How to Add an SPF Record in Porkbun: Step-by-Step Guide

Porkbun is a modern domain registrar known for its clean, no-nonsense interface. Adding an SPF record in Porkbun is one of the simpler DNS tasks you will encounter — the interface is well-designed and avoids the clutter you see at some other registrars. This guide walks you through every step, from logging in to verifying that your record is live. For background on SPF records, see our complete SPF guide.

Before You Start

You need two things:

1. Your Porkbun account login. You need access to the account where your domain is registered.
2. Your SPF record value. This is the text string you will publish in DNS. If you are not sure what it should contain, SPF Creator can generate the correct record based on the email services you use.

A typical SPF record looks like this:

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

Your record will vary depending on which services send email for your domain — Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Mailchimp, SendGrid, and so on. See SPF record examples for common configurations, or check the SPF syntax guide to understand each part of the record.

Step-by-Step: Adding an SPF Record in Porkbun

Why Porkbun's DNS Interface Is Straightforward

Porkbun keeps things simple. Unlike some registrars that bury DNS settings behind multiple menus or upsell you on premium DNS services, Porkbun puts the DNS management link right on the domain list page. The record creation form is on the same page as your existing records, so you can see everything at once.

A few things worth noting about Porkbun's interface:

• The "Host" field is for subdomains. Leave it blank (or enter @) for your root domain. If you need an SPF record for a subdomain like mail.yourdomain.com, enter just mail in the Host field.
• The "Answer" field is where your SPF value goes. Other registrars call this "Value" or "Content" — Porkbun calls it "Answer."
• No quotation marks needed. Paste your SPF record without wrapping it in quotes. Porkbun handles the DNS formatting automatically.

Editing an Existing SPF Record

If you already have an SPF record and need to add a new email service, do not create a second SPF record. Instead, find the existing TXT record starting with v=spf1 in your DNS records list, click the Edit button next to it, and modify the Answer field. Add your new include before the ~all at the end, then save.

Example: Adding Mailchimp to an existing Microsoft 365 SPF record.

Before:

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com ~all

After:

v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com include:servers.mcsv.net ~all

Be careful not to exceed the 10 DNS lookup limit when adding multiple services. Use the checker tool above to verify your record stays within the limit after editing.

DNS Propagation Time

After saving your record in Porkbun, it does not appear everywhere instantly. DNS changes need to propagate across the internet:

• Porkbun's own servers: Usually updated within a few minutes
• Most DNS resolvers: 30 minutes to 2 hours
• Full global propagation: Up to 48 hours in rare cases

If you set a lower TTL (like 300 seconds), propagation tends to be faster. You can increase the TTL after confirming everything works.

Common Mistakes

Using a third-party DNS provider without realizing it. If you have changed your nameservers to point to another provider (like Cloudflare), the DNS records you create in Porkbun will have no effect. Check your nameserver settings in Porkbun's domain management to confirm they are using Porkbun's default nameservers.

Creating a second SPF record instead of editing. You can only have one SPF record per domain. If you need to add a service, edit the existing record.

Putting the full domain in the Host field. If your domain is yourdomain.com, leave the Host field blank or enter @. Entering yourdomain.com would create the record at yourdomain.com.yourdomain.com, which is not what you want.

Forgetting the ~all or -all at the end. Every SPF record needs an all mechanism that tells receiving servers what to do with unlisted senders.

Complete Your Email Authentication

SPF is one part of email authentication. For the best deliverability and protection against spoofing, you should also set up:

• DKIM — Adds a cryptographic signature to your emails. Check your DKIM setup with DKIM Test.
• DMARC — Tells receiving servers what to do when SPF or DKIM fail. Check yours with DMARC Record Checker.

Setting up all three gives you the strongest email authentication. You can verify your complete setup with the Email Deliverability Checker.

References

• RFC 7208: Sender Policy Framework (SPF) — The current SPF specification
• Porkbun: How to edit DNS records — Official Porkbun DNS documentation