diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/author.py b/bookwyrm/models/author.py
index 70f85b3c83..abe78dafbc 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/author.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/author.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 import pgtrigger
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 from bookwyrm.utils.db import format_trigger
 
 from .book import BookDataModel, MergedAuthor
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ def isfdb_link(self):
 
     def get_remote_id(self):
         """editions and works both use "book" instead of model_name"""
-        return f"https://{DOMAIN}/author/{self.id}"
+        return f"{BASE_URL}/author/{self.id}"
 
     class Meta:
         """sets up indexes and triggers"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/base_model.py b/bookwyrm/models/base_model.py
index 2d39e2a6f2..ca13d95538 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/base_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/base_model.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 from django.utils.text import slugify
 
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 from .fields import RemoteIdField
 
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ class BookWyrmModel(models.Model):
 
     def get_remote_id(self):
         """generate the url that resolves to the local object, without a slug"""
-        base_path = f"https://{DOMAIN}"
+        base_path = BASE_URL
         if hasattr(self, "user"):
             base_path = f"{base_path}{self.user.local_path}"
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class Meta:
     @property
     def local_path(self):
         """how to link to this object in the local app, with a slug"""
-        local = self.get_remote_id().replace(f"https://{DOMAIN}", "")
+        local = self.get_remote_id().replace(BASE_URL, "")
 
         name = None
         if hasattr(self, "name_field"):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/book.py b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
index 6075d2c926..8e957b717d 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/book.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/book.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 from bookwyrm.isbn.isbn import hyphenator_singleton as hyphenator
 from bookwyrm.preview_images import generate_edition_preview_image_task
 from bookwyrm.settings import (
-    DOMAIN,
+    BASE_URL,
     DEFAULT_LANGUAGE,
     LANGUAGE_ARTICLES,
     ENABLE_PREVIEW_IMAGES,
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ def save(self, *args: Any, **kwargs: Any) -> None:
 
     def get_remote_id(self):
         """editions and works both use "book" instead of model_name"""
-        return f"https://{DOMAIN}/book/{self.id}"
+        return f"{BASE_URL}/book/{self.id}"
 
     def guess_sort_title(self):
         """Get a best-guess sort title for the current book"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/group.py b/bookwyrm/models/group.py
index d02b56ab1f..40a32b5dcf 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/group.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/group.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 """ do book related things with other users """
 from django.db import models, IntegrityError, transaction
 from django.db.models import Q
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
 from . import fields
 from .relationship import UserBlocks
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class Group(BookWyrmModel):
 
     def get_remote_id(self):
         """don't want the user to be in there in this case"""
-        return f"https://{DOMAIN}/group/{self.id}"
+        return f"{BASE_URL}/group/{self.id}"
 
     @classmethod
     def followers_filter(cls, queryset, viewer):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/list.py b/bookwyrm/models/list.py
index 63dd5b23f6..d32a8da955 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/list.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/list.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 from django.utils import timezone
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 
 from .activitypub_mixin import CollectionItemMixin, OrderedCollectionMixin
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ class List(OrderedCollectionMixin, BookWyrmModel):
 
     def get_remote_id(self):
         """don't want the user to be in there in this case"""
-        return f"https://{DOMAIN}/list/{self.id}"
+        return f"{BASE_URL}/list/{self.id}"
 
     @property
     def collection_queryset(self):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/report.py b/bookwyrm/models/report.py
index 74a9bbe411..64ade3a406 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/report.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/report.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 from django.db import models
 from django.utils.translation import gettext_lazy as _
 
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
 
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ def raise_not_editable(self, viewer):
         raise PermissionDenied()
 
     def get_remote_id(self):
-        return f"https://{DOMAIN}/settings/reports/{self.id}"
+        return f"{BASE_URL}/settings/reports/{self.id}"
 
     def comment(self, user, note):
         """comment on a report"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/shelf.py b/bookwyrm/models/shelf.py
index 3d92f8d43e..4b4e3cd8d5 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/shelf.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/shelf.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from django.utils import timezone
 
 from bookwyrm import activitypub
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 from bookwyrm.tasks import BROADCAST
 from .activitypub_mixin import CollectionItemMixin, OrderedCollectionMixin
 from .base_model import BookWyrmModel
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def get_remote_id(self):
     @property
     def local_path(self):
         """No slugs"""
-        return self.get_remote_id().replace(f"https://{DOMAIN}", "")
+        return self.get_remote_id().replace(BASE_URL, "")
 
     def raise_not_deletable(self, viewer):
         """don't let anyone delete a default shelf"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/models/user.py b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
index f793d61b80..e2671b07f5 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/models/user.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/models/user.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 from bookwyrm.models.shelf import Shelf
 from bookwyrm.models.status import Status
 from bookwyrm.preview_images import generate_user_preview_image_task
-from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL, DOMAIN, ENABLE_PREVIEW_IMAGES, USE_HTTPS, LANGUAGES
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL, ENABLE_PREVIEW_IMAGES, LANGUAGES
 from bookwyrm.signatures import create_key_pair
 from bookwyrm.tasks import app, MISC
 from bookwyrm.utils import regex
@@ -42,12 +42,6 @@ def get_feed_filter_choices():
     return [f[0] for f in FeedFilterChoices]
 
 
-def site_link():
-    """helper for generating links to the site"""
-    protocol = "https" if USE_HTTPS else "http"
-    return f"{protocol}://{DOMAIN}"
-
-
 # pylint: disable=too-many-public-methods
 class User(OrderedCollectionPageMixin, AbstractUser):
     """a user who wants to read books"""
@@ -368,11 +362,10 @@ def save(self, *args, **kwargs):
 
         with transaction.atomic():
             # populate fields for local users
-            link = site_link()
-            self.remote_id = f"{link}/user/{self.localname}"
+            self.remote_id = f"{BASE_URL}/user/{self.localname}"
             self.followers_url = f"{self.remote_id}/followers"
             self.inbox = f"{self.remote_id}/inbox"
-            self.shared_inbox = f"{link}/inbox"
+            self.shared_inbox = f"{BASE_URL}/inbox"
             self.outbox = f"{self.remote_id}/outbox"
 
             # an id needs to be set before we can proceed with related models
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
index 994286994e..1a8421c12e 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/connectors/test_abstract_connector.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.connectors import abstract_connector, ConnectorException
 from bookwyrm.connectors.abstract_connector import Mapping, get_data
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 
 
 class AbstractConnector(TestCase):
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def test_abstract_connector_init(self):
     def test_get_or_create_book_existing(self):
         """find an existing book by remote/origin id"""
         self.assertEqual(models.Book.objects.count(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(self.book.remote_id, f"https://{DOMAIN}/book/{self.book.id}")
+        self.assertEqual(self.book.remote_id, f"{BASE_URL}/book/{self.book.id}")
         self.assertEqual(self.book.origin_id, "https://example.com/book/1234")
 
         # dedupe by origin id
@@ -95,9 +95,7 @@ def test_get_or_create_book_existing(self):
         self.assertEqual(result, self.book)
 
         # dedupe by remote id
-        result = self.connector.get_or_create_book(
-            f"https://{DOMAIN}/book/{self.book.id}"
-        )
+        result = self.connector.get_or_create_book(f"{BASE_URL}/book/{self.book.id}")
 
         self.assertEqual(models.Book.objects.count(), 1)
         self.assertEqual(result, self.book)
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/data/bookwyrm_account_export.tar.gz b/bookwyrm/tests/data/bookwyrm_account_export.tar.gz
index 34cee6bc00..d7bc5634b0 100644
Binary files a/bookwyrm/tests/data/bookwyrm_account_export.tar.gz and b/bookwyrm/tests/data/bookwyrm_account_export.tar.gz differ
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/data/user_import.json b/bookwyrm/tests/data/user_import.json
index ffe2e7d9e9..5c0e22ea0c 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/data/user_import.json
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/data/user_import.json
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@
                     "attributedTo": "https://www.example.com//user/rat",
                     "content": "<p>I like it</p>",
                     "to": [
-                        "https://your.domain.here/user/rat/followers"
+                        "https://your.domain.here:4242/user/rat/followers"
                     ],
                     "cc": [],
                     "replies": {
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@
         "https://local.lists/9999"
     ],
     "follows": [
-        "https://your.domain.here/user/rat"
+        "https://your.domain.here:4242/user/rat"
     ],
-    "blocks": ["https://your.domain.here/user/badger"]
+    "blocks": ["https://your.domain.here:4242/user/badger"]
 }
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_base_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_base_model.py
index d666b0e462..f16bdfa785 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_base_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_base_model.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.models import base_model
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 
 
 # pylint: disable=attribute-defined-outside-init
@@ -44,14 +44,14 @@ def test_remote_id(self):
         """these should be generated"""
         self.test_model.id = 1  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
         expected = self.test_model.get_remote_id()
-        self.assertEqual(expected, f"https://{DOMAIN}/bookwyrmtestmodel/1")
+        self.assertEqual(expected, f"{BASE_URL}/bookwyrmtestmodel/1")
 
     def test_remote_id_with_user(self):
         """format of remote id when there's a user object"""
         self.test_model.user = self.local_user
         self.test_model.id = 1
         expected = self.test_model.get_remote_id()
-        self.assertEqual(expected, f"https://{DOMAIN}/user/mouse/bookwyrmtestmodel/1")
+        self.assertEqual(expected, f"{BASE_URL}/user/mouse/bookwyrmtestmodel/1")
 
     def test_set_remote_id(self):
         """this function sets remote ids after creation"""
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def test_set_remote_id(self):
         instance = models.Work.objects.create(title="work title")
         instance.remote_id = None
         base_model.set_remote_id(None, instance, True)
-        self.assertEqual(instance.remote_id, f"https://{DOMAIN}/book/{instance.id}")
+        self.assertEqual(instance.remote_id, f"{BASE_URL}/book/{instance.id}")
 
         # shouldn't set remote_id if it's not created
         instance.remote_id = None
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
index 5b2b71ba95..ebb57061d0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_book_model.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def setUpTestData(cls):
 
     def test_remote_id(self):
         """fanciness with remote/origin ids"""
-        remote_id = f"https://{settings.DOMAIN}/book/{self.work.id}"
+        remote_id = f"{settings.BASE_URL}/book/{self.work.id}"
         self.assertEqual(self.work.get_remote_id(), remote_id)
         self.assertEqual(self.work.remote_id, remote_id)
 
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_bookwyrm_export_job.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_bookwyrm_export_job.py
index be6bda3cc4..35058a3ba8 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_bookwyrm_export_job.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_bookwyrm_export_job.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from django.utils import timezone
 
 from bookwyrm import models
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 import bookwyrm.models.bookwyrm_export_job as export_job
 
 
@@ -173,10 +174,10 @@ def test_json_export_extended_user_data(self):
 
         # follows
         self.assertEqual(len(json_data["follows"]), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(json_data["follows"][0], "https://your.domain.here/user/rat")
+        self.assertEqual(json_data["follows"][0], f"{BASE_URL}/user/rat")
         # blocked users
         self.assertEqual(len(json_data["blocks"]), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(json_data["blocks"][0], "https://your.domain.here/user/badger")
+        self.assertEqual(json_data["blocks"][0], f"{BASE_URL}/user/badger")
 
     def test_json_export_books(self):
         """Test the json export function for extended user info"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_list.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_list.py
index b9148853b2..a902f6cca0 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_list.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_list.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def setUpTestData(cls):
     def test_remote_id(self, *_):
         """shelves use custom remote ids"""
         book_list = models.List.objects.create(name="Test List", user=self.local_user)
-        expected_id = f"https://{settings.DOMAIN}/list/{book_list.id}"
+        expected_id = f"{settings.BASE_URL}/list/{book_list.id}"
         self.assertEqual(book_list.get_remote_id(), expected_id)
 
     def test_to_activity(self, *_):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_shelf_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_shelf_model.py
index 022cb5c61c..d510952ea4 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_shelf_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_shelf_model.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def test_remote_id(self, *_):
             shelf = models.Shelf.objects.create(
                 name="Test Shelf", identifier="test-shelf", user=self.local_user
             )
-        expected_id = f"https://{settings.DOMAIN}/user/mouse/books/test-shelf"
+        expected_id = f"{settings.BASE_URL}/user/mouse/books/test-shelf"
         self.assertEqual(shelf.get_remote_id(), expected_id)
 
     def test_to_activity(self, *_):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_status_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_status_model.py
index 9777a0c86b..4c68327dec 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_status_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_status_model.py
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ def setUp(self):
     def test_status_generated_fields(self, *_):
         """setting remote id"""
         status = models.Status.objects.create(content="bleh", user=self.local_user)
-        expected_id = f"https://{settings.DOMAIN}/user/mouse/status/{status.id}"
+        expected_id = f"{settings.BASE_URL}/user/mouse/status/{status.id}"
         self.assertEqual(status.remote_id, expected_id)
         self.assertEqual(status.privacy, "public")
 
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def test_status_with_hashtag_to_activity(self, *_):
         self.assertEqual(activity["tag"][0]["type"], "Hashtag")
         self.assertEqual(activity["tag"][0]["name"], "#content")
         self.assertEqual(
-            activity["tag"][0]["href"], f"https://{settings.DOMAIN}/hashtag/{tag.id}"
+            activity["tag"][0]["href"], f"{settings.BASE_URL}/hashtag/{tag.id}"
         )
 
     def test_status_with_mention_to_activity(self, *_):
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_user_model.py b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_user_model.py
index 22c7a171bf..3147f95e31 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_user_model.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/models/test_user_model.py
@@ -9,15 +9,12 @@
 
 from bookwyrm import models
 from bookwyrm.management.commands import initdb
-from bookwyrm.settings import USE_HTTPS, DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN, BASE_URL
 
 
 # pylint: disable=missing-class-docstring
 # pylint: disable=missing-function-docstring
 class User(TestCase):
-
-    protocol = "https://" if USE_HTTPS else "http://"
-
     @classmethod
     def setUpTestData(cls):
         with (
@@ -49,11 +46,11 @@ def setUpTestData(cls):
 
     def test_computed_fields(self):
         """username instead of id here"""
-        expected_id = f"{self.protocol}{DOMAIN}/user/mouse"
+        expected_id = f"{BASE_URL}/user/mouse"
         self.assertEqual(self.user.remote_id, expected_id)
         self.assertEqual(self.user.username, f"mouse@{DOMAIN}")
         self.assertEqual(self.user.localname, "mouse")
-        self.assertEqual(self.user.shared_inbox, f"{self.protocol}{DOMAIN}/inbox")
+        self.assertEqual(self.user.shared_inbox, f"{BASE_URL}/inbox")
         self.assertEqual(self.user.inbox, f"{expected_id}/inbox")
         self.assertEqual(self.user.outbox, f"{expected_id}/outbox")
         self.assertEqual(self.user.followers_url, f"{expected_id}/followers")
@@ -130,7 +127,7 @@ def test_save_auth_group(self):
             patch("bookwyrm.lists_stream.populate_lists_task.delay"),
         ):
             user = models.User.objects.create_user(
-                f"test2{DOMAIN}",
+                "test2",
                 "test2@bookwyrm.test",
                 localname="test2",
                 **user_attrs,
@@ -145,7 +142,7 @@ def test_save_auth_group(self):
             patch("bookwyrm.lists_stream.populate_lists_task.delay"),
         ):
             user = models.User.objects.create_user(
-                f"test1{DOMAIN}",
+                "test1",
                 "test1@bookwyrm.test",
                 localname="test1",
                 **user_attrs,
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_isbn.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_isbn.py
index 632a831b06..60a81f3a23 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_isbn.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_isbn.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 from bookwyrm import models, views
 from bookwyrm.tests.validate_html import validate_html
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 
 
 class IsbnViews(TestCase):
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def test_isbn_json_response(self):
         data = json.loads(response.content)
         self.assertEqual(len(data), 1)
         self.assertEqual(data[0]["title"], "Test Book")
-        self.assertEqual(data[0]["key"], f"https://{DOMAIN}/book/{self.book.id}")
+        self.assertEqual(data[0]["key"], f"{BASE_URL}/book/{self.book.id}")
 
     def test_isbn_html_response(self):
         """searches local data only and returns book data in json format"""
diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_search.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_search.py
index 64ff68ba84..6c7e41cf31 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_search.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 from bookwyrm import models, views
 from bookwyrm.book_search import SearchResult
-from bookwyrm.settings import DOMAIN
+from bookwyrm.settings import BASE_URL
 from bookwyrm.tests.validate_html import validate_html
 
 
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def test_search_json_response(self):
         data = json.loads(response.content)
         self.assertEqual(len(data), 1)
         self.assertEqual(data[0]["title"], "Test Book")
-        self.assertEqual(data[0]["key"], f"https://{DOMAIN}/book/{self.book.id}")
+        self.assertEqual(data[0]["key"], f"{BASE_URL}/book/{self.book.id}")
 
     def test_search_no_query(self):
         """just the search page"""