SPF records verify the sender’s domain authenticity by inspecting DNS records. However, these records are only valid if the 10 DNS lookup limit is not exceeded. For businesses using multiple email vendors and sending sources, staying within this limit can be challenging—this is where SPF flattening tools step in to simplify the process.
Manually flattening SPF records can be tedious and error-prone, potentially causing email delivery issues. SPF flattening tools automate and optimize this process, ensuring error-free and effective SPF record management.
Key Takeaways
- SPF records validate the sender’s domain but must adhere to DNS lookup limits to avoid delivery issues.
- SPF flattening tools automate the management of SPF records, reducing the risk of errors and enhancing email deliverability.
- Choosing an SPF flattening tool requires considering factors like ease of use, pricing, and automatic updates for efficient management.
- PowerDMARC’s hosted SPF tool offers advanced features like SPF Macros and real-time updates, making it a leading choice for complex scenarios.
- Manual SPF flattening is prone to errors, so automated solutions are recommended for maintaining effective email authentication.
Key Features to Look for in SPF Flattening Tools
When choosing an SPF flattening tool, there are a number of factors you should pay attention to, including:
- Pricing
- DNS Availability and Uptime SLA Commitment
- Response time
- Simplicity and ease of use
- Automatic SPF error handling
- Scalability
- Automatic updates
Top 5 SPF Flattening Tools
1. PowerDMARC Hosted SPF
PowerDMARC enables organizations to protect their presence online with a wide range of email authentication solutions, including DMARC, SPF, DKIM, MTA-STS, and BIMI. PowerDMARC’s hosted SPF flattening tool – PowerSPF optimizes SPF records in seconds to a single “include” for multiple domains and accounts. It does so in a single click, simultaneously keeping them in alignment with any updates made to authorized IPs.
Moreover, PowerDMARC goes one step ahead and also provides SPF Macros—a better alternative for SPF flattening, with reduced false positives and enhanced accuracy.
With Hosted SPF, you can:
- Enable SPF Macros to enjoy unlimited lookups without exceeding the limit
- Update the IPs and IP ranges of third-party vendors in a matter of seconds.
- Copy your existing SPF record and paste it into Hosted SPF for an instant optimized record.
- Reduce the likelihood of SPF Permerrors (Permanent errors).
- Automatic SPF error handling (Null SPF, Void Errors)
- Detailed visibility on what sources are sending on your behalf
- Improve email deliverability, and reduce spam.
Simplify SPF Flattening with PowerDMARC!
2. AutoSPF
AutoSPF is an SPF management solution that helps domain owners stay within SPF limits through traditional flattening techniques. However, it is important to note that AutoSPF provides flattening as its primary and only SPF optimization technique, which comes with a set of limitations and may not provide the expected results in some cases.
AutoSPF allows you to:
- Reduce the likelihood of spam.
- Automatically flatten the records, reducing the need for manual cleanup.
- Ensure compatibility with numerous email platforms (e.g. including Gmail, Salesforce, Office 365, etc).
- Monitor your SPF records consistently for updates every 5 minutes.
3. MxToolbox
MxToolbox has been in the industry for nearly two decades. The SPF Flattening Tool by MxToolbox enables domain owners to effectively manage complex SPF records and reduce the likelihood of DNS lookup errors. This tool is available as a part of their
With MxToolbox, you can:
- Increase email deliverability rates.
- Manage complex SPF setups
- Reconstructs SPF records automatically
4. DMARCLY
DMARCLY is particularly well-suited for beginners in the field. The straightforward interface of their SPF flattening tool – namely Safe SPF, makes it a great option for easy SPF optimization. However it’s important to note that with this method overly complicated SPF setups may result in exceeding the character limit, leading to errors.
DMARCLY’s Safe SPF offers:
- Easy and fast configuration
- Transparent pricing schemes
- Helpful resources
5. Fraudmarc
Fraudmarc focuses on fraud prevention using DMARC technologies. The scope of its services encompasses SPF compression, Outbox protection, and universal SPF. The platform is particularly well-suited for small businesses, however uses traditional flattening methods posing limitations in some cases.
Fraudmarc’s SPF Compression tool offers:
- SPF management panel for policy changes
- Dynamic SPF flattening
- Vendor removal when needed
- Simple, straightforward interface and setup
- Cost-effectiveness
Why PowerDMARC Hosted SPF (PowerSPF) is the Best Choice
PowerDMARC offers numerous benefits, such as:
- We have taken a step beyond traditional SPF flattening and offer advanced SPF optimization using Macros. Traditional SPF flattening often causes challenges, especially for large enterprises with complex SPF mechanisms. Macros in SPF, on the other hand, is effective not only for small businesses but also for large businesses. It enables business owners to optimize and manage their SPF more accurately while keeping the DNS records comprehensive.
- Reduces complicated SPF setups to even fewer generated lookups
- Keeps SPF records short and comprehensive, well under the length limit
- Helpful, friendly, and responsive customer service team
- Several additional managed services, including DKIM, DMARC, MTA-STS, TLS-RPT, and BIMI
- Multilingual support in over 11 languages
How to Get Started with SPF Flattening?
Here is how PowerDMARC’s SPF flattening works:
- Step 1: First, you need to sign up on the PowerDMARC platform.
- Step 2: Then, click on Hosted SPF under “Hosted Services.”
- Step 3: Thirdly, add your domain and select the active domain.
- Step 4: Lastly, click on “Automated Setup” and Enable Hosted SPF.
Final Words
Please keep in mind that manual SPF flattening is not recommended. This is because email service providers often add or change their IP addresses without notifying users. For an effective SPF flattering, you need to be always informed of any changes to avoid SPF failures and email deliverability issues. This is why automatic flattening is a preferred method among many users, although it has several limitations. PowerDMARC customers rely on SPF Macros to overcome these limitations and enjoy comparatively safer and more effective SPF optimization – at a reasonable cost. Interested in trying it? Start your free trial today!
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