Set up your custom domain

In this article: How to point your own subdomain to Ruzuku Pro so students see your brand, not ours. Pro Plan

What you'll need

With Ruzuku Pro, your courses live at your own web address — like courses.yoursite.com instead of yourname.ruzuku.com. Students see your brand everywhere.

To set this up, you need:

A Ruzuku Pro account
A domain you own (e.g., yoursite.com) with access to its DNS settings
About 10 minutes (most of which is waiting for DNS to propagate)

Step 1: Choose your subdomain

Your Ruzuku Pro site uses a subdomain — a prefix added to your existing domain. Pick something that fits your brand:

courses.yoursite.com
learn.yoursite.com
academy.yoursite.com
school.yoursite.com
programs.yoursite.com

Choose whatever makes sense for your audience. Just make sure you're not already using that subdomain for something else.

Step 2: Create a CNAME record

A CNAME record tells web browsers where to find your subdomain. You'll add this in your domain registrar's DNS settings (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, etc.).

Log into your domain registrar or DNS provider.
Go to DNS settings (sometimes called "DNS management" or "DNS records").
Add a new CNAME record:
- Name / Host: Your subdomain prefix only (e.g., courses — not the full URL)
- Value / Points to: courses.ruzuku.com
- TTL: Leave as default (or set to 3600)
Save the record.

Example CNAME record showing subdomain pointing to courses.ruzuku.com

Tip: Only enter the subdomain prefix (e.g., academy), not the full URL. Your DNS provider adds the rest automatically.

If you have a web developer or tech-savvy colleague, this is a quick ask — it takes them about 2 minutes.

Step 3: Connect your domain in Ruzuku

Once your CNAME record is saved:

Log into your Ruzuku account.
Click your profile picture in the top right, then select Account.
Click the Site tab.
The setup wizard walks you through connecting your domain. Click past the first two steps (you've already purchased your domain and configured the CNAME).
On the Verify step, enter your full subdomain (e.g., courses.yoursite.com) and click Verify my subdomain.
Once verified, enter a site name (this appears in emails and page headers) and optionally upload a logo.
Click Activate Ruzuku Pro on [your domain].

Your custom domain is now live.

Tip: DNS changes usually take 15 minutes to a few hours to propagate. If verification doesn't succeed right away, Ruzuku will keep checking automatically. Wait an hour and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take for the domain to start working?

DNS changes typically take 15 minutes to a few hours to propagate. In rare cases, it can take up to 24 hours. If your domain isn't working after 24 hours, email support@ruzuku.com.

Can I use my root domain (mywebsite.com) instead of a subdomain?

Ruzuku Pro requires a subdomain (like courses.mywebsite.com). You can't point a bare root domain to Ruzuku, but you can choose any subdomain prefix you like.

Will my existing course links still work?

Yes. Your original ruzuku.com URLs will continue to work and redirect to your custom domain. Students with old bookmarks won't lose access.

Can I change my custom domain after setup?

Changing or removing your custom domain requires help from the Ruzuku team. Email support@ruzuku.com with the domain you want to change to.

Where do I find my DNS settings?

Log into wherever you registered your domain — common providers include GoDaddy, Namecheap, Cloudflare, Google Domains, and Hover. Look for "DNS," "DNS management," or "DNS records" in the settings. If you're not sure who manages your domain, try searching your email for your original domain registration confirmation.

Need Help?

Email us at support@ruzuku.com — include where your domain is registered and what subdomain you're setting up. We typically respond within a few hours (M-F 10am-6pm ET).