What is SPF?

Sender Policy Framework. A DNS record listing the servers allowed to send email for your domain.

SPF is a TXT record on your domain that lists which servers may send email using your domain name. Receivers check it to spot forged mail.

A domain can have only one SPF record. If you use several services, merge them into one record, like v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:zoho.com ~all. Evaluating it can involve at most 10 DNS lookups; past that, SPF fails.

The ending matters: ~all marks unlisted senders as suspicious, -all says they should fail outright.

Example

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all on getmargin.example authorises Google Workspace to send Margin's outreach.

Putting it into practice

Where to use it: SPF and DMARC record generator, SPF, DKIM and DMARC checker and MX record lookup.

SPF and DMARC record generator

Build correct SPF and DMARC TXT records for a new outreach domain, with the exact host and value to paste into your DNS.

SPF, DKIM and DMARC checker

Look up a domain's live SPF, DKIM and DMARC records and see what's wrong in plain English.

MX record lookup

See which mail provider a domain uses and whether it can receive replies.

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