SPF Setup for MailerLite
December 17, 2025 • InboxGreenEmail Team
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SPF Setup for MailerLite
When you're sending emails through MailerLite, one of the key components for ensuring your messages land in the inbox is setting up SPF correctly. If you skip this step or configure it incorrectly, you might find your emails bouncing, landing in spam folders, or even getting flagged with warnings in Gmail. This matters because your domain reputation is at stake, and a poor reputation can hinder your email marketing efforts significantly. You want to avoid the frustration of seeing your carefully crafted emails go unnoticed.
At a glance
- This problem affects SaaS founders, marketers, and technical teams managing email sending.
- This article will guide you through setting up SPF for MailerLite.
- By following these steps, you will improve your inbox placement and protect your domain reputation.
When this problem shows up in real life
Imagine you send out a newsletter to your subscribers, but instead of seeing high engagement, you receive complaints about emails not arriving. You check your MailerLite dashboard and see that delivery rates are low. You then look at your email headers and find something like this:
Received-SPF: fail (google.com: domain of example.com does not designate 192.0.2.1 as permitted sender) client-ip=192.0.2.1;
This indicates that the SPF record for your domain is either missing or not configured correctly. Another scenario could be seeing a bounce-back email with a message like:
550 5.7.1 : Sender address rejected: Domain not found
Both of these examples highlight the urgency of having a proper SPF setup. Without it, your emails are at risk of being rejected or filtered out.
Step by step: SPF setup for MailerLite
- Log in to your MailerLite account.
Navigate to the account settings where you can find your sending domain options.
- Find the SPF record information.
MailerLite typically provides a recommended SPF record that you need to add to your DNS settings. It usually looks something like this:
v=spf1 include:mailerlite.com ~all - Access your DNS provider.
Log in to the platform where your domain is registered. This could be GoDaddy, Namecheap, or any other provider.
- Add the SPF record.
Locate the DNS settings section and add a new TXT record. Here are the details:
- Type: TXT
- Name: @ (or your domain name)
- Value: v=spf1 include:mailerlite.com ~all
- TTL: 3600 (or your provider’s default)
- Save your changes.
Make sure to save the DNS record. Changes can take some time to propagate, so be patient.
- Verify your SPF record.
After waiting for DNS propagation, use the InboxGreen checker to verify that your SPF record is set up correctly.
Common mistakes
- Missing the SPF record.
Symptom: Emails are bouncing back with SPF failure messages.
Cause: No SPF record exists for your domain.
Fix: Follow the steps above to create and add the SPF record.
- Incorrect SPF syntax.
Symptom: SPF validation fails.
Cause: Typographical errors in the SPF record.
Fix: Double-check the syntax and ensure it matches the recommended format.
- Using multiple SPF records.
Symptom: SPF fails with a "multiple SPF records" error.
Cause: Having more than one SPF record for your domain.
Fix: Combine all mechanisms into a single SPF record.
- Not including all sending sources.
Symptom: Some emails are still landing in spam.
Cause: Missing other email services in your SPF record.
Fix: Add any other services you use to send emails to your SPF record.
Troubleshooting when it still fails
If your SPF record looks correct but you're still experiencing issues, consider these checks:
- Authentication-Results header shows failure.
Likely cause: The email is sent from an IP not included in your SPF record.
What to try next: Update your SPF record to include the sending IP.
- Using the InboxGreen checker shows SPF issues.
Likely cause: DNS changes have not fully propagated.
What to try next: Wait a few more hours and check again.
- Receiving bounce messages.
Likely cause: Your domain is blacklisted or has a poor reputation.
What to try next: Use the Blacklist Checker to see if your domain is listed.
Related checks you should run
- Ensure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC alignment.
- Check DNS TTL settings and propagation delays.
- Monitor your domain reputation, bounces, and spam reports.
- Evaluate your list quality and engagement patterns.
FAQ
Why is SPF still failing on MailerLite after I added the record?
SPF failures can occur if the DNS changes have not fully propagated. It can take up to 48 hours for changes to be recognized across the internet. Double-check your SPF record syntax and ensure it matches MailerLite's recommendations.
How long do DNS changes take to apply on MailerLite?
Typically, DNS changes can take anywhere from a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate. If you have set a low TTL, it should be faster. However, patience is key.
Can I use more than one SPF include with this setup?
Yes, you can include multiple services in your SPF record. Just make sure to combine them into a single record without exceeding the 10 DNS lookup limit.
What happens if I exceed the SPF lookup limit?
If you exceed the SPF lookup limit, the SPF check will fail. This means your emails may be rejected or marked as spam. Always keep track of your includes and ensure they are necessary.
What to do next
Now that you have your SPF record set up for MailerLite, it is time to verify that everything is functioning correctly. Use the InboxGreen checker to confirm your SPF record is valid. After that, keep an eye on your email deliverability and make adjustments as needed. Regular checks can help maintain your domain's reputation and ensure your emails reach the inbox.
Need a clean record fast? Use our SPF generator, then validate with /check.
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