Step‑by‑Step: Connecting a Squarespace Store to a Custom Domain Email

Updated 2026-07-19 · Hosting Reviews

Why Connecting Your Squarespace Store to a Custom Domain Email Matters

When you’re ready to take your Squarespace store from a hobby site to a professional brand, the first thing most entrepreneurs notice is the email address that comes with it. A generic @squarespace.com address looks unpolished, while a connect squarespace store custom domain email instantly signals credibility and trust to customers. In this guide we’ll walk through every step—from choosing the right hosting and domain to configuring DNS and setting up a business email—so you can get your store online and looking sharp without breaking the bank.

Step 1: Pick the Right Hosting, Domain, and Email Solution

Even though Squarespace handles the site’s hosting, you’ll need a separate domain and email host. Here’s what you’ll need and why Hostinger is a great fit:

• Domain registrar – where you purchase and manage your domain name. Hostinger offers competitive rates and an easy transfer process.
• Email hosting – either via a dedicated email provider or through a hosting plan that includes business email. Hostinger’s plans come with 5 GB of email storage and support for custom domains.
• DNS management – to point your domain and email to Squarespace and your email provider.

Typical costs are $10‑$20 per year for a domain, $3‑$15/month for a shared hosting plan that includes email, and free SSL certificates with most Hostinger packages. Renewal rates can be higher, so keep that in mind when budgeting.

Step 2: Register Your Domain on Hostinger

1. Go to Hostinger’s website and use the domain search tool to find an available name that reflects your brand.
2. Select a domain extension (.com, .store, .biz, etc.) and add it to your cart.
3. Proceed to checkout, where you’ll be prompted to create an account if you don’t already have one.
4. After payment, the domain will appear in your Hostinger dashboard under Domains. Here you can manage DNS settings, transfer, or renew.

Hostinger’s interface is beginner‑friendly, and the first year often comes with a discount. Don’t forget to set the domain to “Private” to protect your WHOIS information.

Step 3: Set Up Business Email at Hostinger

Once your domain is active, you can create a professional email address like contact@yourbrand.store:

1. Navigate to Hosting in your dashboard and select the plan that includes email.
2. Click Manage next to the plan, then choose Emails.
3. Click Add Email, enter the username (e.g., contact) and password.
4. Hostinger will automatically generate the necessary MX records for your domain.

For larger teams, Hostinger offers additional mailboxes at a low monthly cost. All plans come with a webmail interface and mobile app access.

Step 4: Point Your Domain to Squarespace

Squarespace needs your domain’s DNS records to point to its servers. In your Hostinger dashboard:

1. Go to DNS Zone for your domain.
2. Replace any existing A records with the two Squarespace IP addresses: 198.185.159.144 and 198.185.159.145.
3. Delete any old CNAME or MX records that conflict.
4. Save changes and wait 15‑60 minutes for propagation.

Once the DNS updates, log in to Squarespace, go to Settings → Domains, and click Connect Domain. Follow the on‑screen prompts to verify ownership.

Step 5: Verify Email Delivery with MX Records

Your email provider’s MX records must remain intact. If you used Hostinger’s email service, the MX records are already set correctly. If you switched to a different provider (Google Workspace, Zoho, etc.), copy the MX entries they give you and paste them into the Hostinger DNS Zone, replacing the default ones.

After updating MX records, test by sending an email to your new address and checking that it arrives in your inbox. Most email services also provide a verification tool to confirm proper setup.

Step 6: Secure Your Site with SSL and Enable Email Forwarding

Hostinger’s free SSL certificate automatically secures your domain. In the Squarespace admin panel, ensure HTTPS is enforced under Settings → Advanced → SEO Settings.

To forward emails (e.g., from a newsletter signup form to your inbox), set up email forwarding in Hostinger’s email settings or use Squarespace’s built‑in form actions to send submissions directly to your business email.

Step 7: Test Everything and Go Live

Before announcing your store:

• Check that the website loads quickly on desktop and mobile.
• Verify that the @yourbrand.store email works for both sending and receiving.
• Test the checkout flow and email receipts.
• Run a basic security scan (many hosting panels include a free tool).

Once everything passes, publish your site, and start promoting!

FAQ

Can I use a free domain with Squarespace?

Squarespace offers a free subdomain (yoursite.squarespace.com), but it doesn’t support custom email. For a professional look and email, you’ll need a paid domain—Hostinger provides affordable options.

Will my email be affected if I change my hosting plan?

Not if your email MX records remain pointing to Hostinger. Switching hosting providers requires updating MX records accordingly.

Is Hostinger’s email service secure enough for business?

Yes. Hostinger’s email hosting uses industry‑standard encryption (IMAP/SMTP with TLS) and includes spam filtering. For added security, consider enabling two‑factor authentication on your Hostinger account.