How to connect Namecheap domain to Cloudflare
Below is the step-by-step tutorial to connect Namecheap domain to Cloudflare, you need to prepare following things
Make sure your domain name is managed by Namecheap
Register an account on Cloudflare, free plan avalable
By connecting your domain to Cloudflare, it will become the primary DNS provider for your domain, meaning your DNS records are managed at Cloudflare, after sucessfully connect you can be able to connect your domain to Squarespace websites or workspace email.
Getting Cloudflare’s nameservers
1. Go to Cloudflare dashboard at https://dash.cloudflare.com/
2. Select Website - Click Add a site
In the Add site screen you will go through several steps
3. Add your domain name in domain name text box - Press Continue
4. On the next page you will need to a plan. Let’s choose a Free plan for now. Click on its box and the Confirm plan button to proceed:
5. After plan is confirmed, you will be moved on to the next step you for scanning the current DNS of your domain, press Start quick scan - Press Continue when scan finish, you can change DNS records later
6. In the next step you will be given 2 domain nameservers, now log into Namecheap account dashboard to assign it to your domain
If you domain registrar is not Namecheap, find the correct one here Find your registrar on ICANN WHOIS
Assign nameservers
Keep the Cloudflare browser tab opened and open new tab to login into your Namecheap account
1. Go to Account - choose Domain List
2. Click on the Manage button on the domain you want to connect with Cloudflare
3. On the Domain tab, please click the drop-down menu next to the Nameservers option and select the Custom nameservers type:
4. Enter the given nameservers from Cloudflare, and press the green check mark to Save
Check the nameservers
Once the nameservers are set up, return to the Cloudflare tab and click Continue on the Activation step, you will be landed on Review tab, if it states that the Status: Initializing, meaning your domain connection is pending, you may need to way about 24 - 48 hours before your domain on Cloudflare is active
Manage domain on Cloudflare
I waited about 24 hours for the domain to be connected to Cloudflare, after getting the email notification about the status of the domain, the domain now is:
Domain status is Active
Cloudflare is now the DNS manager, while registrar still Namecheap. DNS Setup: Full
Selected plan is Free
NOTE: After the nameservers change to Cloudflare all the DNS records for your domain in Namecheap cPanel will be no longer active. You'll need to set up the new DNS records in your Cloudflare account too. So, if you're changing your email service provider or updating your domain's IP address, make sure to update the MX and A records accordingly.
DNS records
To manager DNS records for your connected domain, access DNS - Records in Cloudflare dashboard
On the DNS Records page (1), you can manage the DNS records for your domain by adding or deleting records. To add a record, follow these steps:
Click on the +Add Record button (2).
Select the type of record you need.
Enter the hostname (subdomains or the domain itself) and the value of the record (3). The TTL will be set automatically.
Once the record is ready, click Save (4).
You can also toggle the Cloudflare service for each record by clicking the orange or grey cloud icon under the Proxy status column (5) to activate or deactivate it.
Other benefits
After successful connect domain to Cloudflare your website can be benefit from
Cloudflare rules: Allows you to adjust requests and responses, configure Cloudflare settings, and trigger specific actions for matching requests.
IP Access rules: Use IP Access rules to allow, block, or challenge traffic based on the visitor’s IP address, country, or Autonomous System Number (ASN).
Worker routes: Map URL patterns to Workers, enabling them to execute based on the route of an incoming request. The free worker plan allows up to 100,000 requests per day, offering a serverless environment to run your application at a low cost.
Learn more about Cloudflare benefits via this page
What’s next
After connect Namecheap domain to Cloudflare, now we will connect the domain to Squarespace
FAQs
Question: Will this move my domain to Cloudflare?
No, this process does not move your domain to Cloudflare. Instead, it points your domain's DNS to Cloudflare, making Cloudflare your DNS manager.
Question: How do I connect my domain to Squarespace?
After connecting to Cloudflare, you can add Squarespace DNS records directly in the Cloudflare dashboard to link your domain to your Squarespace website.
Question: What are the benefits of using Cloudflare?
Cloudflare offers various benefits, including improved site performance, enhanced security features, DDoS protection, and global content delivery through their CDN.
Question: Is Cloudflare free?
Yes, Cloudflare offers a free plan with essential features, suitable for most personal and small business websites.
Question: How long does it take for DNS changes to propagate?
DNS changes typically take between 24-48 hours to fully propagate, but it can sometimes be faster.
Question: Can I still manage my email through Namecheap after connecting to Cloudflare?
Yes, you can manage your email through Namecheap or any other email provider by configuring the necessary DNS records in Cloudflare.
