Set up Email
PublicConnect an email sending provider and configure your sender identity. Active Reach supports a managed path (we handle infrastructure) and a BYOM path (bring your own ESP).
Email is a workspace-scoped channel. DKIM, SPF, and the verified sending domain are all bound to one brand at the ESP — there is no org-tier email channel. Delivery webhooks back from the ESP echo workspace_id via SendGrid custom_args (or the equivalent envelope field on each provider) so receipts land on the right workspace’s timeline.
Before you start
You’ll need:
- Admin access to your Active Reach workspace
- For BYOM: API credentials from your email provider
- For BYOM: a verified sending domain on your ESP
Choose your path
| Path | What it means | Setup time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Managed | Active Reach provisions sending infrastructure, configures SPF/DKIM/DMARC for you, and warms up your IP | 1-3 days | Teams without an existing ESP |
| BYOM | Connect your own SendGrid, Mailgun, Infobip, SMTP, or MSG91 account | 5 minutes | Teams with established sender reputation |
Managed setup
Choose “Active Reach-Managed”
Go to Settings → Channels → Email → Setup under your workspace (/dashboard/{workspaceSlug}/settings/channels). Select Active Reach-Managed (the recommended option). SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are configured for you and you get a dedicated onboarding call.
Provide business information
Fill in:
- Company name and website
- Contact email (for the onboarding team to reach you)
- Sending domain (e.g.,
mail.yourbrand.com) — this is the domain your emails will send from - Industry vertical (Retail, E-Commerce, F&B, Healthcare, etc.)
- Expected monthly volume (under 10k / 10k–100k / 100k–1M / 1M+)
- Use case — briefly describe what you’ll be sending
Configure your sender identity
Set up how your emails appear to recipients:
- From name — the display name (e.g., “Acme Store”)
- From email — must be on your sending domain
- Reply-to email (optional) — defaults to your from-email
- Fallback toggle — if enabled, Active Reach falls back to MSG91 if your ESP is temporarily unavailable
Wait for domain provisioning
After submitting, Active Reach provisions your sending domain. You’ll see a status page that polls every 15 seconds:
- Pending — awaiting review by the onboarding team
- Domain setup — DNS records issued for you to add
- Domain verified — records confirmed, activating
- Active — email channel is live
When DNS records appear, add them to your domain registrar:
- SPF record
- DKIM record (two CNAME entries)
- DMARC record
- Optional: BIMI record for brand logo in inboxes
Click Confirm DNS Added once you’ve set them up. Verification typically completes within minutes.
You’re done
Your email channel is active. Head to Engage → Campaigns → New campaign and select Email.
BYOM setup
Choose “Bring Your Own Messaging (BYOM)”
On the setup page, select BYOM. You manage DNS, deliverability, and bounce handling.
Select your provider
Pick from the available ESPs:
- SendGrid — the most popular option
- Mailgun — strong API, flexible routing
- Infobip — global delivery with detailed analytics
- Custom SMTP — any SMTP-compatible service
- MSG91 — India-focused transactional email
Enter credentials
Fields vary by provider:
| Provider | Required fields |
|---|---|
| SendGrid | API key (must start with SG.) |
| Mailgun | API key + sending domain + region (US/EU) |
| Infobip | API key + base URL (optional) |
| Custom SMTP | Host, port (1–65535), username, password, TLS toggle |
| MSG91 | Auth key + domain |
Credentials are validated live — the wizard tests connectivity before letting you proceed. Stored encrypted at rest.
Configure your sender identity
Same as managed: set your from-name, from-email, reply-to, and fallback toggle.
Your from-email must be on a domain verified with your ESP. If you haven’t verified a domain yet, do that in your ESP dashboard first.
Send a test email
Enter a recipient email and hit Send test. The wizard sends a real email through your ESP and confirms delivery.
You can skip this step, but testing is strongly recommended before launching campaigns.
You’re done
Your email channel is active with your BYOM provider. The summary shows your provider, from address, and test status.
What’s next
- Create your first email campaign
- Set up a second channel for multi-channel campaigns
- Troubleshoot delivery issues