Points your subdomain directly to an IPv4 address. Best for hosting on servers with static IPs.
example.furry.bz → 192.168.1.100
📝 When to use:
- Your server has a static public IP address
- You're hosting a website on a VPS (DigitalOcean, Linode, etc.)
- You need direct control over traffic routing
💡 Pro tip: A records are the fastest and most direct way to point a domain. Make sure your IP address is public (not 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x) to work with Cloudflare's proxy.
Aliases your subdomain to another domain name. Perfect for GitHub Pages, Vercel, or other platforms.
blog.furry.onl → yourname.github.io
📝 When to use:
- Your site is hosted on platforms like GitHub Pages, Vercel, Netlify
- Your server's IP might change (dynamic DNS scenarios)
- You want to point to another domain name
⚠️ Important: CNAME records cannot coexist with other record types for the same subdomain. Also, the root domain (@) can't be a CNAME in standard DNS.
Delegates DNS control for your subdomain to another nameserver. Advanced use only.
custom.furr.you → ns1.customdns.com
custom.furr.you → ns2.customdns.com
📝 When to use:
- You want to manage your own DNS for the subdomain
- Using a custom DNS service like AWS Route53
- Need special DNS features not provided by Cloudflare
⚠️ Warning: Multiple NS records are required (usually 2+). This gives full control but also full responsibility for DNS management.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I use a private IP (192.168.x.x)?
Cloudflare's proxy (orange cloud) only works with public IPs. Private IPs are not routable on the public internet. If you need to use a private IP, you must disable the proxy (grey cloud) in your DNS settings.
How long does DNS propagation take?
With Cloudflare, changes typically propagate within 5 minutes globally. However, your local ISP or device may cache DNS for longer. You can flush your DNS cache or use a different DNS resolver (like 1.1.1.1) to see changes faster.
Can I change my target IP later?
Yes! You can delete the existing record and create a new one with the updated IP. We're working on an update feature to make this easier.
What's the difference between A and CNAME records?
An A record points directly to an IP address (like a home address). A CNAME points to another domain name (like forwarding mail to another address). CNAMEs are more flexible if your target server's IP changes.
Do I need to own the target domain for CNAME/NS records?
No! For CNAME, you can point to any valid domain. For NS records, the nameservers you point to must be configured to handle DNS for your subdomain, but you don't need to own them.