Namecheap BasicDNS Vultr DNS

Migrate DNS from Namecheap to Vultr.

7 record types move as they are. 2 things work differently at Vultr, and the preview shows exactly which of your records they affect.

Free preview. Read-only. Nothing changes until you apply.

What works differently

Generated from the same provider capability data the migration engine uses.

Moves as-is

A
AAAA
CNAME
MX
TXT
NS
CAA

Alias records are converted

Namecheap alias records become CNAMEs below the apex. At the apex they need static addresses, and the preview shows which ones.

URL, URL301, FRAME, MXE aren't available

Vultr can't store URL, URL301, FRAME, MXE records through its API. They're marked Unsupported with the reason, never dropped silently.

A typical Namecheap zone at Vultr

Example records for example.com. Open any flagged row to read why it changed.

Namecheap Vultr

UnsupportedALIAS@
Not migrated
@ is an alias to app.example-host.net at the zone apex. Vultr doesn't support apex aliases or CNAMEs.
ExactMX@
10 mx1.mail.example.net. +1
ExactTXT@
"v=spf1 include:_spf.example.net -all"
ExactCAA@
0 issue "letsencrypt.org"
ExactTXT_dmarc
"v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com"
ExactCNAMEblog
example.github.io.
UnsupportedURL301go
Not migrated
URL301 is a Namecheap redirect feature, not a DNS record. Recreate it as a redirect rule at Vultr.
ExactCNAMEwww
example.com.

How each record at Namecheap BasicDNS translates to Vultr DNS
Status	Type	Name	At Vultr	TTL
Unsupported	ALIAS	@	Not migrated	—
Exact	MX	@	10 mx1.mail.example.net. 20 mx2.mail.example.net.	1h
Exact	TXT	@	"v=spf1 include:_spf.example.net -all"	1h
Exact	CAA	@	0 issue "letsencrypt.org"	1h
Exact	TXT	_dmarc	"v=DMARC1; p=reject; rua=mailto:dmarc@example.com"	1h
Exact	CNAME	blog	example.github.io.	30m
Unsupported	URL301	go	Not migrated	—
Exact	CNAME	www	example.com.	1h

How the move works

1
Connect Namecheap
Connect Namecheap with read-only access (API user + API key, with our egress IP allow-listed).
2
Connect Vultr
Connect Vultr (API key (personal access token)). Write access is only used when you apply.
3
Review the preview
Check every record marked Review or Unsupported. Each one explains what changes and why.
4
Apply to Vultr
We snapshot the Vultr zone, write in batches, and leave Namecheap untouched.
5
Verify
We query Vultr's own nameservers for every record and compare the answers before you switch.
6
Switch nameservers
Lower TTLs a day or two ahead, remove any DS record if DNSSEC is on, then point the domain at the new nameservers at your registrar.

Good to know about Namecheap

Namecheap's API replaces the whole host list on every write, so we always read, merge and then write.
SRV records can't be managed through the API.
URL redirect records are Namecheap-specific and aren't real DNS records.

Access we need: API access enabled under Profile → Tools, with our static IP added to the allow-list.

Good to know about Vultr

Vultr API keys can't be limited to read-only, so use a dedicated user that only has the Manage DNS permission.
If API Access Control is enabled, requests from IP addresses that aren't on the allow-list are rejected.
TXT values can't contain double quotes.

Access we need: A user with the Manage DNS permission for both preview and apply. Vultr keys have no read-only mode.

Questions

Will there be downtime moving from Namecheap to Vultr?

Not if both providers serve the same answers during the switch. The records are copied to Vultr and verified before you change nameservers, so resolvers get the same answer from either side while caches expire.

Do I have to delete anything at Namecheap?

No. We never write to Namecheap. Keep the old zone for a week after cutover so you can switch back instantly if anything looks wrong.

What about DNSSEC?

If DNSSEC is on, remove the DS record at your registrar and wait for it to expire before switching nameservers. Then enable DNSSEC at Vultr and publish its new DS record. The cutover plan walks you through each step.

Ready to see your own zone?

Start a free preview