Custom Domains & Domain Management

🌐 Overview

Kolega Studio allows you to use custom domains for your projects, giving them professional URLs instead of the default .kolegaapps.com subdomain. You can either purchase domains directly through Kolega or bring your own existing domains.

Key Points:

• Available with Pro plan features

• Maximum 3 domains per account

• Domains managed at account level, then assigned to projects

• Full SSL certificates automatically configured

• DNS propagation and caching considerations apply

🛍️ Domain Options

Option 1: Purchase Through Kolega

Cost: live costing per domain Process Time: Immediate availability after purchase Best For: New projects without existing domains

Option 2: Bring Your Own Domain

Cost: Free to connect Process Time: DNS propagation can take 2-48 hours Best For: Using existing domains from other registrars

📋 Prerequisites

Before working with custom domains:

1. Account Requirements:

   • Pro plan or higher (for custom domain features)

   • Account Settings access

   • Maximum 3 domains per account limit

2. Project Requirements:

   • Project must be published at least once

   • Deployment must be successful

   • Default URL on .kolegaapps.com must be working

🚀 Step-by-Step Instructions

Part 1: Adding Domains to Your Account

Purchasing a New Domain

1. Navigate to Domain Settings:

   • Click your profile icon (top right)

   • Select "Account Settings"

   • Click "Domains" in the left sidebar

2. Search for Available Domains:

   • In the "Search for a new domain" field, enter your desired domain name

   • Example: mynewdomain

   • Click "Search" button

3. Review Available Options:

   • System shows variations with different TLDs:

     • .com - Most popular

     • .site - Modern alternative

     • .academy - Educational

     • .builder - Developer-focused

     • .games - Gaming-related

   • Each shows availability status and price ($19.50/year)

4. Purchase Domain:

   • Click "Purchase" next to your chosen domain

   • Complete payment process

   • Domain appears in "My Domains" section

   • Status shows as "Ready"

Connecting Your Own Domain

1. Access Domain Connection:

   • In Account Settings → Domains

   • Find "Connect an existing domain" section

   • Enter your domain (e.g., myowneddomain.com)

   • Click "Connect Domain"

2. Configure Nameservers:

   • Kolega provides 4 nameserver addresses:

     ns-392.awsdns-49.com 
     ns-825.awsdns-39.net 
     ns-2041.awsdns-63.co.uk 
     ns-1377.awsdns-44.org 

3. Update at Your Registrar:

   • Log into your domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.)

   • Find DNS/Nameserver settings

   • Replace existing nameservers with Kolega's

   • Save changes

4. Wait for Propagation:

   • DNS changes take 2-48 hours globally

   • Domain shows "Setting up" status in Kolega

   • Check status periodically

Part 2: Assigning Domains to Projects

Prerequisites Check

Before assigning a domain, ensure:

• ✅ Project is published (has a deployment)

• ✅ Domain shows "Ready" status in account

• ✅ No recent domain operations (15-minute cooldown)

Assignment Process

1. Open Project Settings:

   • Navigate to your project

   • Click ⚙️ Project Settings tab (right panel)

   • Select "Custom Domain" from left menu

2. Review Domain Requirements:

   • Note the warning if project isn't published:

     ⚠️ Deployment Required: This project must have at least one successful deployment before custom domain assignment. Please publish your project first using the Publish button. 

3. Assign Domain:

   • Available domains appear in list

   • Click "Use This Domain" button next to desired domain

   • OR double-click the domain name

   • Assignment process begins

4. Monitor Assignment:

   • Status changes to "Assigning..."

   • Timer shows "Assign in 14:56" (countdown)

   • Process takes 10-15 minutes

   • Green notification appears when complete:

     ✅ mynewdomain.com has been assigned to this workspace! 

5. Verify Domain:

   • Domain moves to "Active Custom Domains" section

   • Shows "Visit site 🔗" link

   • Custom domain URL appears in Deployment URLs

Part 3: Managing Active Domains

Viewing Domain Status

In Project Settings → Custom Domain:

• Active Custom Domains: Currently assigned domains

• Available Domains: Unassigned domains from your account

• Deployment URLs:

  • Default URL: https://[project-name].kolegaapps.com

  • Custom Domain: https://yourdomain.com

Unassigning Domains

1. Find domain in "Active Custom Domains"

2. Click "Unassign" button

3. Confirm the action

4. Domain returns to "Available Domains" after 15 minutes

5. Domain shows default Kolega placeholder page

⏱️ Timing Considerations

Operation Cooldowns

• Assignment/Unassignment: One action per 15 minutes per domain

• Reason: Prevents DNS conflicts and ensures stability

Propagation Times

• Kolega-purchased domains: 10-15 minutes to activate

• Own domains (initial setup): 2-48 hours for nameserver changes

• Assignment to project: 10-20 minutes

• Changes visibility: Varies by location due to DNS caching

Testing Recommendations

• Use proxy sites for fresh DNS lookups (avoids local cache)

• Try incognito/private browsing mode

• Clear browser cache if changes don't appear

• Wait full 15 minutes before assuming failure

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues & Solutions

Checking Domain Status

1. In Account Settings:

   • Shows all your domains

   • Indicates which are assigned

   • Links to assigned projects

2. In Project Settings:

   • Shows active custom domain

   • Displays assignment timer

   • Lists available domains

💡 Best Practices

Domain Strategy

• Purchase/configure domains before starting project

• Use descriptive domain names matching project purpose

• Keep one domain free for testing new projects

• Document which domains map to which projects

Timing Your Work

• Assign domains during low-traffic periods

• Complete all project changes before domain assignment

• Allow buffer time for propagation before launches

• Test with multiple methods after assignment

Managing Multiple Projects

• Plan domain usage across projects

• Unassign domains from inactive projects

• Use subdomains strategy if needed (requires DNS configuration)

• Consider domain lifecycle when planning projects

📊 Quick Reference

Time Requirements

Domain Limits

• Maximum domains per account: 3

• Active assignments: Unlimited (within domain count)

• Actions per 15 minutes: 1 per domain

• Domain name length: Standard DNS limits apply

URLs Structure

• Default: https://[unique-project-name].kolegaapps.com

• Custom: https://yourdomain.com

• During setup: Shows Kolega placeholder page

🚨 Important Notes

1. Domain Ownership: Ensure you own or have permission to use any domain you connect

2. SSL Certificates: Automatically configured for all custom domains

3. Email Configuration: Domain email (MX records) requires separate configuration

4. Subdomain Support: Contact support for subdomain configurations

5. Domain Expiry: Monitor domain renewals at your registrar

6. Account Deletion: Unassign domains before deleting Kolega account

🎯 Next Steps

After setting up your domain:

1. Test thoroughly on multiple devices

2. Share your professional URL

3. Monitor analytics if configured

4. Set up redirects if migrating from old domain

5. Update any marketing materials with new URL

Note: Domain management features are part of Kolega Studio's Pro plan. The interface and process described here have been verified through actual platform usage. DNS propagation times are estimates and can vary based on global DNS infrastructure.