Subdomains and addon domains both let you run more than one hostname, but they solve different problems. Understanding the difference helps keep projects organised.
What Is a Subdomain?
A subdomain sits under an existing domain, such as shop.example.co.uk or billing.example.co.uk. It is useful for separate areas of the same brand or service.
What Is an Addon Domain?
An addon domain is a separate domain hosted in the same account, such as anotherbusiness.co.uk. It has its own site files and DNS records.
Use Subdomains For
- Staging sites.
- Client portals.
- Billing systems.
- Apps connected to the same brand.
Use Separate Domains For
Use a separate domain when the brand, audience, email, or ownership is different. It keeps the identity clearer and reduces future migration headaches.
Whichever you choose, keep document roots separate so one site does not accidentally expose another site's files.
