How to Connect Porkbun Domains to Vercel and Cloudflare (Step-by-Step)
Quick FAQ: Your Domain Setup Questions Answered
Does Porkbun use Cloudflare? No, Porkbun is a domain registrar; Cloudflare is a DNS provider. You can use Porkbun’s built-in DNS or point Porkbun domains to Cloudflare’s nameservers for additional features (SSL, DDoS protection, faster propagation).
How do I connect a Porkbun domain to Vercel? Add DNS records from Vercel to Porkbun’s DNS Management section. For Cloudflare routing: point Porkbun’s nameservers to Cloudflare, then add DNS records in Cloudflare.
Why is Railway waiting for DNS updates? DNS changes can take 1-2 days to propagate globally. If it’s been longer, check that you’ve added the correct Records in Cloudflare and saved them.
Can I migrate from Hostinger easily? Yes—disable WHOIS Privacy and Transfer Lock, get your Authorization Code, and submit to the new registrar (Porkbun).
Managing WHOIS Privacy During Transfer
One critical setting often overlooked: WHOIS Privacy Protection (also called “Domain Privacy” in Vercel context).
Before transferring from Hostinger: 1. Disable Privacy Protection (WHOIS Privacy)—this is required for the transfer 2. Wait for the status to update (usually instant, sometimes 12 hours) 3. Don’t re-enable WHOIS Privacy until after the transfer completes
With Porkbun, you can re-enable Domain Privacy after the transfer is complete for privacy protection.
Why this matters: Vercel users often ask about WHOIS privacy—Vercel doesn’t manage WHOIS directly, but your registrar does. Keep this enabled for privacy unless you need your contact info public.
Moving My Domains
I decided to transfer all 11 of my domains from Hostinger to other providers. I consulted two friends—a team lead in Canada and an SEO specialist in Turkey—and both recommended Porkbun.
I registered with Porkbun and was required to verify my identity. They offered multiple verification options, and I chose to use my government ID. However, I faced issues: I uploaded my ID about 10 times, and it failed every time, even though the verification platform supported my language. I reached out to their help center, and the fastest response came via email.
It took about 12 hours to receive a reply, which felt like a long time. The good news? They instantly verified my ID with no further issues. Later, when I asked another question, their response again took several hours, unlike Hostinger, which typically responds within 1 to 30 minutes (and at most within 2 hours). However, I found Hostinger’s customer service stricter and sometimes less friendly.
I’ll discuss my reasons for moving later, but for now, let’s focus on the process.
Moving from Hostinger to Porkbun
I had never transferred a domain before, so I expected it to be challenging. However, Hostinger made the process straightforward without asking why I was transferring.
Here’s how to do it:
- Go to your Hostinger dashboard.
- Disable the Privacy Protection (WHOIS Privacy Protection) button.
- Disable the Transfer Lock button. This may take up to 12 hours to update.
- Obtain the Authorization Code (EPP code) from the dashboard and save it, as you’ll need to provide it to Porkbun for the domain transfer.
On Porkbun’s website: - Enter your domain name in the Domain Name field under the transfer section. - Copy the authorization code from Hostinger and paste it into the Auth Code field. - Click Submit.
The transfer(s) will be added to your cart. From there, click Continue to Billing to pay for the transfer. It’s that simple!
If your domain is older than 60 days, the transfer typically takes 5 to 7 days. Some domains may transfer in as little as 2 days, but Hostinger will send a verification request via email to confirm the transfer.
Note: If your domain is less than 60 days old, you’ll need to wait until it passes the 60-day mark. There’s talk of this being reduced to 30 days, but as of this writing (May 2025), the 60-day rule applies, per ICANN regulations, not Hostinger or Porkbun.
Connecting Your Domain: Vercel, Railway, and Cloudflare Setup
Connecting Porkbun Domains to Vercel
Connecting a domain to Vercel is straightforward:
- In Vercel’s dashboard, add your domain from Porkbun
- Vercel shows you the DNS records to add
- Go to Porkbun’s DNS Management section (from domain dashboard)
- Add the records Vercel specifies
- Wait 5-30 minutes for verification
Using Cloudflare with Vercel and Porkbun
If you want Cloudflare’s features (DDoS protection, SSL, faster DNS):
- Add your Porkbun domain to Cloudflare
- Cloudflare shows you their nameservers
- In Porkbun, update your domain’s nameservers to point to Cloudflare’s
- Add your Vercel DNS records inside Cloudflare (not Porkbun)
- Wait for nameserver propagation (1-2 hours typical, up to 48 hours)
Setting Up Railway with Cloudflare
Railway also needs DNS records, but your domain needs to work with both Vercel and Railway:
- Configure Cloudflare to manage your Porkbun domain (change nameservers in Porkbun)
- Add Railway’s DNS records to Cloudflare (not Porkbun directly)
- Add Vercel’s DNS records to Cloudflare as well
- Both services now use Cloudflare’s DNS
Troubleshooting: “Railway Waiting for DNS Update”
If you see this message:
- Check propagation: Use whatsmydns.net to verify your DNS records globally
- Wait longer: DNS changes can take 1-2 business days to fully propagate
- Verify records in Cloudflare: Make sure you added the exact records Railway specified
- Check nameservers: Ensure Porkbun’s nameservers still point to Cloudflare (not reverted)
- Refresh: Try removing and re-adding the domain in Railway after propagation is complete
Most delays happen because: - Nameserver changes take time to propagate globally - Users add records to Porkbun when they should add them to Cloudflare - Records are added with typos (domain must match exactly)
Why I Switched from Hostinger to Porkbun
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