An addon domain is a fully functional domain that can be created from within your control panel. Think of it as having multiple hosting packages all sharing the same control panel. You can create email addresses, forwarders, and more — the same way you do for your primary domain. It is an additional registered domain that you can host in the same account as your primary domain. The only difference is that the files share the same control panel and server.
HostGator offers unlimited addon domains for all accounts except for the Hatchling plan.
An addon domain created in the cPanel will only function if the domain is registered. To know how to register a domain name, please visit this article. You can also directly register a domain.
Once you have purchased a domain, or if you already own a domain that you would like to host as an addon domain, additional information for how to point your domain to your HostGator server is available here, including instructions for making this change at a variety of domain registrars.
How the Addon Domain Appears
For Visitors
When incoming traffic visits your addon domain, there should be no evidence that it is an addon domain. The addon domain will act as an independent domain, with no references to the primary domain.yourprimarydomain.com will be separate from youraddondomain.com in the address bar of your visitor’s browser.
For FTP
In the case of FTP, the addon domain would be associated with the primary domain only by the username. The username usually appears as:
How an Addon Domain Works
When creating an addon domain, three things happen:
- a folder is created in the public_html directory
- a subdomain is created for the primary domain and attached to the new folder
- the new domain name is associated with the subdomain
This all happens automatically when an addon domain is assigned to an account. There is no need for further action other than uploading content to the addon domain.
