Overview of Custom Domain for Staffbase Email

Learn about the benefits of a custom domain.

Staffbase Email
beta

You can configure a for the Studio to ensure your platform aligns seamlessly with your organization’s branding. By using your own domain, you replace the default Staffbase URL with one that reflects your identity.

For example, if your organization is Showcase Inc. and your default domain is showcase.staffbase.com/studio, you can now configure a custom domain such as email.showcase.com/studio to replace the default.

A custom domain is used not only to access the Studio but also to enable secure media hosting, media request handling, and email tracking functionalities. For example, the custom domain facilitates automatic image loading in email clients.

You can add up to two custom domains in the Studio. The platform includes a default domain, which is locked and cannot be removed. This default domain is initially set as the primary domain. Once you add a custom domain, and it reaches the Active status, you can choose to set it as the new primary domain.

Each custom domain progresses through a series of status stages that reflect its current setup state. These statuses help clarify whether you need to take any action, or if Staffbase is handling the remaining steps.

  1. Locked
    This is the default Staffbase-owned domain. You cannot remove it.
  2. Pending
    This is the initial status assigned after you add a custom domain. Staffbase generates values, such as and , that you must add to your domain provider’s DNS settings.
  3. Verified
    This status indicates that Staffbase has successfully verified the DNS configuration. It typically takes up to 24 hours after the DNS records are added.
  4. Active
    This status confirms that Staffbase has completed the internal setup of the domain on its infrastructure. The transition from Verified to Active usually takes less than 5 minutes. Once a domain is active, it is fully configured and ready to use.

When choosing a custom domain for your Staffbase platform, keep in mind the following:

  • Subdomain required: You can only add subdomains as custom domains. Staffbase does not support root domains or IP forwarding due to technical reasons. For example, if your root domain is showcase.com, your subdomain could be email.showcase.com

  • Allowed characters: Domain names can contain alphanumeric, hyphens (-), and dots (.). However, spaces and other special characters are not supported.

  • SSL certificates: Staffbase automatically issues and renews SSL certificates via Let’s Encrypt. Custom certificates are not supported.

  • Timing and impact on integrations: Configure and verify your custom domain before launching your Staffbase Email platform. This is critical if you use:

    • Single Sign-On (SSO)
    • Staffbase API-based integrations
    • Allowlisting

Switching to a new domain after launch may require updates to existing authentication and integration setups. Since these systems often rely on domain-specific configurations, coordinate any changes with your IT team to avoid disruptions.