How to Transfer Your DNS to Cloudflare (Free)

Transferring your DNS to Cloudflare lets you use unlimited custom domains with Brevr at no extra cost. Cloudflare’s free plan includes DNS hosting, DDoS protection, and global CDN — all free.

The process takes about 15 minutes and has zero downtime if done correctly.

Before You Start

You’ll need access to your current domain registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.)
You’ll need a free Cloudflare account
Important: You are only moving DNS management, NOT transferring your domain registration. Your registrar still owns the domain.

Step 1: Create a Cloudflare Account

Go to cloudflare.com and sign up for a free account
Click “Add a Site” and enter your domain name (e.g., yourdomain.com)
Select the Free plan and click Continue

Step 2: Review DNS Records

Cloudflare will scan your existing DNS records automatically. Review them carefully:

Make sure all your existing records (A, AAAA, CNAME, MX, TXT) are listed
Pay special attention to MX records (email) — missing these will break email delivery
Add any missing records manually before proceeding

Tip: Open your current DNS provider in another tab and compare records side-by-side.

Step 3: Update Nameservers at Your Registrar

Cloudflare will give you two nameservers (e.g., emma.ns.cloudflare.com and tony.ns.cloudflare.com).

How to update nameservers by registrar:

GoDaddy:

Go to My Products → DNS → Manage
Click “Change” next to Nameservers
Select “Custom” and enter the two Cloudflare nameservers

Namecheap:

Go to Domain List → Manage
Under Nameservers, select “Custom DNS”
Enter the two Cloudflare nameservers

Google Domains / Squarespace Domains:

Go to DNS settings
Switch to “Custom name servers”
Enter the two Cloudflare nameservers

Other registrars: Look for “Nameservers” or “DNS settings” in your registrar’s dashboard and replace the existing nameservers with Cloudflare’s.

Step 4: Wait for Propagation

Nameserver changes typically propagate within 1–24 hours
Cloudflare will email you once the change is detected
During propagation, your site continues to work normally

Step 5: Add Your Custom Domain in Brevr

Once Cloudflare confirms your DNS is active:

Go to Domains in your Brevr dashboard
Click Add Domain
Enter your domain — Brevr will detect Cloudflare automatically
Follow the setup instructions to add your TXT and CNAME/ALIAS records

Frequently Asked Questions

Will this cause downtime?

No. As long as you copy all existing DNS records to Cloudflare before changing nameservers, there is zero downtime.

Does this affect my email?

Only if you forget to copy your MX records to Cloudflare. Always verify MX records are present before switching nameservers.

Can I switch back to my old DNS provider?

Yes. Simply change your nameservers back to your original provider’s nameservers at your registrar.

Do I need to transfer my domain registration?

No. You’re only changing where DNS is managed. Your domain stays registered with your current registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, etc.).

Is Cloudflare DNS really free?

Yes. Cloudflare’s free plan includes full DNS hosting with no limits on records or queries.

Will Cloudflare’s proxy affect my site?

By default, Cloudflare proxies web traffic (orange cloud icon). You can disable this per record if needed by clicking the orange cloud to turn it grey (DNS only).