A CNAME record, short for Canonical Name, acts as a simple alias. 

It points one subdomain, like www.yourdomain.co.ke or blog.yourdomain.co.ke, to another domain name instead of a raw IP address.

For example, you might point blog.yourdomain.co.ke straight to your hosting provider’s main domain. 

When the internet looks it up, it follows the alias and loads the right content without you managing separate IP addresses every time servers change.

In this guide, you’ll learn the three fastest ways on how to check CNAME records. Most finish in under 60 seconds using completely free online tools.

CNAME records only work on subdomains. You generally cannot set one on the root domain (like yourdomain.co.ke without www) because of core DNS rules.

Let’s walk through the easiest methods so you can verify your setup quickly and confidently.

Method 1: Use a Free Online CNAME Lookup Tool 

This is the easiest option for how to check CNAME. No software, no login, and it works on any device: phone, tablet, or laptop.

You simply open a website and get instant results.

Here are the recommended tools, ordered by simplicity:

• DNSChecker.org (my top pick for beginners)
• MXToolbox (queries authoritative servers directly)
• EasyDMARC CNAME Lookup
• NSLookup.io

Step-by-step for DNSChecker.org (the easiest one)

1. Open your browser and go to DNSChecker.org.

2. In the input box, enter a full subdomain (hostname). (for example, www.yourdomain.co.ke or shop.yourdomain.co.ke)

3. Select a DNS server from the dropdown:

• Start with Google or Cloudflare (very reliable).
• For the most up-to-date info, try Authoritative DNS (this queries the domain owner’s own name servers directly).

4. Click the Lookup DNS button.

5. Look at the results:

You should see a CNAME line showing what the subdomain points to (the canonical name).

Below that, it usually resolves to the final IP address(es) as well.

Quick Steps for the Other Tools

• MXToolbox: Enter the subdomain (e.g. www.yourdomain.co.ke), then click the lookup button. It pulls directly from authoritative servers great for verifying recent changes.
• EasyDMARC: Enter the subdomain, optionally choose a DNS server, and click Lookup CNAME.
• NSLookup.io: Just type the subdomain into the box and press Enter. Results appear immediately at the top.

What to learn more about DNS management? Check out our guide.

Method 2: Check Using Command Line (Quick for Desktop Users)

This method runs directly on your computer. It’s quick, doesn’t require a website, and gives you full control.

On Windows (using nslookup)

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter to open Command Prompt.

2. Type the following command and press Enter:

nslookup -q=cname blog.example.co.ke

3. Look for a line that says “canonical name = …” This confirms the subdomain has a CNAME record.

What success looks like:

Server:  dns.google
Address:  8.8.8.8

Non-authoritative answer:
blog.example.co.ke     canonical name = hostingprovider.com.

On Mac or Linux (using dig)

1. Open Terminal.

2. Type one of these commands and press Enter:
Clean short version (recommended for quick check):

dig blog.example.co.ke CNAME +short

Full detailed version:

dig blog.example.co.ke CNAME

Look in the ANSWER SECTION for the CNAME line.

What success looks like (short version):

hostingprovider.com.

What success looks like (full version):

;; ANSWER SECTION:
blog.example.co.ke.     3600    IN      CNAME   hostingprovider.com.

Pro Tips

1. Always use the full subdomain (e.g. blog.example.co.ke).

2. If you get “No records”, “ANSWER: 0”, or only an SOA record:

The subdomain probably doesn’t have a CNAME set yet (or it’s using an A record instead).

Try forcing a public DNS server to avoid local caching:

dig blog.example.co.ke CNAME @8.8.8.8

Or

dig blog.example.co.ke CNAME @1.1.1.1

Success = You clearly see the subdomain is an alias for or CNAME pointing to another hostname (usually your hosting provider’s target).

No records = The CNAME is not configured yet, hasn’t propagated, or the subdomain uses a direct A record.

Check out our guide on How to Check Domain Registration Status

Method 3: Check Directly in Your DNS Provider Dashboard

This method shows you exactly what you configured in your Truehost account. It’s the quickest way to view your own settings.

Remember: The dashboard shows your configured records, but it does not confirm what the rest of the internet sees yet. Always double-check with Method 1 (online tools) or Method 2 (command line) after making changes.

Two Ways to Check CNAME Records in Truehost

Option 1: Through Truehost Client Area (Recommended for most users)

1. Log in to your Truehost Client Area .

2. Click on Domains → My Domains.

3. Find your domain (e.g., main.com.ke) and click Manage Domain next to it.

4. Select Manage DNS.

5. You will see a table/list of all DNS records.

6. Search for CNAME on the search bar and click enter.

7. You will find all with the type set to CNAME

8. Check these columns:

• Host / Name: This is the subdomain part (e.g., blog, shop, or www).
• Address / Target / Value: This shows where the subdomain is pointing to (the canonical name/destination).

Option 2: Through cPanel Zone Editor (if you have hosting with Truehost)

1. Log in to your cPanel account (usually yourdomain.com/cpanel or from the Truehost client area).

2. In the Domains section, click Zone Editor.

3. Find your domain and click Manage.

4. You will see the full list of DNS records.

5. Scroll or filter for Type: CNAME.

6. Check the Name column (subdomain) and the Record / Target column.

Important Notes for Truehost Users

a) Changes you make here usually take a few minutes to a few hours to propagate worldwide.

b) If you don’t see the CNAME record you expect, make sure you are looking at the correct domain and that the nameservers are pointed to Truehost.

c) Truehost makes it simple for Kenyan users both the Client Area DNS Management and cPanel Zone Editor are straightforward.

Key Things to Verify

• The target matches exactly what you set in your Truehost DNS dashboard (e.g., your hosting provider’s hostname, another domain, or a service like a website builder).
• TTL value (e.g., 3600). This is how long (in seconds) the record is cached. Lower numbers (like 300 or 600) mean changes propagate faster.
• The record type is clearly CNAME (not A or AAAA).
• There are no conflicting records for the same subdomain (especially no A record on the exact same host/name). This is a common mistake and can cause problems.

Final Verdit

The fastest way on how to check cname is usually an online tool like DNSChecker.org or MXToolbox. 

Command line works great for quick desktop checks, and your DNS dashboard confirms exactly what you configured.

You now know exactly how to verify any CNAME in under a minute.

Need help actually setting up a CNAME record? Check our detailed guide on adding DNS records with Truehost.

CNAME FAQ