Email authentication and deliverability

Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Land in the inbox.

Authenticating your sending domain tells Gmail, Outlook and Yahoo that your emails are really from you. Mailsoftly walks you through the exact SPF, DKIM and DMARC records to add, checks them for you, and confirms when your domain is verified.
Free to start with your Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 account · No credit card required
Mailsoftly domain authentication wizard for a sending domain, showing the Domain, DNS records and Verification steps with GoDaddy specific guidance and the SPF, DKIM and DMARC records to add
Domain · Verified
What is email authentication?

Email authentication is the way you prove that a message really comes from your domain. You add three DNS records, SPF, DKIM and DMARC, to your domain provider. SPF lists who is allowed to send for you, DKIM signs each message so it cannot be tampered with, and DMARC tells inbox providers what to do with anything that fails. Together they lift your emails out of spam and into the inbox, and protect your domain from being spoofed.

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Guided setup

Add your domain, add three records, verify

You do not need to be a DNS expert. Mailsoftly shows the exact records to paste into your provider, and it recognizes where your domain is hosted so the steps match your panel.
Provider aware guidanceWhen your DNS is at GoDaddy, Cloudflare, Google Domains or another host, the wizard tailors the host and value fields to that panel so you paste the right thing.
Copy each record in one clickEvery SPF, DKIM and DMARC record is laid out with a Name and a Value field you can click to copy, plus a copy all and download option.
Checked for you, automaticallyMailsoftly rechecks your DNS on a schedule and emails you the moment verification completes, so you never sit refreshing the page.
Mailsoftly showing the exact CNAME DNS records to add for a sending domain hosted at Cloudflare, with Name and Value fields to copy and a verification status for each record
The three records

SPF, DKIM and DMARC, in plain language

Three DNS records do the whole job. Here is what each one is for, so you know what you are adding and why it matters for the inbox.
SPF

Who may send for you

SPF is a list of the servers allowed to send email using your domain. When an inbox provider gets your message, it checks that the sending server is on your list, which stops strangers from sending as you.

DKIM

A tamper proof signature

DKIM adds a cryptographic signature to every email. The receiving server checks the signature against your published key, confirming the message really came from you and was not altered on the way.

DMARC

Your policy for failures

DMARC ties SPF and DKIM together and tells inbox providers what to do when a message fails: monitor it, send it to spam, or reject it. It also protects your domain from being spoofed by others.

Why it matters

Authentication is what keeps you out of spam

Gmail and Yahoo now require authenticated email from anyone sending in volume. An authenticated domain protects your sender reputation, and a clean list you manage in contact management keeps it that way. Authentication is the foundation your whole email marketing program, from a single email blast to an automated email sequence, stands on.
Mailsoftly domain authentication screen with the Domain and DNS records steps complete and Verification in progress, next to provider guidance for adding SPF, DKIM and DMARC records
FAQ

Email authentication, answered

What is SPF, DKIM and DMARC?

They are three DNS records that authenticate your email. SPF lists the servers allowed to send for your domain, DKIM adds a signature that proves a message was not altered, and DMARC tells inbox providers what to do with mail that fails either check. Adding all three is what proves your email is genuinely from you.

Do I have to set up authentication to send with Mailsoftly?

To send from your own domain, yes, and Mailsoftly makes it simple. The domain authentication wizard shows the exact records to add, recognizes your DNS host so the steps match your panel, and verifies the records for you. Gmail and Yahoo now require authenticated email from bulk senders, so this step protects your inbox placement.

How long does verification take?

Once you add the records, DNS changes usually take effect within a few minutes to a couple of hours, depending on your provider. Mailsoftly rechecks automatically at regular intervals and emails you as soon as verification completes, so you do not have to keep checking the page.

Will authentication improve my deliverability?

Authentication is the foundation of good deliverability. It lets inbox providers trust that your mail is really from you, which keeps it out of spam and protects your domain from being spoofed. Strong results also depend on a clean list, real engagement and honoring unsubscribes, all of which Mailsoftly supports.

Does Mailsoftly support GDPR compliant sending?

Yes. Mailsoftly honors consent and unsubscribes on every send, and its reporting excludes bot and scanner activity so your numbers reflect real people. Authenticating your domain and respecting consent together keep both your sender reputation and your compliance in good shape.

Is email authentication free to set up?

Yes. Create your account free with Google or Microsoft sign-in and authenticate your sending domain on the free plan, no credit card required. Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 accounts get the quickest start; personal Gmail or Outlook.com works too, with lower sending limits while your account builds trust. Paid plans add higher sending volumes.

Authenticate your domain today

Sign up free with your Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 account, add your sending domain, and let the wizard walk you through SPF, DKIM and DMARC.

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