Transferring vs. pointing a domain at web hosting, which should I do?
There's a lot of confusing jargon when it comes to connecting your domain to an external web host. "Pointing," "assigning nameservers," and "transferring." All of these will do the job, but which is best? The answer can vary, but:
In 99% of cases, you do not need to transfer your domain to a web host, you only need to "point" the domain via DNS records, or assign the web host's nameservers.
Transferring to a web host
Let's start with transferring. Transferring means moving the registration of your domain (the annual fee you pay to keep the domain in your name) to another registrar, entirely leaving Porkbun as a customer. Keep in mind that if you transfer your domain away, you will no longer receive Porkbun's industry-low renewal rates.
At the time of writing this article, Porkbun enjoys the lowest renewal rate on 61% of the extensions it carries— that's compared to every other registrar out there!
If you're considering transferring a domain away from Porkbun, be sure to ask your new registrar what your new domain renewal price will be— you may be shocked at how much more you'd pay elsewhere.
Sometimes, web hosts will prompt you to transfer your domain away from Porkbun, even implying that it's necessary in order to use their web hosting service. Watch out for deceptive language! Typically, all you need to do is "point" your domain at your web host or assign nameservers, while keeping the registration of the domain here at Porkbun. This ensures you'll retain access to Porkbun's legendary prices, interface, and support.
Pointing your domain at a web host or assigning nameservers
There are two main ways you can connect your domain to a hosting provider without transferring out:
- Point your domain to your web hosting provider via DNS records. This is typically done with a combination of A records and CNAME records that are given to you by your web host.
- Change your nameservers to connect the domain to your web host.
This information is usually emailed to you upon purchase of a hosting plan, or shown on your web hosting control panel. You may need to contact support at your hosting company if it's not apparent.
IP addresses look like this: 172.16.32.205
Nameservers usually look like this:
- ns1.myhostingcompany.example
- ns2.myhostingcompany.example
Note
If you use Porkbun's email hosting or email forwarding services, it's usually easiest to "point" to your web host via DNS records, rather than assigning their nameservers. You can set things up however you'd prefer though!
For more specific information, review our articles that show you how to point your domain or assign nameservers:
How to point your domain at a web host
Nah, I still want to transfer away
We're sad to see you go, but no problem! We're so confident we're the best registrar out there, we make it super simple to leave. Here's how to transfer away: How to transfer a domain from Porkbun to another registrar.
If you need any assistance with making sure your domain is correctly configured, feel free to reach out to our support team.