> Domain at GoDaddy and no email yet? Set up free business email: find the GoDaddy DNS screen, remove old mail records, add MX and SPF, then test it.

Source: https://mailbux.com/free-email/godaddy

[Home](https://mailbux.com/)/[Free business email](https://mailbux.com/free-business-email)/Free Email for Your GoDaddy Domain, Step by Step

# Free Email for Your GoDaddy Domain, Step by Step

Yes, you can keep your domain at GoDaddy and get business email on it without buying a GoDaddy mailbox. Add the domain to a free email host such as the Mailbux Free plan, then add two records in GoDaddy DNS: an MX record pointing to my.mailbux.com with priority 10, and an SPF TXT record. Your website records stay as they are. GoDaddy says most DNS updates take effect within an hour, and up to 48 hours globally. The steps below follow GoDaddy's own help pages, checked on 9 November 2026.
[Create a free account](https://dash.mailbux.com/register?utm_source=mailbux.com&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=cta&utm_content=free-email%2Fgodaddy) [See pricing](https://mailbux.com/pricing)

- The domain stays at GoDaddy; only mail records change
- Required: MX my.mailbux.com (priority 10) and one SPF record
- Website A and CNAME records stay untouched
- Free plan: 1 domain, up to 7 business mailboxes, 7 GB shared storage
- Outgoing mail on Free carries a small "Sent via Mailbux" footer

## Before you start: is GoDaddy running your DNS?

GoDaddy's help page for SPF records says your domain must be using GoDaddy nameservers to add the record in your GoDaddy account. If you pointed the nameservers to a site builder or to Cloudflare, the records below go there, and edits in GoDaddy have no effect.
Quick check: run `nslookup -type=NS yourdomain.com` on your computer. Names ending in `domaincontrol.com` are GoDaddy's nameservers. Anything else means you edit DNS at that provider; for Cloudflare, follow [free email with a Cloudflare domain](https://mailbux.com/free-email/cloudflare).
Your own domain, your own mailboxes, free to start.
[Create a free account](https://dash.mailbux.com/register?utm_source=mailbux.com&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=cta&utm_content=free-email%2Fgodaddy)

## Step 1: Add the domain to Mailbux

Do this first so you can copy the exact values instead of typing them.


### Create a free account

Sign up at dash.mailbux.com. New accounts start in the onboarding wizard.

### Add your domain

Open Services, then your plan, then Manage, then Domains, choose Add domain, enter your domain and save.

### Open the DNS values

Open Domains, then Open DNS setup. Every record is listed with a copy button. Keep this tab open while you edit DNS.

## Step 2: Open the DNS screen at GoDaddy

Source: GoDaddy Help, "Add an MX record" (godaddy.com/help/add-an-mx-record-19234), checked 9 November 2026.


### Sign in to the Domain Portfolio

Sign in to your GoDaddy account and open your Domain Portfolio.

### Open the domain

Select the domain to open its Domain Settings page.

### Open DNS

Select DNS to see the list of DNS records for the domain.

## Step 3: Remove mail records you no longer use

Look at the MX and TXT rows before you add anything. GoDaddy automatically adds MX records when the domain is connected to one of its own email services, and its help pages give `smtp.secureserver.net` as an example MX value and `v=spf1 include:secureserver.net -all` as the SPF value for its email and hosting products.

- **MX rows** pointing to a GoDaddy mail or forwarding server: delete them if you are not keeping that service. If a GoDaddy mailbox still holds mail you need, copy it out first (the [GoDaddy email migration guide](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/migrate-godaddy-email-to-new-provider) covers that).
- **An existing SPF TXT row** (starts with `v=spf1`): edit it in Step 4 rather than adding a second one.
- **A, AAAA and CNAME rows** for `@` and `www`: leave them. They run your website.

To delete a record at GoDaddy, select the checkbox next to it, select Delete, then confirm with Delete Records. GoDaddy notes that deleted records cannot be recovered, so copy their values somewhere first.

## Step 4: Add the MX and SPF records

Optional: add DKIM. In your Mailbux service, open DKIM and create the key. Then copy the DKIM TXT record shown in Domains → Open DNS setup to your DNS host. One DKIM record is enough. It is optional and improves deliverability.


### Add the MX record

On the DNS page select Add New Record, choose MX as the Type, enter @ as the Name, 10 as the Priority and my.mailbux.com as the Value. Leave the TTL at the default of 1 hour.

### Add or edit the SPF record

If there is no TXT record starting with v=spf1, select Add New Record, choose TXT, enter @ as the Name and v=spf1 include:msg25.com ~all as the Value. If one exists and you still send through another service, edit it and add include:msg25.com before the final all.

### Save

Select Save, or Save All Records if you added both at once.

### Confirm the code if asked

Domains with GoDaddy Domain Protection ask for a verification code before the change is saved: a code from SMS or your authenticator app, or a one-time password sent to your account email.

| Type | Host | Value | Priority | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MX | @ | my.mailbux.com | 10 | Required. Receives your mail. |
| TXT | @ | v=spf1 include:msg25.com ~all |  | Required (SPF). Only one SPF record per domain. |

## GoDaddy-specific traps

| What you see | Why it matters | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Changes saved, nothing happens | Nameservers point away from GoDaddy | Edit DNS where the nameservers point |
| Two TXT records starting with v=spf1 | Receivers treat two SPF records as an error | Merge into one record (how to merge SPF) |
| An old MX left next to my.mailbux.com | Some mail goes to the old server | Delete the old MX row |
| Website contact form stops reaching senders | Your hosting may send mail as your domain | Keep its include in the same SPF record |
| GoDaddy Professional Email or Microsoft 365 offers | Not needed to receive mail with another host | Optional; skip them if you use an external email host |

## Step 5: Check that it worked

1. In Mailbux, Domains → Open DNS setup checks the records automatically; choose Re-check now after editing.
2. GoDaddy shows a world icon in the Propagation column of the DNS list; select it to see the global update status.
3. Create a mailbox under Manage → Mailboxes, send a message to it from a personal address, then reply. In the received reply, open the original headers and look for `spf=pass`.

Still nothing after an hour? See [how to verify your email DNS records](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/verify-email-dns-records-correct).

## What the free plan gives you

The Mailbux Free plan is free forever: 7 GB of shared storage, 1 domain, webmail, the Mailbux apps and SMTP sending, and outgoing mail carries a small "Sent via Mailbux" footer. The Free plan includes up to 7 business mailboxes.
Standard IMAP and POP3 access for clients like Outlook or Apple Mail is available on paid plans, so on Free you read and send mail in Mailbux webmail and the Mailbux apps. If you already have mail somewhere else, the free migration tool copies it in; it works on every plan, Free included. Compare plans on the [pricing page](https://mailbux.com/pricing).

## Frequently asked questions

Do I have to move my domain away from GoDaddy?
No. The domain and the website stay at GoDaddy. You only add an MX record and an SPF record in GoDaddy DNS.
Do I need a GoDaddy email plan to get email on my domain?
No. Any email host works once its MX and SPF records are in your DNS. GoDaddy only adds its own MX records automatically when the domain is connected to one of its email services.
How long does GoDaddy DNS take to update?
GoDaddy says most DNS updates take effect within an hour but could take up to 48 hours to update globally.
Why does GoDaddy ask for a code when I save a record?
Domains with Domain Protection need identity verification for DNS changes. Enter the code from SMS or your authenticator app, or the one-time password sent to your GoDaddy account email.
Can I use Outlook with the free plan?
Standard IMAP and POP3 access for clients like Outlook or Apple Mail is available on paid plans. On Free you use Mailbux webmail and the Mailbux apps.

## Put this guide to work

Business email on your own domain, free to start.
[Create a free account](https://dash.mailbux.com/register?utm_source=mailbux.com&utm_medium=site&utm_campaign=cta&utm_content=free-email%2Fgodaddy) [See pricing](https://mailbux.com/pricing)
Last updated November 9, 2026

## Related guides

[### Free Business Email Account: How to Get Professional Email at Zero Cost A free business email account gives your company credibility without the cost. Here is how to set one up in minutes.](https://mailbux.com/blog/business-email/free-business-email-account)

[### I Bought a Domain. How Do I Get Email on It? A new domain does not come with a mailbox. Find who runs your DNS, clear the default mail records, add MX and SPF, create a mailbox and test it, all in the first hour.](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/bought-domain-how-to-get-email)

[### Free Email for Your Cloudflare Domain: Send and Receive, Not Just Forward Domain on Cloudflare? Get free business email that sends and receives: switch off Email Routing safely, add MX and SPF in Cloudflare DNS, then test it.](https://mailbux.com/free-email/cloudflare)

[### How to Add DNS Records for Your Email Domain Step-by-step guide to adding MX, SPF, DKIM, and DMARC DNS records for your Mailbux email domain. Includes the correct values and verification tools.](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/how-to-add-dns-records-email-domain)

[### How to Migrate from GoDaddy Email to a Better Provider Step-by-step guide to migrating your email from GoDaddy to a better provider, covering backup, DNS changes, email transfer, and post-migration verification.](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/migrate-godaddy-email-to-new-provider)

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