What’s the Difference Between Parked, Addon, and Subdomains?

•  Understanding Domain Names

A domain name is the human-friendly address of your website — the text users type into their browser to reach your site (for example, thamara.cloud).

Behind every domain name lies an IP address — a series of numbers that computers use to locate the exact server where your website’s files are stored.

For example: 64.238.67.1

Since numerical IPs are difficult to remember, domain names serve as simple, readable identifiers. Each domain name is unique and must be registered before use.

Once registered, typing your domain (e.g., www.yourdomain.com) directs visitors exclusively to your website.

A domain name can include letters, numbers, and various extensions (TLDs) like .com, .net, .org, or specialized ones such as .store or .cloud.

•  Addon Domains

An Addon Domain is an extra domain that you can host within your primary hosting account. It functions as a completely separate website with its own content, even though it shares the same cPanel.

Addon domains have their own folder inside public_html and operate independently — meaning you can create separate email accounts, forwarders, and databases for each one.

•  Why Use Addon Domains

Addon domains are ideal when you want to:

• Host multiple websites under one hosting plan
• Manage several small projects without paying for extra accounts
• Save money and simplify management while keeping sites independent
• How to Create an Addon Domain
• You can easily create an Addon Domain from your hosting control panel — whether you’re using cPanel, Plesk, or another interface.

•  Parked Domains (Aliases)

A Parked Domain — also called an Alias in cPanel — is an additional domain name that points to your main website. It doesn’t host its own unique content; instead, it displays the same site as your primary domain.

For example, both example.net and example.org can show the same website as example.com.

•  Why Use Parked Domains

Parked domains are useful when you want to:

• Secure misspellings or alternate spellings of your domain
• Protect your brand under different TLDs (e.g., .com, .net, .org)
• Create extra email addresses linked to your alias
• Redirect visitors from other marketing URLs (e.g., to your Facebook or YouTube page)
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How to Create a Parked Domain

• You can set up a Parked Domain — also known as an Alias — from any standard hosting control panel such as cPanel, Plesk, or a custom dashboard.

• Subdomains

A Subdomain is a subsection of your main domain. It lets you organize different parts of your website or create separate environments under one domain name.

For example:

• blog.example.com → blog section
• shop.example.com → online store
• m.example.com → mobile version
• us.example.com → location-based site

Each subdomain can have its own files, databases, and functionality, all without needing to register a new domain name.

Why Use Subdomains

Subdomains are commonly used for:

• Testing or staging new designs and updates safely
• Creating separate sections like a blog, forum, or support portal
• Localizing content for specific regions
• Building apps or dashboards for user groups

Note: Subdomains are treated as separate websites by search engines, so they don’t impact your main domain’s SEO — but for long-term projects, a sub-folder (e.g., /blog) may be more SEO-friendly.

How to Create a Subdomain

You can create a Subdomain from your hosting control panel — whether you’re using cPanel, Plesk, or another management interface.

Updated on: 27/10/2025