Email SPF Record Check
Identify email SPF misconfigurations sending your emails to spam and allowing attackers to spoof your domain.
The Input Output of Email Security — Why Deliverability Fails & What It's Costing You
Without a properly configured SPF record, your emails lack the verification needed to reach inboxes and build trust. Email authentication begins with SPF.
Gmail and Yahoo are now enforcing SPF requirements more strictly, starting May 2025. Microsoft has already tightened its spam filtering standards. If your SPF record is missing or incorrect, your emails may be silently rejected or sent to spam without notice.
Misconfigured SPF is not just a technical issue. It results in lost leads, wasted marketing spend, and a weakened sender reputation. It also leaves your domain vulnerable to spoofing and phishing attacks.
Even small SPF mistakes can cause major delivery problems. Whether you are sending promotional messages, invoices, or client updates, one broken record can stop your emails from being delivered at all.
SPF is no longer optional. It is essential for protecting your brand, reaching your audience, and maintaining secure communication.
Legitimate emails flagged as spam
Lost leads and missed revenue opportunities
Increased vulnerability to phishing attacks and spoofing
Wasted ad spend due to undelivered messages
What is SPF Email and Why Does It Matter?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records matter because they play a crucial role in email security, deliverability, and trustworthiness. Here’s why they’re essential:
What is SPF (Sender Policy Framework)?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication protocol that helps prevent email spoofing by specifying which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain.
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Prevents Email Spoofing
SPF helps stop attackers from sending emails that appear to come from your domain (a common tactic in phishing and spam). By publishing an SPF record, you're telling the world which mail servers are authorized to send email on your behalf.
Without SPF:
Bad actors can forge your domain in the "From" field and impersonate your organization to clients, vendors, or employees.
Improves Email Deliverability & Protects Your Brand Reputation
SPF increases the likelihood that your legitimate emails land in the recipient’s inbox instead of being flagged as spam. Additionally, when your domain is used in phishing or spam due to lack of SPF, it tarnishes your brand. Recipients may associate your company with malicious or annoying email behavior, even if you had nothing to do with it.
Email servers check SPF:
When your email hits another server, that server checks your domain’s SPF record. If the sending server isn’t listed, your email can be rejected or marked as suspicious.
Works with DKIM and DMARC
SPF is one leg of the email authentication triad:
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SPF: Confirms who is allowed to send.
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DKIM: Confirms what was sent (via a cryptographic signature).
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DMARC: Tells email providers what to do if SPF/DKIM checks fail.
Without SPF, DMARC policies can't fully enforce protections, weakening your domain's defenses.
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Required for Most Modern Email Services
Providers like Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and most CRMs (like HubSpot, Mailchimp, or Salesforce) expect you to have a properly configured SPF record. Without it, you’re likely to see bounces or degraded deliverability.
Check Your EmailStop Email Guesswork — Start with a Real-Time SPF Check
Misconfigured SPF records don’t just hurt email deliverability, they leave your domain wide open to spoofing, phishing, and brand impersonation.
If your SPF record isn’t set up correctly, your emails may never reach the inbox and worse, attackers can send fake emails that appear to come from your domain.
Our free SPF check instantly reveals what’s broken so you can fix issues fast, protect your brand, and keep your legitimate emails flowing.
“Only 44% of domains have valid SPF records. The rest are asking for trouble.”
– Valimail Email Fraud Report
Input Output Makes Email SPF Management Easy
Our tool manages your SPF records from setup to ongoing monitoring, ensuring they’re always configured correctly. We handle updates, fix common SPF errors (like too many DNS lookups or missing includes), and alert you if something breaks, all without you giving up control of your domain or DNS. You just point your SPF entry to us, and we handle the rest.
Ensure Emails Reach the Inbox, Not Spam
Our platform automatically detects and fixes common SPF issues like syntax errors or missing mechanisms so your emails land where they belong, in the inbox.
Fix My Email with iO™ ClickSafe eMail
Eliminate Silent Failures from 10 DNS Lookup Limits
SPF has a strict limit of 10 DNS lookups. We keep your records compliant so your messages pass authentication checks and avoid being silently discarded.
Fix My Email with iO™ ClickSafe eMail
Improve Reliability with Optimized SPF Flattening
By replacing complex includes with direct IP addresses, our tool reduces lookup load and prevents SPF breakdowns before they affect your email traffic.
Fix My Email with iO™ ClickSafe eMail
Authorize the Right Senders Before They Cause Problems
We monitor your domain’s outbound email activity and identify legitimate services not yet included in your SPF record so you can authorize them proactively.
Fix My Email with iO™ ClickSafe eMail
Resolve SPF Errors Before They Impact Your Business
When something goes wrong, you get real-time alerts with plain-English diagnostics and step-by-step guidance to fix the issue fast—no technical expertise required.
Fix My Email with iO™ ClickSafe eMailSimplify SPF Management Without Losing DNS Control
Manage all your SPF configurations from one centralized platform while retaining full ownership of your domain and DNS. No need to chase records across providers.
Fix My Email with iO™ ClickSafe eMail
How It Works - iO™ ClickSafe Email
Email SPF Expertise That's Broadcast-Worthy
Top media outlets have highlighted our expertise.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What does an SPF record do?
How can I fix an invalid SPF record?
Can I have multiple SPF records?
What’s the 10-DNS-lookup limit?
How long does it take for SPF changes to update?
Do I need DKIM and DMARC too?
Why is email deliverability so important?
Ready to Fix Your Email?
Don’t leave your deliverability — or your reputation — to chance. Whether you're losing leads to spam folders or risking spoofing attacks, we’ll help you secure your domain and make sure your emails land where they should.
Run a free scan, get expert guidance, and take control of your email authentication with Input Output.
