SPF Record Checker

Check your domain's SPF record, see every authorized sender, and catch the errors that send your email to spam, all in seconds.

SPF Checker by

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What Is an SPF Checker?

An SPF checker reads the SPF record on a domain and tells you whether it is valid. SPF, short for Sender Policy Framework, is a DNS record that lists which mail servers are allowed to send email for your domain. Mailbox providers like Gmail and Outlook read it on every message to confirm the sender is authorized. The checker pulls that record, validates the syntax, lists every authorized sender and IP, counts the DNS lookups, and flags anything that would cause authentication to fail.
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How the SPF Checker Works

1. Enter your domain: Type the domain you want to check and run the lookup.

‍2. We pull the record: The tool queries your DNS and retrieves the live SPF record.

‍3. We validate everything: It checks the syntax, lists authorized senders, and counts the DNS lookups against the limit of 10.

‍4. You get the fixes: Every issue comes with a plain explanation and the exact correction to make.

Why Use an SPF Record Checker?

Instant SPF Lookup

Our tool performs a real-time SPF check of your domain’s SPF records, conducting an SPF record check to ensure the record is valid and exists for the domain. This provides immediate feedback on syntax errors, misconfiguration issues, and validation status. This helps you quickly identify and fix problems that could affect your email delivery success rate.SPF validation involves checking the syntax, confirming the SPF record exists, and ensuring the record is valid for proper email authentication. Users can check SPF record details to quickly identify and resolve issues.

Full Validation & Error Detection

The checker thoroughly examines your SPF records for common mistakes, including incorrect syntax (such as improper formatting, spacing, or mechanisms), missing entries, and excessive DNS lookups. It also checks for too many DNS lookups or many DNS lookups, which can trigger an SPF Permerror and result in email delivery failures. Additionally, the tool monitors void lookups and excessive record lookup counts to ensure compliance with SPF best practices. It provides clear, actionable explanations of any issues found, making it easy for both technical and non-technical users to understand and resolve problems with their SPF configuration.

Clear Fix Recommendations

Beyond basic validation, our tool offers practical suggestions to optimize your SPF records according to current email authentication best practices. Best practices include publishing only one SPF record per domain, as multiple SPF records can cause the receiving server to reject emails. Your SPF policy should be clearly defined, and the correct SPF version (v=spf1) must be used. It is important to use the correct SPF mechanism and be cautious with other mechanisms, such as deprecated or advanced options, to ensure proper email authentication. SPF macros can help manage complex SPF records and stay within DNS lookup limits. Failing to include all legitimate sources in your SPF record can allow non authorized sources to send emails on behalf of your domain, undermining email security. This includes recommendations for proper record formatting, handling multiple domains, and maintaining optimal lookup limits for deliverability. Additionally, it is crucial to adhere to the SPF specification, which limits the number of DNS lookups to 10, as exceeding this limit can lead to email delivery issues and may cause legitimate emails to fail basic SPF record authentication.

What is an SPF record?

An SPF record is a DNS TXT entry that lists the mail servers allowed to send email for your domain. Mailbox providers check it to confirm a message really came from you. A correct record protects against spoofing and keeps your email out of spam.

How do I check my SPF record?

Enter your domain into the checker and run it. The tool reads your DNS, retrieves the SPF record, and shows you the syntax, authorized senders, lookup count, and any errors, along with how to fix them. No signup needed.

What is the 10-lookup limit?

SPF allows a maximum of 10 DNS lookups when a mailbox provider evaluates your record. Each include or mechanism that points to another service counts toward it. Go over 10 and SPF fails with a permanent error, even if the record looks fine. The checker counts your lookups so you catch this before it hurts deliverability.

My SPF record is set up but email still goes to spam. Why?

SPF alone is not enough. Confirm your record includes every service you send through and stays under 10 lookups, then check that DKIM and DMARC are also set up. Review your content for spam triggers and make sure your domain and IP are not blacklisted. Deliverability depends on all of these together.

Is the SPF checker free?

Yes. Enter your domain, run the check, and get the full result with fixes. No account required.

What does an SPF record look like?

An SPF record is a single line of text starting with v=spf1, followed by mechanisms that authorize senders, like include:_spf.google.com or ip4:198.51.100.0, and ending with an all mechanism such as ~all or -all. The checker shows you your live record so you can read it.

Can a domain have two SPF records?

No. A domain must have exactly one SPF record. Two or more cause a permanent error and authentication fails. If you send through multiple services, combine them into a single record using include mechanisms.

How long does an SPF change take to work?

An SPF change takes effect once DNS propagates, which is usually minutes but can take up to a few hours depending on your TTL setting. Run the checker again after updating to confirm the new record is live.