🌐 Applanta — Custom Domain Setup Guide
🌐
Custom Domain Setup Guide
How to connect a client's custom domain (or give them a branded subdomain) after their app is deployed — Cloudflare Pages, Firebase Hosting, and the clientname.applanta.app option.
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What the URL Looks Like Before a Custom Domain

Every app gets a default URL on deploy — here's what each platform gives you

Cloudflare Pages (Basic/Standard/Advanced)
tonys-barbershop.pages.dev
Auto-generated from your project name when you deploy to Cloudflare Pages. Works immediately, SSL included.
Firebase Hosting (Premium)
tonys-barbershop-app.web.app
Auto-generated from your Firebase project ID. Also available at tonys-barbershop-app.firebaseapp.com. SSL included.
✨ Branded Subdomain — Applanta.app
tonys-barbershop.applanta.app
You set this up with one DNS record. Costs $0. Client gets a clean branded URL without buying a domain. Looks very professional.
✅ Custom Domain (Best Option)
www.tonysbarbershop.com
Client's own domain. Most professional. Client pays ~$10-15/year for the domain. You connect it for free in 5 minutes.
Which option to offer: For most clients, start by connecting their existing domain if they have one — it's free to connect. If they don't have one, offer the branded subdomain (clientname.applanta.app) as the default — no cost, no domain registration needed, looks professional. Recommend upgrading to a real .com for long-term clients.
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Option A — Cloudflare Pages Custom Domain

For Basic, Standard, and Advanced plan builds

Cloudflare Pages
Basic / Standard / Advanced plans · dash.cloudflare.com
$0 to connect
  1. Go to dash.cloudflare.com → log in with your Cloudflare account
  2. Click Workers & Pages in the left sidebar → select the client's project
  3. Click Custom domains tab → click Set up a custom domain
  4. Enter the domain: tonysbarbershop.com (no www first) → click Continue
  5. If the domain is registered on Cloudflare Registrar: Cloudflare auto-configures everything — click Activate domain and it's done in ~2 minutes.
  6. If the domain is at Namecheap, GoDaddy, Google Domains, etc.: Cloudflare shows you a CNAME record to add. Log into the registrar → DNS settings → add this record:
    TypeName / HostValue / TargetTTL
    CNAME@ (or blank)your-project.pages.devAuto / 3600
    CNAMEwwwyour-project.pages.devAuto / 3600
  7. Back in Cloudflare Pages, click Check DNS record — once verified, click Activate domain
  8. SSL certificate provisions automatically — usually live in 5–30 minutes
💰 $0 to connect
⏱ Live in 5–30 min
🔒 SSL automatic
🌍 Works for .com, .net, .co, any TLD
Pro tip — move the domain to Cloudflare Registrar: If the client doesn't have a domain yet, register it directly through Cloudflare Registrar at cost price (~$9/year for .com). Custom domain connection is then 100% automatic — no manual DNS steps at all. Fastest and cheapest option.
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Option B — Firebase Hosting Custom Domain

For Premium builds and analytics-heavy apps

Firebase Hosting
Premium plan builds · console.firebase.google.com
$0 to connect
  1. Go to console.firebase.google.com → select the client's Firebase project
  2. Click Hosting in the left sidebar → click Add custom domain
  3. Enter the domain: tonysbarbershop.com → click Continue
  4. Firebase shows a TXT record to verify you own the domain. Go to your domain registrar (Namecheap / GoDaddy / Google Domains) → DNS settings → add:
    TypeName / HostValueTTL
    TXT@ (or blank)(long string Firebase gives you)3600
  5. Back in Firebase, click Verify — may take 5–15 minutes for DNS to propagate
  6. After verification, Firebase provides two A records (IP addresses). Add them at your registrar:
    TypeName / HostValueTTL
    A@ (or blank)151.101.1.1953600
    A@ (or blank)151.101.65.1953600
    CNAMEwwwtonysbarbershop.com3600
    Note: Firebase gives you the exact IPs — use theirs, not the ones above as examples.
  7. Click Finish — Firebase provisions an SSL certificate automatically
  8. Full propagation: usually 10–60 minutes, sometimes up to 24 hours
💰 $0 to connect
⏱ Live in 10–60 min
🔒 SSL automatic
📋 Requires TXT verification step
Heads up — Firebase takes 2 steps: First you verify (TXT record), then you point (A records). It's a 2-round trip to the registrar. Don't skip the verification step or the domain won't activate.
✨

Option C — Branded Subdomain (clientname.applanta.app)

Client doesn't need a domain — they get a professional URL on yours for free

clientname.applanta.app
Works with both Cloudflare Pages and Firebase · No client domain needed
$0 · Instant branding
Yes — this is 100% real and free. Since you own applanta.app, you can give every client a subdomain like tonys-barbershop.applanta.app. One DNS record, zero cost, looks professional, and clients never need to buy or manage a domain themselves.

Setup for Cloudflare Pages (most common):

  1. Go to dash.cloudflare.com → select the applanta.app domain → click DNS
  2. Click Add record:
    TypeNameTargetProxy
    CNAMEtonys-barbershoptonys-barbershop.pages.devProxied ✓
  3. Go to Workers & Pages → client's project → Custom domains → Set up a custom domain
  4. Enter: tonys-barbershop.applanta.app → Cloudflare detects the DNS record automatically → click Activate domain
  5. Done — live in under 2 minutes. URL: https://tonys-barbershop.applanta.app

Setup for Firebase Hosting:

  1. In Firebase Console → Hosting → Add custom domain → enter tonys-barbershop.applanta.app
  2. Firebase gives you a TXT record for verification — add it in Cloudflare DNS under the applanta.app zone:
    TypeNameValue
    TXTtonys-barbershop(string Firebase gives you)
  3. Click Verify in Firebase → then add the two A records Firebase gives you:
    TypeNameValue
    Atonys-barbershop(IP Firebase gives you)
    Atonys-barbershop(second IP Firebase gives you)
  4. Firebase provisions SSL. Live in 10–30 minutes.
💰 $0 — no domain purchase needed
⏱ Cloudflare: under 2 min · Firebase: 10-30 min
🔒 SSL automatic
Name format recommendation: Use the business name in kebab-case (lowercase, hyphens): tonys-barbershop.applanta.app, cutting-edge-salon.applanta.app, welcome-foods.applanta.app. Keep it short — under 20 characters looks best.
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Getting a Domain for a Client

Where to buy, how much it costs, who pays

Registrar .com Price/Year Notes
Cloudflare Registrar BEST ~$9.15/yr At-cost pricing, no markup. Automatic integration with Cloudflare Pages — custom domain connects in 1 click, no manual DNS.
Namecheap ~$10–12/yr Popular, clean interface, solid DNS editor. Good for clients who want to own their domain themselves.
Google Domains (Squarespace) ~$12/yr Simple to use. Some clients already have one here. Slightly more expensive.
GoDaddy ~$20+/yr (after year 1) Avoid for renewals — intro pricing is cheap but renewal prices are high. Upsells constantly.
Who pays for the domain? Two options:
Option 1 — Client pays: Walk them to Namecheap or Cloudflare Registrar, they buy it themselves, you connect it. They own it. Cleanest setup.
Option 2 — You buy it: Register it yourself, fold the ~$10/year cost into their first year's hosting fee. They don't have to think about it. Works well for clients who aren't tech-savvy.

Recommended default: For new clients, offer them clientname.applanta.app first (free, instant) and tell them they can upgrade to their own .com at any time for ~$10/year.

⚡ Quick Reference — Custom Domain Cheat Sheet

Default URL — Cloudflare Pages
projectname.pages.dev
Default URL — Firebase Hosting
projectid.web.app
Branded subdomain (free)
clientname.applanta.app
Cloudflare Pages — time to connect
5–30 minutes
Firebase Hosting — time to connect
10–60 minutes
Branded subdomain — time to connect
Under 2 min (Cloudflare) · 30 min (Firebase)
Cost to connect a domain
$0 on all platforms
Domain registration cost
~$9–12/year (.com)
SSL certificate
Free · Auto-provisioned on all platforms
Cloudflare login
dash.cloudflare.com
Firebase Console
console.firebase.google.com
Cheapest domain registrar
Cloudflare Registrar (~$9.15/yr, at-cost)
Applanta Solutions · Custom Domain Reference · Updated 2026-05-26 · Owner-only document