HubSpot allows multiple connected domains per portal. Each one can host separate content types, or you can use redirects to funnel traffic from multiple domains to one primary.
Does HubSpot provide SSL for connected domains?
Yes. HubSpot provisions SSL certificates automatically for connected domains at no extra cost. Once your domain is connected and verified, HTTPS is enabled.
What happens to my domain if I cancel HubSpot?
Your domain registration stays with your registrar. HubSpot does not own your domain. After cancellation, pages hosted on HubSpot will go offline. You retain full control of the domain and can point it to a new host.
Can I use a country-code top-level domain like .th or .sg?
Yes. HubSpot supports country-code TLDs. The connection process is identical. The only difference may be the interface at your local registrar when adding DNS records.
What is an apex domain and does HubSpot support it?
An apex domain (also called a root domain) is a domain without a subdomain prefix, for example yourcompany.com rather than www.yourcompany.com. HubSpot supports apex domain connections, though the recommended approach is to connect the www version and set up a redirect from the apex to www. This is a common DNS limitation rather than a HubSpot restriction.
This is an independent informational resource produced by a HubSpot Platinum Partner. HubSpot is a trademark of HubSpot, Inc.
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