Summary
For the most reliable, flexible setup: keep your domain registered at Atom and (optionally) use Atom DNS, while choosing separate providers for web hosting and email. This isolates risk, improves uptime and email deliverability, strengthens security, and makes future changes painless. In short: a modular stack beats an all‑in‑one bundle.
Atom can serve as both your ICANN‑accredited registrar and your DNS provider.
You’re free to point your DNS records to any web host and any email service.
Why split services instead of “all‑in‑one”?
1) Reliability & business continuity
If a web host has an outage, your email still works (and vice versa). Your domain ownership lives safely at Atom.
2) Faster, safer migrations
Rebuild on a new host, then just update DNS records. No domain transfers or downtime required.
3) Better email deliverability
Dedicated email providers maintain robust spam controls, DKIM key rotation, and global MX infrastructure.
4) Security & control
Keep the crown‑jewel (your domain) at Atom with 2FA and transfer locks. Limit vendor access to only what they need.
5) Transparent costs
Pay only for what you need—domain, DNS (often free/low‑cost), hosting plan, and email seats.
What Atom provides
Domain Registration (Registrar): Your legal record of ownership. Transfer locks, auth codes, RDAP/WHOIS contact management.
DNS Hosting (Optional): Authoritative name servers, fast global anycast, and an easy DNS editor.
➜ You can use Atom DNS even if your website and email are hosted elsewhere.
Already using another DNS (e.g., Cloudflare or your web host’s DNS)? That’s fine too—point your domain’s nameservers there and manage records with that provider.
A quick war story: why “all‑in‑one” backfires
The situation: A neighborhood bakery had domain, DNS, web hosting, and email bundled with a single provider. After a disputed resource‑overage bill, the host suspended the account. Overnight, website and email both went down, online orders stopped, and suppliers’ POs bounced. Because the domain was at the same company, the owner couldn’t quickly move—support required clearing the billing hold first. It took three business days to restore access, and weeks to rebuild reputation with customers and email providers.
What would have happened with a split setup:
The domain stays safe at Atom.
Email (with a dedicated provider) keeps flowing; the bakery can notify customers and receive orders.
We stand up a temporary site at a new host and update only the A/CNAME in DNS. The business is back online the same day.
Takeaways:
Don’t let a single vendor be a single point of failure for your web, email, and domain ownership.
Keep domain and DNS with a provider you trust (Atom), and point to specialized hosting and email.
If you ever need to switch, a modular stack turns a crisis into a routine DNS change.
Common FAQs
Can Atom host my website and email too?
Atom is your registrar and can be your DNS provider. For website files/apps and mailboxes, we recommend dedicated providers (best reliability and deliverability). We make it easy to point DNS to whichever providers you choose.
Do I need to transfer my domain to use another host or email?
No. Keep your domain at Atom and just update DNS records.
What if my web designer asks for domain access?
For now, please contact our support team and we’ll help make the DNS updates on your behalf. DNS‑only access and sub‑accounts are on our roadmap and coming soon.
My host gave me nameservers instead of DNS records—what do I do?
You have two options:
Switch nameservers at Atom to the host’s nameservers (manage DNS there), or
Ask your host for the specific A/AAAA/CNAME/TXT/MX records and keep using Atom DNS.
Email isn’t arriving—what should I check?
MX records point to the correct provider
SPF includes your provider(s) and ends with
-allDKIM is published and enabled at the email provider
DMARC policy exists (start with
p=noneorp=quarantine)Wait for DNS propagation; then test again
Please contact us if you have any questions!