How to Host a Framer Website
Hosting your website in just a few steps.
Feb 1, 2025
Framer makes it incredibly easy to design beautiful websites, but once you're done building, the next step is to host it live for the world to see. Whether you're using a custom domain or Framer's built-in hosting, this guide will walk you through the process of hosting your website in just a few steps.
Finish Your Design
Before hosting, ensure that your website design is complete and polished. Double-check all your content, links, and media to make sure everything is working properly. Use Framer's preview feature to test your site on various screen sizes (desktop, tablet, and mobile) to ensure it's responsive.
Navigate to the Publishing Settings
Once you're satisfied with your design, head over to the publishing settings. You can find this by clicking on the "Publish" button in the top-right corner of your Framer project dashboard. This will open the publishing options where you can configure your hosting preferences.
Choose Your Hosting Option
Framer provides two primary hosting options:
Free Framer URL: If you don't have a custom domain yet or just want to quickly share your project, Framer allows you to publish your site on a free subdomain (e.g., yoursite.framer.website). This option is great for personal projects, portfolios, or testing.
Custom Domain: If you have your own domain, you can connect it to your Framer website for a more professional look. You’ll need to have a registered domain (which you can buy from services like Google Domains, GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).
Connecting a Custom Domain
To connect your custom domain, follow these steps:
Add Your Domain: In the publishing settings, click "Custom Domain" and enter your domain name.
Update DNS Settings: After entering your domain, Framer will provide DNS records (usually an A record or CNAME) that you'll need to update with your domain provider. Log in to your domain provider’s dashboard, locate the DNS settings for your domain, and update the records accordingly. This process usually takes a few minutes to an hour for the changes to propagate.
Verify and Publish: Once your DNS settings are updated, return to Framer and click "Verify". Framer will check if your domain is properly connected. Once verified, hit "Publish", and your website will be live on your custom domain!
Enable SSL for Security
Security is essential for any website, especially when users might be submitting personal information. Framer provides a free SSL certificate, ensuring your website is secure (with the "https://" prefix). Make sure this option is enabled in the publishing settings for your custom domain. It’s automatically applied if you're using the free Framer URL.
Publishing and Updating Your Site
After your site is live, any updates or changes you make in Framer can be quickly published with just a click. Simply press "Publish" again after editing your website, and your updates will go live instantly. This seamless process makes maintaining and iterating on your site incredibly easy.