How to set up custom domain email with shipmail

Set up professional email on your own domain in five steps: add your domain, configure DNS records, verify, create mailboxes, and connect your email client. The whole process takes about ten minutes.

1. Add your domain

Go to the Domains page in your dashboard.
Click Add domain and enter your domain name (e.g., yourcompany.com).
SHIPMAIL generates the required DNS records: MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.

2. Configure DNS records

Log in to your domain registrar (Cloudflare, Namecheap, GoDaddy, etc.).
Add the MX record pointing to mx1.shipmail.to with priority 10.
Add the SPF TXT record to authorize SHIPMAIL to send on your behalf.
Add the DKIM TXT record for cryptographic email signing.
Add the DMARC TXT record to set your authentication policy.
DNS propagation typically takes a few minutes but can take up to 48 hours.

3. Verify your domain

Return to the Domains page in your dashboard.
Click Verify on your domain. SHIPMAIL checks that all DNS records are correctly configured.
Once verified, the domain status changes to Active and you can create mailboxes.

4. Create your first mailbox

Go to the Mailboxes page and click Create mailbox.
Enter the local part (e.g., hello, info, yourname) and select your verified domain.
Set a password for the mailbox.
Optionally set a display name (e.g., "Your Name" or "Acme Support") for the From header.

5. Connect your email client

Open your email client (Apple Mail, Thunderbird, Outlook, or any IMAP client).
Add a new account with your full email address and the password you set.
Use mx1.shipmail.to for both IMAP (port 993, SSL/TLS) and SMTP (port 465, SSL/TLS).
Send a test email to confirm everything is working.

DNS records reference

These are the DNS records SHIPMAIL requires. The exact values for DKIM are unique to your domain and shown in the dashboard after you add it.

Type	Host	Value
MX	@	`mx1.shipmail.to` Priority 10. Routes incoming email to SHIPMAIL.
TXT (SPF)	@	`v=spf1 include:_spf.shipmail.to ~all` Authorizes SHIPMAIL to send email for your domain.
TXT (DKIM)	shipmail._domainkey	`Provided in your dashboard (unique per domain)` Cryptographically signs outgoing email to prevent spoofing.
TXT (DMARC)	_dmarc	`v=DMARC1; p=reject` Tells receiving servers what to do with unauthenticated email. Reporting fields are optional.

Registrar-specific notes

Cloudflare

Go to DNS > Records. Add each record with the exact type, name, and value. Make sure MX records are not proxied (gray cloud icon).

Namecheap

Go to Advanced DNS. Delete any existing MX records pointing to Namecheap email or parking pages before adding the SHIPMAIL MX record.

GoDaddy

Go to DNS Management. GoDaddy may add default MX records. Remove them before adding the SHIPMAIL MX record to avoid routing conflicts.

Google Domains / Squarespace

Go to DNS > Custom records. If migrating from Google Workspace, remove the existing Google MX records first.

Frequently asked questions

How long does DNS propagation take?

Most DNS changes propagate within a few minutes. In rare cases, propagation can take up to 48 hours depending on your registrar and DNS provider. You can check propagation status with tools like whatsmydns.net.

Can I use multiple domains on one SHIPMAIL account?

Yes. There is no domain limit on any plan. Add as many domains as you need. The limit is on total mailboxes: 3 on Solo, 10 on Pro, 50 on Team.

Do I need to transfer my domain to SHIPMAIL?

No. Keep your domain at your current registrar. You only need to update DNS records to point email to SHIPMAIL. Your website, nameservers, and other DNS records are unaffected.

What if I already have MX records for another email provider?

Remove the existing MX records before adding the SHIPMAIL MX record. Having multiple MX records pointing to different providers causes unreliable email delivery. If you want to keep receiving email at your old provider temporarily, set up forwarding there before switching.

Can I use a subdomain instead of my main domain?

Yes. Add the subdomain (e.g., mail.yourcompany.com) as a domain in SHIPMAIL. DNS records go on the subdomain. This is useful if you want to keep your main domain's email with another provider.

What happens if DNS records are wrong?

Domain verification will fail, and email will not be routed to SHIPMAIL. The dashboard shows which records are missing or misconfigured. Fix them at your registrar and verify again.