Checklist: Setting Up DNS Records for a New SaaS Product Site
Updated 2026-05-23 · Hosting Reviews
Launching a SaaS product means you need a reliable domain, professional email, and DNS records that point visitors and services to the right place. Below is a practical dns setup checklist new saas product site can follow to get online without wasting time or money.
1. Pick the Right Hosting & Platform
Before you touch DNS, decide where the site will live. For most SaaS landing pages or demo sites, a shared or cloud plan is sufficient. Here’s a quick compare‑and‑choose:
- Shared hosting – Cheapest option, usually $3‑$8 / month. Good for low traffic launches, but resources are shared.
- Cloud hosting – Scales better, price range $8‑$15 / month for entry‑level tiers. Ideal if you expect spikes or need more control.
- VPS – Dedicated virtual server, starts around $15‑$30 / month. Use this if you run a backend API on the same server.
For the front‑end, WordPress works well for marketing pages, while a static site generator (like Hugo or Next.js) is lighter and faster. Hostinger offers one‑click WordPress installs, free SSL, and easy scaling, making it a solid pick for beginners.
2. Register a Professional Domain & Business Email
Choose a domain that reflects your product name and is easy to spell. Keep it short, avoid hyphens, and consider a .com or relevant TLD (e.g., .io for tech). When you register through Hostinger, you get a free domain for the first year with most plans.
Next, set up a business email address (e.g., support@yourproduct.com). This boosts credibility and keeps communications separate from personal inboxes. Hostinger bundles email hosting or you can link to a third‑party provider like Google Workspace – both work with the same DNS records.
3. Understand the Core DNS Records You’ll Need
DNS is the phone book of the internet. For a SaaS product site, you’ll typically configure four record types:
- A record – Points your domain (or subdomain) to an IPv4 address of your server.
- AAAA record – Same as A but for IPv6 (optional).
- CNAME record – Aliases one name to another (useful for
wwwor pointing a subdomain to a SaaS platform likeapp.yourproduct.com). - MX records – Direct email to your mail server; required for business email.
Most of the time you’ll only need an A record for the root domain, a CNAME for www, and MX records for email.
4. DNS Setup Checklist New SaaS Product Site – Step by Step
Follow these actions in order to avoid missing a critical piece.
- Buy the domain. Register through Hostinger or another registrar. Note the registrar’s control panel where DNS will be managed.
- Choose your hosting plan. Activate the plan, note the server IP address (you’ll find it in the hosting dashboard).
- Point the domain to the host.
- Log into the domain’s DNS manager.
- Add an
Arecord for@(the root) pointing to the server IP. - Add a
CNAMErecord forwwwpointing to@or directly to your domain.
- Set up business email.
- If using Hostinger’s email, create the mailbox (e.g.,
support@yourproduct.com). - Add the MX records that Hostinger provides – usually something like
mx1.hostinger.comwith priority 10. - Optionally add SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to improve deliverability.
- If using Hostinger’s email, create the mailbox (e.g.,
- Enable SSL. In Hostinger’s control panel, turn on the free Let’s Encrypt SSL. This adds a
TXTrecord for verification and updates your site to HTTPS. - Test everything. Use
digor an online DNS checker to verify A, CNAME, and MX records propagate (usually under 30 minutes). Browse tohttps://yourproduct.comand send a test email.
Once these steps are confirmed, your site is live, secure, and ready for visitors.
5. Speed, Security, and Ongoing Maintenance
Even a simple SaaS landing page benefits from a few extra tweaks:
- Cache & CDN – Hostinger includes a built‑in caching layer; enable it and consider a free CDN like Cloudflare for global speed.
- Automatic backups – Choose a plan that offers daily backups or set up a manual schedule.
- Renewal awareness – Introductory rates drop after the first term. Mark renewal dates in your calendar and compare renewal costs with other providers if you outgrow the plan.
Keeping WordPress or your static site generator up to date prevents security holes. A regular audit of DNS records (remove unused subdomains, verify MX settings) also helps maintain a clean, professional presence.
FAQ
Do I need a separate hosting account for my SaaS backend?
Not necessarily for a simple demo or marketing site. You can host the front‑end on shared/cloud hosting and point API calls to a separate service (e.g., AWS Lambda). Keep DNS records separate for clarity.
Can I transfer an existing domain to Hostinger without downtime?
Yes. Change the domain’s nameservers to Hostinger’s after the transfer. DNS propagation may take up to 48 hours, but the site stays reachable as long as the old records remain active during the switch.
What if I outgrow the shared plan?
Hostinger lets you upgrade to cloud or VPS with a few clicks. Your DNS settings stay the same; only the server IP changes, which you update in the A record.