Root domain or subdomain: decide first
A root domain is the bare name, yourdomain.com. A subdomain is anything in front of it: www.yourdomain.com or courses.yourdomain.com. Standard DNS does not allow a CNAME record on the root, which is why most hosted platforms prefer subdomains; Kajabi's guide states directly that a root domain cannot use a CNAME.
If the domain is new and the course platform will be your whole web presence, putting it on www and redirecting the root is simple. If the domain already serves a WordPress site, a shop or email, put the platform on a subdomain such as courses or learn. That adds one record and changes nothing else.
The records each platform asks for
From each platform's custom domain help article on 30 October 2026. Use the exact values shown in your own dashboard where the platform generates them.
| Platform | Subdomain record | Root domain | Other requirements | Stated time to go live |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Teachable | CNAME www to your Teachable subdomain (for example school.teachable.com) | CNAME @ to your Teachable subdomain, as shown in its Cloudflare instructions; set both records to DNS only | Delete conflicting A, AAAA or CNAME records first; plan-dependent | 30 to 60 minutes of setup plus 24 to 48 hours to propagate |
| Thinkific | CNAME (www, learn, courses) to yoursite.thinkific.com | Not connected directly; create a 301 redirect from the root to www at your domain host | Paid plan; no A record option because IP addresses may change | Up to 24 hours |
| Kajabi | CNAME with the host and value displayed in Kajabi; TTL 14,400 if Auto is not offered | Change nameservers to the two Kajabi shows; Kajabi then creates www and redirects the root to it | Cloudflare records set to DNS only; never point the Kajabi CNAME at an email provider's value | Most within 24 hours, up to 48 |
| Podia | CNAME to sites.podia.com | Not documented as a direct connection; redirect the root to www (Podia suggests Redirect Pizza, which supplies an A record for the redirect) | One domain or subdomain per Podia site; remove other records on the same host name | Usually 24 to 48 hours |
Keeping email working
Email depends on MX records (and usually TXT records for SPF, DKIM and DMARC). Adding a CNAME for a subdomain does not touch those, which is why the subdomain route is the low-risk choice. Kajabi's guide says for CNAME setups not to delete or edit any existing records.
Kajabi's root-domain route is the exception. Switching nameservers moves all DNS for the domain to Kajabi. Kajabi warns that this can break webmail such as Google Workspace or Microsoft 365, tells you to screenshot every existing record including MX records before you change anything, and to check that MX records imported correctly afterwards.
Teachable's guide tells you to delete conflicting A, AAAA and CNAME records for the names you are connecting. That does not touch MX records, but if the root A record currently serves another website, deleting it takes that website offline.
Keeping an existing website alongside
Thinkific's FAQ describes the common pattern: keep your main site on your domain and put the school on a subdomain such as learn, courses or academy. The same works on all four platforms, because each accepts a subdomain CNAME and none requires you to change the root record for a subdomain connection.
Podia adds a limit: each Podia site supports a single domain or subdomain, so a second domain needs a second Podia account. Podia also notes that links in emails you have already sent stop working if you change the connected domain, so choose the subdomain before the first broadcast.
Step-by-step for a courses subdomain
- Export or screenshot the current DNS zone, including MX and TXT records.
- Lower the TTL on the record you will add if your DNS host allows it; Thinkific suggests the lowest available value.
- Add one CNAME: host courses, value from the platform (yoursite.thinkific.com, sites.podia.com, your Teachable subdomain, or Kajabi's displayed value).
- If your DNS is on Cloudflare, set the record to DNS only; Teachable and Kajabi both ask for this, and Teachable says a proxied record will break the domain.
- Check the record with a public DNS lookup before adding the domain in the platform.
- Add the domain in the platform settings and wait for verification and SSL.
- Test login, checkout and a lesson page on the new address, then send yourself a test email to confirm mail still arrives.
Questions before you decide
Can I use my root domain without www on a course platform?
Kajabi connects a root domain by moving your nameservers to Kajabi, and Teachable's Cloudflare instructions use a CNAME on @. Thinkific and Podia document subdomain connections and ask you to redirect the root to www at your domain host.
Will connecting a course platform break my email?
Not if you add a CNAME for a subdomain and leave MX records alone. The risk comes from switching nameservers, as Kajabi's root-domain method does; Kajabi tells you to screenshot all DNS records, including MX, first.
How long does a custom domain take to start working?
The platforms quote up to 24 hours (Thinkific), most within 24 and up to 48 hours (Kajabi), 24 to 48 hours (Podia), and 24 to 48 hours for full propagation with verification taking up to an hour (Teachable).
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Teachable: custom domains complete setup guide Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Thinkific: custom domains Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Thinkific: custom domain frequently asked questions Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Kajabi: connect a custom domain Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Podia: setting up a custom domain Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.