When you first register with AdsBridge, the system automatically provides you with system subdomains – they are already configured and ready to use. You can launch campaigns, traffic will flow, and conversions will be tracked. However, a system domain is a solution for getting started and testing, rather than for long-term use. Here’s why.
In this article:
- how a system domain differs from a custom domain and when you should switch;
- how to connect your own redirect domain via CNAME;
- what a domain for hide referrer is and why you need one;
- how the trackpixel domain works;
- Cloudflare and SSL specifics, plus frequently asked questions.
Three types of domains in AdsBridge: what’s the difference?
The “Domains” section in AdsBridge includes three types of domains, each with a different purpose.
Redirect domain – the domain displayed in your campaign URL. A user clicks it, the tracker records the visit, and then sends the user to the landing page or directly to the offer.
Domain for hide referrer – a domain used when a user moves from a landing page to an offer. It prevents the affiliate network from seeing information about your traffic source or landing page in the HTTP referrer.
Domain for trackpixel – a domain used for S2S postbacks, iFrame and Image pixels, as well as the Tracking script. This is the domain used by the tracker to receive information about completed conversions.
These are different types of domains with different purposes.
System domain: good for testing, not for long-term use
After registration, you are provided with system subdomains such as xxxxxx.abadit5rckd.com (for tracking), xxxxxx.track4ref.com (for referrer hiding), and xxxxxx.abpostback.com (for the tracking pixel). They work without any configuration on your side.
When a system domain is enough:
- you are just getting started with the tracker and learning how the interface works;
- you are running your first tests and checking your campaign setups;
- you work with traffic sources that are not sensitive to the domain in the URL.
Why a system domain is not suitable for long-term use:
The AdsBridge system domain is a shared resource. It is used by many users at the same time. If one of them launches aggressive or low-quality campaigns, advertising platforms and browsers may block the entire root domain – and your campaigns will be affected as well, even though you have done nothing wrong.
In addition, platforms such as Facebook and Google are familiar with the domains of popular trackers and may reduce traffic quality or reject ads that contain them.
A custom domain solves this problem: its reputation depends only on your actions, it is not associated with other users, and it looks like a regular website to moderation systems.
How to connect a custom redirect domain
You will need a registered domain from any domain registrar. You do not use the main domain itself, but a subdomain – for example, track.yourdomain.com. This is convenient because your main website can continue operating on the root domain independently.
Step 1. Find your account’s system subdomain
In the AdsBridge tracker, go to Domains → Redirect domains. You will see your AdsBridge system subdomain – for example, awnbkg.abadit5rckd.com. This is the domain you will need to point your CNAME record to.
Step 2. Add a CNAME record at your registrar
Open your domain’s DNS settings. The interface differs between registrars, but you need to create one record:
- Type: CNAME
- Host / Name: the name of the subdomain you want to use. For example, track
- Value / Points to: your AdsBridge system subdomain – awnbkg.abadit5rckd.com
- TTL: automatic or the minimum available value
After saving the changes, they will start propagating. This usually takes anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
Step 3. Add the subdomain to AdsBridge
In the Redirect domains section, click the “+” button and enter the full subdomain address – track.yourdomain.com. The system will automatically check it once an hour.
Domain statuses:
- Blue checkmark – the CNAME is configured correctly and the domain is ready to use.
- Red triangle – the record has not propagated yet or there is an issue with the configuration.
To avoid waiting for the automatic check, click “Check connection.”
A quick way to make sure everything is working: open the subdomain directly in your browser. If you see the “Site is under construction” placeholder, the CNAME is configured correctly.
Step 4. Set the domain as default
In the section’s Settings, select the new subdomain as the primary domain. It will then be automatically used for all new campaigns and click URLs, so you will not have to select it manually every time.
Cloudflare: an important detail
If you manage your DNS through Cloudflare, there is one important detail: disable proxying for the tracking domain’s CNAME record.
In the Cloudflare interface, each record has a cloud icon next to it. An orange cloud means that traffic is routed through Cloudflare’s servers. This breaks tracking because requests no longer go directly to AdsBridge servers. Click the cloud icon to turn it gray (“DNS only”) and save the changes.
SSL Certificate
Without HTTPS, browsers display warnings, Facebook does not accept unsecured links, and some platforms block HTTP domains during moderation.
AdsBridge provides free SSL certificates for all domains, both those purchased through the platform and custom domains connected via CNAME. It can be enabled with one click: select the domain in Redirect domains and click “Enable SSL.” The certificate will be issued automatically.
Buy a domain directly in AdsBridge
If you do not have a domain or do not want to configure DNS manually, you can buy a domain directly through the interface. Go to Redirect domains → Buy domains, enter the desired name, choose a domain extension (.com, .net, and others), and pay. The domain will be configured for the tracker automatically and will be ready to use without any additional steps.
Domain for hide referrer
Now let’s move on to the second type of domain and a feature many people do not think about until they encounter the problem firsthand.
How the referrer works and why it matters
When a user clicks a button on a landing page and goes to an offer, the browser automatically passes the address of the page they came from in the HTTP header. This is the referrer.
The affiliate network receives this request and can see information in the referrer, including your landing page domain, tracker URL, and sometimes parameters containing traffic source data.
This means the network can find out:
- which traffic source you are using;
- which landing pages you use;
- how your campaign setup is structured.
For many media buyers, this is critical information they do not want to disclose.
What a domain for hide referrer does
If the referrer-hiding feature is enabled in the campaign settings, the transition from the landing page to the offer does not happen directly. Instead, it goes through an intermediate domain.
As a result, the affiliate network sees only this neutral domain in the referrer, without any information about your campaign setup.
By default, AdsBridge provides a system subdomain for this purpose – xxxxxx.track4ref.com. It works immediately without any configuration.
However, just as with the tracking domain, using your own domain is more reliable: it is not associated with the tracker and is not shared with other users.
How to connect your own domain for hide referrer
Go to Domains → Domain for hide referrer.
Use a separate subdomain rather than the same one you use for tracking. For example, if tracking runs through track.yourdomain.com, use click.yourdomain.com for referrer hiding, or use a different domain altogether.
The steps are the same as for a tracking domain:
Step 1. Create a CNAME record in your DNS:
- Host: the name of the subdomain (for example, click)
- Value: your AdsBridge system subdomain for referrer hiding – awnbkg.track4ref.com
Step 2. Add the subdomain in the Domain for hide referrer section using the “+” button.
Step 3. Wait for the blue checkmark. You can speed up the process by clicking “Check connection.”
Step 4. In the section’s Settings, set this domain as the primary domain. It will then be automatically used for all campaigns where the referrer-hiding feature is enabled.
The domain “Index page” feature
Both the redirect domain and the domain for hide referrer support the “Index page” option.
By default, when someone visits the subdomain directly without campaign parameters, they see the “Site is under construction” placeholder. If you click “Edit” for the relevant domain and select a campaign, a direct visit to that domain will open the selected campaign automatically.
This is convenient for short links: instead of using track.yourdomain.com/c/12345?source={source}, you can simply use track.yourdomain.com.
Domain for trackpixel
The last type of domain is the one through which conversions reach the tracker.
In the Domains section, there is a separate Domains for trackpixel tab. It shows the domain used for tracking pixels: S2S postbacks, iFrame pixels, Image pixels, and the Tracking script.
By default, a system domain is used here. It works immediately without any configuration. However, just as with the tracking domain, you can connect your own subdomain via CNAME or purchase a domain directly through AdsBridge.
What has changed
Previously, the pixel domain had to match the domain specified in the campaign. If you switched a campaign to a custom domain, you also had to update all the pixels.
Now there is no strict connection between them. When a user clicks a campaign link, the tracker saves the click identifier (tid) in a cookie, and the conversion is attributed to the corresponding click based on that identifier.
Therefore, the conversion will be counted even if the campaign domain and the domain used in the pixel or script are different.
In practice, this means:
- if you launch a campaign on a custom domain, you do not need to change pixels or scripts that have already been placed on the offer or affiliate network – tracking will continue to work;
- you can gradually move to custom domains without stopping your existing campaign setups.
When it still makes sense to use the same domain
Using the same domain in the campaign and in the pixel is not a mandatory requirement. It is primarily a matter of convenience: the setup looks simpler and more transparent when the same domain is used everywhere, and you always know exactly where everything comes from without having to make additional connections.
Therefore, for testing and quick launches, the domains do not have to match. For ongoing campaigns, however, it is more convenient to use the same domain both in the campaign and in the pixels.
Where to find the domain trackpixel
The domain used for pixels can be found both in the separate Domains for trackpixel tab in the Domains section and in the Tracking Pixels section.
The latter also contains ready-to-use links and code for S2S postbacks, iFrame, Image, and Tracking script, with the domain already inserted.
Frequently asked questions
How many domains can I add?
Starting with the Professional plan, there is no limit on the number of domains. Add as many subdomains as you need. On the Starter plan, the limit is 2 custom subdomains.
Is this available during the trial?
Yes. Adding custom subdomains is available on all plans, including the trial period.
Can I delete the system subdomain?
No. The system subdomain cannot be deleted. You also cannot delete a subdomain that is used in active campaigns.
What happens to my domains if I pause my subscription?
The domains remain in the system and stay configured. When you resume your subscription, everything will work as before.
The domain has been added, but the status is red. What should I do?
First, wait a little: CNAME records can sometimes take several hours to propagate.
Next, check that the record was created correctly: make sure the host and value are correct and that the record type is CNAME rather than A.
If you use Cloudflare, make sure proxying is disabled (gray cloud).
Click “Check connection” – the system will ping the domain without waiting for the automatic check.
Will statistics work with a Cyrillic domain?
Yes. AdsBridge supports domains using both Latin and Cyrillic characters.
Can I use my own domain for an S2S postback?
Yes. As with other pixels, you can keep the system domain or connect your own domain or one purchased through AdsBridge. It will work because it is configured to point to AdsBridge servers.
Does the domain in the pixel or script have to match the campaign domain?
No, this is not required. The tracker saves the click identifier (tid) in a cookie, so conversions are counted even when different domains are used.
However, using the same domain everywhere makes the setup simpler and more transparent.
Where can I see the domain used for pixels?
In the Tracking Pixels section. This is also where you will find ready-to-use links and code with the domain already inserted.
The pixel domain itself is displayed in the Domains for trackpixel tab in the Domains section.
System domains are a good starting point for testing. For long-term use, we recommend connecting your own subdomains: setup takes 10–15 minutes, and the benefits are noticeable immediately.