It's important to clarify a key point right upfront: To truly use your own custom domain (e.g., https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&source=gmail&q=yourwebsite.com) with a Canva-designed website, you generally need a Canva Pro subscription. The free Canva plan allows you to create and publish a website, but it will be hosted on a Canva subdomain (e.g., yourname.my.canva.site).

However, there's a workaround to achieve something similar to "free with your domain" through domain redirection. This isn't the same as directly hosting your website on your custom domain, but it makes your custom domain point to your Canva site.

Here's a breakdown of how to create your website in Canva and the options for using your domain:

Part 1: Create Your Website in Canva (Free)
Log in to Canva: Go to Canva.com and log in to your account. If you don't have one, sign up for free.
Start a Website Project:
On the Canva homepage, type "website" in the search bar.
Select "Website" from the results. This will open the Canva website builder interface with various templates.
Choose a Template: Browse through the many free website templates. Select one that fits your purpose (e.g., portfolio, business card, event page, personal page).
Customize Your Website:
Drag-and-Drop Editor: Canva's editor is intuitive. Click on any element (text, image, graphic) to edit it.
Text: Change fonts, sizes, colors, and content.
Images/Graphics: Upload your own images or use Canva's extensive library of free elements, photos, and videos.
Pages (Sections): Canva websites are typically "one-page" scrolling sites, but they allow for distinct sections with navigation. You can add, delete, and rearrange sections.
Navigation: Canva automatically creates navigation links for the sections you define, making it easy for visitors to jump to different parts of your one-page site.
Branding: Use your brand colors, fonts, and logo to maintain consistency.
Review and Optimize:
Preview: Use the "Preview" button to see how your website will look on desktop and mobile.
SEO Settings (Limited on Free): Before publishing, click "Publish Website" and then "Publish settings." You can add a short description for your site, which helps search engines understand what it's about. Keep in mind that Canva's SEO capabilities for free websites are quite limited compared to dedicated website builders.
Part 2: Publishing Your Canva Website
Once your website is designed, it's time to publish.

Click "Publish Website" in the top right corner of the Canva editor.
Choose Your Publishing Option:
Free Domain (Canva Subdomain): This is the free option. Canva will give you a URL like yourname.my.canva.site. This is hosted by Canva and requires no extra cost or technical setup beyond clicking "Publish."
Existing Domain (Canva Pro Required): This option allows you to connect your own purchased custom domain (e.g., yourwebsite.com). This requires a Canva Pro subscription.
Buy New Domain (Canva Pro Required): Canva also allows you to purchase a domain directly through them, but again, this requires a Canva Pro subscription.
Part 3: Using Your Custom Domain for "Free" (Workaround: Domain Redirection)
If you don't want to pay for Canva Pro, but still want your custom domain to point to your Canva site, you can use domain redirection (or forwarding).

What you'll need:

A custom domain: You must already own a domain name (purchased from a domain registrar like GoDaddy, Namecheap, Google Domains, etc.). This usually costs around $10-$15 USD per year.
Your Canva Free Website URL: Publish your Canva website using the "Free Domain" option and copy the yourname.my.canva.site URL.
Steps for Domain Redirection:

Log in to Your Domain Registrar: Go to the website where you purchased your domain name (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap).
Find "Domain Forwarding" or "Domain Redirection" Settings:
This setting is usually found in the "DNS Management," "Domain Management," or "Forwarding" section for your specific domain.
The exact wording varies by registrar. Look for options like "Forwarding," "Redirect," "Web Forwarding," or "Domain Connect."
Set Up the Redirection:
Forward From: Enter your custom domain (e.g., yourwebsite.com). You might also have an option to include "www" (e.g., www.yourwebsite.com). It's best to set up both.
Forward To: Paste the full URL of your published Canva Free website (e.g., https://yourname.my.canva.site).
Redirect Type (Important):
301 (Permanent) or 302 (Temporary): A 301 redirect is generally preferred for SEO purposes if you plan for this to be a long-term solution.
Forward with Masking/Masked Forwarding (less common now but might be an option): Some registrars offer "masking" where your custom domain stays in the browser's address bar, but the content is pulled from the Canva site. This can sometimes cause issues with mobile responsiveness or internal links, so a direct redirect (without masking) is often simpler and more reliable.
Save Changes: Confirm and save your redirection settings.
Allow Propagation Time: DNS changes can take a few minutes to up to 48 hours to fully update across the internet. During this time, your domain might not immediately redirect.
Pros of this "Free" Workaround:

Free (after domain purchase): You don't need a Canva Pro subscription.
Branding: Your visitors type in your professional custom domain.
Cons of this "Free" Workaround:

No Direct Hosting: Your website is still hosted on Canva's servers.
URL Changes: Once redirected, the URL in the browser's address bar will change to the my.canva.site URL. This can look less professional and might confuse users who want to copy the "branded" URL.
Limited SEO: Search engines will primarily see the my.canva.site URL, which might affect how your site is indexed and ranked.
No Email with Custom Domain: You can't set up custom email addresses (e.g., info@https://www.google.com/url?sa=E&source=gmail&q=yourwebsite.com) directly through Canva or this redirection method. You'd need separate email hosting.
Limited Functionality: You won't get the full benefits of Canva Pro's domain integration (like potentially better SEO control or no my.canva.site in the URL bar).