How to Create Addon Domains and Subdomains in cPanel (Beginner Guide)

How to Create Addon Domains and Subdomains in cPanel (Beginner Guide)

As your online presence grows, you may need to host multiple websites or organize sections of your site separately. This is where Addon Domains and Subdomains come in.

In this step-by-step guide, Zuumhost explains what they are, how they differ, and how to create them easily inside cPanel.

What Is an Addon Domain?

An Addon Domain allows you to host an entirely separate website under the same hosting account.

For example, if your main domain is:

mywebsite.com

You can add another website like:

mybusiness.com

Both sites will run independently but share the same hosting plan.

Why Use Addon Domains?

Addon domains are perfect when you:

• Manage multiple websites
• Run websites for clients
• Launch new projects without buying new hosting
• Want separate websites under one account

What Is a Subdomain?

A Subdomain is a subsection of your main website that uses your primary domain.

Examples:

• blog.mywebsite.com
• shop.mywebsite.com
• support.mywebsite.com

Subdomains are often used to organize content or create special sections of a website.

When to Use Subdomains

Subdomains are great for:

• Blogs or knowledge bases
• Online stores
• Customer portals
• Testing or staging environments

Addon Domain vs Subdomain (Quick Difference)

Feature	Addon Domain	Subdomain
Works as separate website	Yes	No
Uses new domain name	Yes	No
Shares hosting resources	Yes	Yes
Ideal for multiple websites	Yes	No

How to Create an Addon Domain in cPanel

Follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

Access your hosting control panel from your Zuumhost dashboard.

Step 2: Open the Domains Section

Find and click Domains or Addon Domains.

Step 3: Click “Create a New Domain”

Enter the new domain name you want to host.

Example: mynewsite.com

Step 4: Set the Document Root

cPanel automatically creates a folder for the new website.
This is where your site files will be stored.

Step 5: Click Create

Your addon domain is now ready

You can upload your website files to the new folder using File Manager or FTP.

How to Create a Subdomain in cPanel

Creating a subdomain is even easier.

Step 1: Log in to cPanel

Open your hosting control panel.

Step 2: Click Subdomains

Locate the Subdomains tool.

Step 3: Enter the Subdomain Name

Example: blog

Select the main domain from the dropdown.

The full subdomain becomes:
blog.yourdomain.com

Step 4: Click Create

Your subdomain will be created instantly.

Where Are the Files Stored?

cPanel automatically creates folders:

• Addon domain → /public_html/newdomain.com/
• Subdomain → /public_html/subdomain/

Upload your website files into the correct folder to make the site live.

Important Things to Remember

Before creating addon domains:

• Ensure the new domain points to Zuumhost nameservers
• Allow time for DNS propagation (usually up to 24 hours)
• Install SSL certificates for new domains
• Keep backups of your websites