Find out where your DNS lives today
In Namecheap's Domain List, click Manage and look at the Nameservers setting. Namecheap documents four options: BasicDNS (dns1 and dns2.registrar-servers.com), Web Hosting DNS (dns1 and dns2.namecheaphosting.com, used with Namecheap shared hosting), PremiumDNS, and Custom DNS. If the domain is on Web Hosting DNS, Namecheap says the Advanced DNS host records are not available and DNS is edited in cPanel's Zone Editor instead.
That is the trap in this move. Your MX, SPF, DKIM and verification records are sitting in the hosting account you are about to leave. Namecheap also says switching between custom and Namecheap default nameservers does not add host records automatically.
| Path | Nameservers after move | Where you edit records | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: SiteGround DNS | ns1.siteground.net, ns2.siteground.net | SiteGround DNS Zone Editor | Mail also moving to SiteGround |
| B: Namecheap BasicDNS | dns1.registrar-servers.com, dns2.registrar-servers.com | Namecheap Advanced DNS | Keeping DNS at the registrar, mail elsewhere |
| C: Stay on Web Hosting DNS | Unchanged | Namecheap cPanel | Not workable once Namecheap hosting is cancelled |
Step 1: Copy the zone and the site
Open cPanel's Zone Editor on the Namecheap hosting account and write down every record: A, CNAME, MX, TXT and SRV. Then back up the site. cPanel's Backup Wizard can produce partial backups of the home directory and MySQL databases; a full backup can only be restored automatically in WHM, so for SiteGround the partial files are what you would use in a manual move.
The usual route is SiteGround Migrator: generate a token in Site Tools under WordPress > Migrator and paste it into the plugin on the Namecheap site. SiteGround creates a temporary URL that is active for 48 hours for review.
Step 2: Decide where email lives
Mail hosted in Namecheap's cPanel goes away with the hosting plan. SiteGround includes email on its hosting plans, and its Email Migrator copies messages over IMAP from the old server into mailboxes you create first, up to 7 GB per mailbox, one mailbox at a time. If you use a separate mail provider instead, you only need to carry its MX and TXT records across.
Whatever you choose, create the new mailboxes before changing MX records, and plan a second Email Migrator run about 72 hours after the change, which SiteGround says catches late mail without creating duplicates.
Step 3: The exact DNS edits
Path A, SiteGround DNS: add your custom records in SiteGround's DNS Zone Editor first, then in Namecheap set Nameservers to Custom DNS and enter ns1.siteground.net and ns2.siteground.net. SiteGround says email will then be managed from your SiteGround account.
Path B, Namecheap BasicDNS: switch Nameservers to Namecheap BasicDNS, then immediately open Advanced DNS and add records under Host Records. Use @ for the bare domain and www for the subdomain. Namecheap's default TTL is 30 minutes.
- A record: host @, value the SiteGround IP from Client Area > Websites > Website Settings > Server Details.
- www: CNAME to your bare domain, or an A record with the same IP.
- MX: your mail provider's values, or SiteGround's if mail moves there.
- TXT: SPF, DKIM and DMARC, plus any verification strings for Google, Microsoft or payment providers.
- Any SRV or CNAME records for services such as video, email marketing or calendars.
Step 4: Verify before cancelling Namecheap hosting
Namecheap says nameserver changes can take up to 24 hours to reach local ISP caches, and record changes on a 30-minute TTL can take that long to appear. Test the site on the SiteGround temporary URL first, then again on the real domain once it resolves to SiteGround.
- Log in as a test student and as an administrator on the new copy; confirm the session survives a page change and a logout.
- Pick three real members at different stages and compare course progress, quiz attempts and certificates on both copies.
- Compare the number of active memberships or subscriptions and the newest five orders on both copies.
- Send a password reset and a purchase receipt from the new copy and confirm both arrive.
- Open a protected lesson while logged out and confirm it is still blocked.
- Send mail to and from each address and confirm delivery after the MX change.
Questions before you decide
Do I have to transfer my domain away from Namecheap?
No. You can keep the registration at Namecheap and either point nameservers to SiteGround or use Namecheap BasicDNS with an A record pointing at your SiteGround IP.
Why can I not see Advanced DNS host records in Namecheap?
Namecheap says host records are only available on BasicDNS, FreeDNS or PremiumDNS. On Web Hosting DNS or third-party nameservers, records are edited in cPanel or at the other provider.
Will switching to Namecheap BasicDNS keep my old records?
No. Namecheap says switching between custom and default nameservers does not add host records automatically, so recreate each one under Advanced DNS.
Sources & verification
Product details and prices can change. Check the linked provider before buying.
- Namecheap KB: How to change DNS for a domain Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- Namecheap KB: How do I set up host records for a domain? Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- cPanel Docs: Backup Wizard Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: Transfer a website with WordPress Migrator Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- SiteGround: WordPress Automatic Migrator tutorial Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: Point your domain to SiteGround Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- SiteGround KB: Transfer email from a previous host via Email Migrator Accessed 30 Oct 2026
- SiteGround: WordPress hosting plans Accessed 30 Oct 2026
Sources link directly to providers. Product buttons may use separately labeled affiliate links. Read our disclosure.