What’s the Difference Between My Live Website URL and the Testlink?

Modified on Fri, 10 Oct at 12:51 PM

If you’ve been working with Cybernautic to build or update your website, you might’ve seen two different links for your site:

Live URL: https://companydomain.com
Testlink URL: http://companydomain_com.cybertest.link

At first glance, it might seem like these are two totally separate websites—but they’re not. Let’s break down what’s going on behind the scenes and when to use each.

What Is a Testlink?

The testlink is a preview link that allows you (and us!) to view your website while it’s still in development — before it’s live to the public.

It’s hosted on Cybernautic’s servers.
It loads the exact same code that will eventually be published to your real domain.
It works without needing your DNS (domain settings) to be updated — which means we can build your new site while your old one is still online.

Why is this Helpful?

Because the testlink lives entirely within our infrastructure, it will reliably load your site during development—even if the domain name hasn’t been pointed to us yet. That way, you can review, test, and approve your new site without affecting your live site at all.

Even after launch, if you notice your website offline, the testlink is a great way to check whether it's a hosting issue or something else. If the testlink loads, it is not an issue with hosting and likely has something to do with DNS or SSL.

What’s the Live URL?

Your live URL is the actual domain that your visitors and customers use — like https://companydomain.com. Once your website launches, this is where your site officially lives.

After launch, all public access, updates, and links should point to your live URL only.

Are They the Same Site?

Yes — and no.

They run off the same codebase, meaning they show the same pages and functionality.
But they are not completely interchangeable, especially once the site is live.

Here’s the nuance:

FEATURE	TESTLINK	LIVE URL
Used during development	✅ (for initial site build and larger changes)	✅ (for small, minor updates)
Public-facing	❌	✅
Requires DNS setup	❌	✅
Can be used to test code changes	✅ (with developer help)	✅
Should be shared with customers or clients	❌	✅
Should be used to update your website post-launch	❌	✅

Post-Launch Testlink Use

Even after your site is live, we can still use the testlink behind the scenes to preview code changes or design updates before they go live. For example, if we’re redesigning a page or building a new feature, we might make those changes visible only on the testlink for review.

But remember: editing the site through the testlink edits the live site — they’re pulling from the same source. So it’s not a separate "safe" version — just a different window into the same house.

Best Practices

Use the live URL for editing content, making updates, or sharing your site.
Don’t send testlink URLs to your customers or clients — they’re meant for internal or review purposes only.
If you’re unsure whether you’re viewing the live site or the testlink, check the address bar — live sites will always use your domain without anything extra (like companydomain.com).

Need Help?

If you’re not sure which link to use or something doesn’t look right, we’ve got your back. Submit a support ticket and we’ll help clear things up.