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How to Use This Tool
Enter a domain
Type the domain whose SPF record you want to analyze.
View the analysis
The SPF record is fetched and parsed into human-readable components.
Check for issues
Warnings and errors are flagged with explanations.
Features
SPF Validation
Checks SPF record syntax and identifies common misconfigurations.
Mechanism Breakdown
Each SPF mechanism (ip4, include, a, mx) is explained individually.
Issue Detection
Flags problems like too many DNS lookups, missing mechanisms, or overly permissive policies.
Instant Analysis
SPF records are fetched and analyzed in real time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SPF?
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication protocol that specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email on behalf of a domain. It helps prevent email spoofing and improves deliverability.
What does the SPF lookup limit mean?
SPF allows a maximum of 10 DNS lookups during evaluation. Each include, a, mx, and redirect mechanism counts as a lookup. Exceeding this limit causes SPF to return a permanent error (permerror), which can hurt email deliverability.
What does ~all vs -all mean?
~all (soft fail) indicates that emails from unauthorized servers should be accepted but marked. -all (hard fail) indicates they should be rejected. Most experts recommend -all for the strongest protection against spoofing.
How does SPF relate to DKIM and DMARC?
SPF verifies the sending server. DKIM verifies message integrity with a cryptographic signature. DMARC ties them together with a policy that tells receivers how to handle failures. All three should be configured for proper email authentication.