How to Set Up a Parked Domain in cPanel and DirectAdmin

A parked domain (sometimes called an alias domain) points a second domain name at the same content as your main site, without creating separate files or folders. Visitors typing either domain see identical content. It's a common choice for businesses that own more than one relevant domain, such as both a .com and a .co.ke version of the same brand name, and want both to show the same website.

Parked Domain vs Addon Domain

The difference matters before you set one up. An addon domain gets its own folder and can run completely different content. A parked domain has no content of its own; it simply mirrors whatever is already on your main domain. If you need two different websites, use an addon domain instead. If you want two names pointing at the same website, a parked domain is the right tool.

In cPanel

1. Log in to cPanel and open Domains or Aliases, depending on your cPanel version.
2. Click Create A New Domain.
3. Enter the domain you want to park.
4. Make sure the option to share the main domain's document root is selected, rather than creating a new folder.
5. Click Submit.

In DirectAdmin

1. Log in to DirectAdmin and go to Domain Setup.
2. Click Add Domain.
3. Enter the domain name, then check the Domain Pointer option.
4. Choose your main domain as the target the pointer domain should mirror.
5. Click Create.

As with any domain you add to your hosting, the parked domain's nameservers still need to point to your hosting server before it will resolve correctly.

SEO Consideration

Serving identical content on two domains can create duplicate content that search engines may treat inconsistently. If both domains matter to your SEO, consider redirecting one to the other instead of parking, so search engines index a single canonical version. See our guide on setting up a redirect domain for that approach.