How to Add a Custom Domain to Framer for Free (Without Upgrading)
Framer locks custom domains behind its paid plan. Learn how to use Edgely as a free reverse proxy to serve your Framer site on your own domain.
TL;DR — Quick Answer
Use Edgely to reverse-proxy your Framer site through your custom domain without upgrading your Framer plan. Set a CNAME from your domain to the Edgely proxy and configure the target URL — done in under 5 minutes.
Framer's Custom Domain Paywall
Framer is a popular no-code site builder. Out of the box you get a free *.framer.app subdomain. Using your own domain requires a paid Framer plan starting at $5/month for basic, with some features gated at higher tiers. [1]
If you already own a domain and just want to point it at your Framer site without upgrading, Edgely gives you a free reverse proxy that handles this in minutes.
How the Proxy Works with Framer
Edgely accepts traffic on your custom domain, forwards each request to your *.framer.app URL, and streams the response back. SSL is handled by Edgely — the browser sees a valid HTTPS connection on your own domain, and Framer serves the content as normal. [2]
Setup: Custom Domain on Framer via Edgely
Step 1 — Create an Edgely account
Sign up at xedgely.com/login for free. No credit card needed.
Step 2 — Find your Framer preview URL
In your Framer project go to Share → Preview link. Copy the URL (it looks like https://yourproject.framer.app).
Step 3 — Add the domain in Edgely
In the dashboard click Add Domain and fill in:
- Custom Domain:
www.yourdomain.com - Target URL: your Framer URL
Step 4 — Add CNAME at your registrar
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | CNAME |
| Host | www |
| Target | proxy.xedgely.com |
| TTL | 300 or Auto |
Step 5 — Verify and go live
Once the CNAME resolves (check at dnschecker.org), Edgely provisions your SSL certificate and your site is live. [3]
Caching Framer Sites at the Edge
Framer sites are mostly static — the same HTML is served to every visitor. Enable Edgely's Cache toggle to cache responses at the edge for 5 minutes. This cuts origin requests and speeds up Time to First Byte (TTFB) for visitors far from Framer's servers. [4]
Edgely is the fastest way to proxy your Framer project to a custom domain. It provisions a free SSL certificate, syncs routing to Vercel Edge Config for sub-millisecond lookups, and optionally caches responses at the edge — all for free on the starter plan.
Key Takeaways
- Framer's custom domain feature requires a paid plan — Edgely is a free alternative.
- Setup takes about 5 minutes: add a domain in Edgely and one CNAME at your registrar.
- Edge caching on Framer static sites reduces TTFB significantly for global visitors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Framer block reverse proxies?
Framer does not block reverse proxies on standard preview links. If you publish your site as a Framer Public link, it remains accessible and Edgely can proxy it.
Will Framer forms still work through the proxy?
Yes. Form submissions and third-party integrations work as normal because Edgely forwards all request headers and body payloads transparently.
Can I use the apex domain (yourdomain.com) instead of www?
If your DNS is hosted on Cloudflare, use CNAME Flattening on the root record. Otherwise set up a redirect from the apex to www at your registrar.
Sources & Citations
- [1]Framer Pricing— framer.com
- [2]How Reverse Proxies Work— cloudflare.com
- [3]DNS Checker— dnschecker.org
- [4]Edge Caching Explained— vercel.com
Ready to add your custom domain?
Set up your reverse proxy in under 5 minutes — free, with SSL and edge caching included.