Free SPF Record Checker
Lookup, validate, and troubleshoot your domain's SPF record in seconds. Ensure your email infrastructure is secure and authenticated.
Mechanism Breakdown
Configuration Tips
- Always end with -all or ~all.
- Never use +all (completely insecure).
- Maintain under 10 DNS lookups.
- Pair with DKIM and DMARC.
What Is an SPF Record and Why Does It Matter?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication standard that helps receiving mail servers verify whether an email claiming to come from your domain was actually sent from an authorised server.
When you send an email from john@yourcompany.com, the receiving mail server (e.g. Gmail) checks your domain's DNS records for an SPF entry. That entry lists the specific mail servers and services (e.g. Google Workspace, Mailchimp, SmartMailr) that are authorised to send email for your domain.
If the server that sent the email is on the approved list - the email passes the SPF check. If it is not - the email may be marked as spam or rejected entirely, even if it was legitimately sent by you.
Why this matters for deliverability: Missing or misconfigured SPF records are one of the top causes of legitimate email landing in spam folders worldwide.
Common SPF Record Issues and How to Fix Them
No SPF record found: Your domain has no SPF TXT record. Fix: add an SPF TXT record to your DNS via your registrar/hosting provider.
Too many DNS lookups (exceeds 10): SPF records are limited to 10 DNS lookups. Fix: flatten your SPF record by reducing include: chains.
Multiple SPF records: A domain can only have one SPF TXT record. Fix: merge all mechanisms into a single record.
Authorised services missing: If you added a new email platform and didn't update SPF, those emails may fail. Fix: add the relevant include: statements for each service.
Send Authenticated Email at Scale with SmartMailr
Once your SPF is fixed, you can send campaigns with stronger authentication and better inbox placement. SmartMailr helps you send from Gmail with tracking and automated follow-ups - without complex setup.