How to Set Up SPF for ActiveCampaign

Authorize ActiveCampaign to send email on behalf of your domain by adding the correct SPF include.

Quick Answer — The Record You Need

Record Type

TXT

Host / Name

Value

v=spf1 include:emsd1.com ~all

Add include:emsd1.com to your existing SPF record. emsd1.com is ActiveCampaign's sending infrastructure.

Step-by-Step Setup

Log in to ActiveCampaign

Go to your ActiveCampaign account.

Navigate to domain authentication

Go to Settings > Advanced > I want to set up email authentication manually (or through the Mailserver Domain setup).

Check your existing SPF record

Look up your current SPF record.

dig TXT yourdomain.com +short | grep spf

Add ActiveCampaign to your SPF record

Add include:emsd1.com to your existing SPF record.

v=spf1 include:emsd1.com ~all

Verify

Send a test email from ActiveCampaign and check the headers for SPF pass.

Before & After

Before

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

After

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:emsd1.com ~all

Common Gotchas

ActiveCampaign uses include:emsd1.com for SPF. This is their email sending domain, not activecampaign.com.
ActiveCampaign also provides a CNAME-based mailserver domain setup that may handle SPF differently. Check your specific account for the recommended approach.
If you have a dedicated sending domain configured in ActiveCampaign, the SPF include may differ. Check your account settings.

Verify Your Setup

After adding your DNS records, use our free SPF checker to verify everything is configured correctly. DNS changes typically propagate within minutes, but can take up to 48 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

What SPF record do I need for ActiveCampaign?

Add include:emsd1.com to your SPF record. emsd1.com is ActiveCampaign's sending infrastructure domain.

What is emsd1.com?

emsd1.com is the domain used by ActiveCampaign for their email sending infrastructure. It stands for Email Service Domain 1.

Can I use ActiveCampaign with other email providers in my SPF?

Yes. Combine includes: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:emsd1.com ~all.