A free SPF record checker that counts every DNS lookup, including includes inside includes, against the limit that breaks SPF.
5.0(1 rating)Type your domain. See your SPF record, every include inside it and what each one costs, and the limits that break it.
Your domain
DNS is read from your browser. navid.me fetches only the MTA-STS policy, the BIMI files and the domain's age. Nothing is stored.
This free SPF record checker counts your record's DNS lookups the way receiving servers do: every include, and every include inside those, against the limit of 10.
It names the service behind each include, shows what your a and mx terms let send as you, and flags the mistakes that make SPF fail for every email.
What is an SPF record checker?
An SPF record checker reads the TXT record starting with v=spf1 on your domain, which lists the servers allowed to send email as you, and checks it against the SPF standard (RFC 7208).
The 10-lookup limit
Each include, a, mx, ptr, exists and redirect costs a DNS lookup, and so does every one inside an include. Past 10, SPF returns a permanent error: it fails for every email, and DMARC counts that as a fail.
Here's what common includes cost, counted on September 27, 2026:
- Include
- _spf.google.com
- Lookups
- 1
- Include
- spf.protection.outlook.com
- Lookups
- 1
- Include
- amazonses.com
- Lookups
- 1
- Include
- sendgrid.net
- Lookups
- 2
- Include
- mailgun.org
- Lookups
- 5
- Include
- servers.mcsv.net
- Lookups
- 1
- Include
- zohomail.com
- Lookups
- 2
- Include
- icloud.com
- Lookups
- 5
Services change their records, which is why the checker counts live instead of from a list.
Mistakes that break SPF
- 2 SPF records. A domain can have only 1, and with 2, SPF fails. Merge them.
- An include that doesn't exist. An include for a service you left can point at nothing: a permanent error.
- More than 2 empty lookups. Terms that find nothing count toward a second limit of 2.
- +all. It lets any server in the world send as you.
- ptr. It's slow, and the standard says not to use it.
The checker flags each one, with the term that caused it.
What a and mx let send
a lets the servers behind your domain's own address send email as you. On shared web hosting, that's the host's other customers' servers too.
mx lets your incoming mail servers send as you. If they never send email, it only costs lookups.
~all or -all?
~all (soft fail) says other servers probably aren't you, and -all (fail) says they aren't.
~all is the safer start while you find every service that sends for you: a service you missed gets marked as suspicious instead of refused.
Final thoughts on SPF records
Keep 1 SPF record, list only the services you use, and leave room under 10 lookups for the next one you add.
Build it with the SPF record generator, then check DKIM and DMARC with the email deliverability checker.
Ready to send?
Email platforms that set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC with you
For developers: send from your own app
Where your domain and inbox live
SPF Record Checker FAQs
Questions about SPF records? Here's what to know.
An SPF record checker reads your domain's SPF record, counts its DNS lookups against the limit of 10, and flags the mistakes that make it fail.
An SPF record can trigger at most 10 DNS lookups, including the includes inside includes.
Past 10, SPF returns a permanent error and fails for every email.
No, a domain can have only 1 SPF record.
With 2, SPF fails, so merge every include into 1 record.
~all (soft fail) says other servers probably aren't you, and -all says they aren't.
Start with ~all while you find every service that sends for you.
Remove the includes for services you've stopped using.
Then send marketing email from a subdomain, like news.yourdomain.com, with its own SPF record.
Yes, the SPF record checker is free, with no sign-up.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist & AI OS builder
Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
Navid.me is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
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