TL;DR: Namecheap’s URL Redirect Record works for basic HTTP redirects but lacks HTTPS. For SSL-supported forwarding, use Domain-Forward.com (free plan) — keep your domain at Namecheap, just update DNS.
Namecheap is a popular registrar with an active technical user base. Their redirect feature (“URL Redirect Record”) is more capable than GoDaddy’s — offering both 301 and 302 — but still lacks the critical HTTPS support.
For the original Namecheap walkthrough, see: Namecheap Domain Redirect: Everything You Should Know.
How Namecheap’s Redirect Works
Namecheap handles redirects through DNS records:
- Go to Domain List → Manage → Advanced DNS
- Add a new record → Select “URL Redirect Record”
- Configure:
- Host:
@(root),www, or subdomain name - Value: Destination URL
- Type: Unmasked (301), Unmasked (302), or Masked
- Host:
Available Redirect Types
| Type | HTTP Code | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent (Unmasked) | 301 | Domain moves, rebrands |
| Temporary (Unmasked) | 302 | Under construction, campaigns |
| Masked | Frame | Keeps URL in bar (avoid this) |
Namecheap has an advantage over GoDaddy here — they do support 302. But the HTTPS limitation still applies.
Namecheap’s Limitations
1. No HTTPS
Same as most registrars: no SSL certificate provisioned for the redirect. https://yourdomain.com → browser error.
Detailed analysis: Domain Redirect With SSL — Why Registrars Fail.
2. Requires BasicDNS
Namecheap’s URL Redirect Record only works when using Namecheap’s BasicDNS nameservers. If you’ve switched to custom nameservers (Cloudflare, etc.), the redirect feature is unavailable.
3. No Path Forwarding
yourdomain.com/about → destination.com (path is lost). There’s no option to pass the path through to the destination.
4. No Analytics
Namecheap provides no data on redirect traffic.
5. Masked Redirect Breaks Everything
The “Masked” option uses iframes. Modern websites block iframe embedding. Mobile breaks. SEO suffers. Same problems as every other masked redirect.
Troubleshooting Namecheap Redirects
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Redirect not working | Using custom nameservers | Switch back to BasicDNS or use Domain-Forward.com |
| Redirect not working | Conflicting A/CNAME record | Remove conflicting records for that host |
| HTTPS error | No SSL for redirects | Switch to Domain-Forward.com |
| Path not forwarded | Namecheap limitation | Use Domain-Forward.com with path forwarding |
| ”Too many redirects” | Both @ and www creating loops | Set only one, or use Domain-Forward.com for both |
| Slow to activate | DNS propagation | Wait 30 min to 24 hours |
The Fix: Domain-Forward.com + Namecheap
Keep your domain at Namecheap. Get HTTPS, path forwarding, and analytics for free.
Step 1: Sign up at Domain-Forward.com
Free, no credit card.
Step 2: Remove Namecheap URL Redirect Records
In Advanced DNS, delete any existing URL Redirect Records to avoid conflicts.
Step 3: Add your redirect in Domain-Forward.com
- Source:
yourdomain.com - Destination: Target URL
- Type: 301 or 302
- Path forwarding: Enable if needed
Step 4: Add DNS records in Namecheap
In Advanced DNS, add:
| Record Type | Host | Value |
|---|---|---|
| A | @ | 138.68.125.144 |
| CNAME | www | edge.domain-forward.com |
Step 5: Wait for DNS propagation
SSL provisioned automatically. Test with our redirect tester tool.
Namecheap vs. Domain-Forward.com
| Feature | Namecheap Redirect | Domain-Forward.com |
|---|---|---|
| HTTPS | ❌ | ✅ Automatic |
| 301 | ✅ | ✅ |
| 302 | ✅ | ✅ |
| Path forwarding | ❌ | ✅ |
| Analytics | ❌ | ✅ |
| Works with custom nameservers | ❌ | ✅ |
| Subdomain forwarding | ✅ | ✅ |
| Cost | Free | Free |
Best of Both Worlds
Namecheap is a great registrar — competitive pricing, good interface, solid support. Use them for registration and DNS management. Use Domain-Forward.com for the actual forwarding where their feature falls short.
Create your free account, remove old Namecheap redirect records, add A + CNAME records. Email stays working — MX records untouched.