> Domain at Namecheap? Get free business email on it: set Mail Settings to Custom MX in Advanced DNS, add MX and one SPF record, then test it.

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

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

# Free Email for Your Namecheap Domain, Step by Step

Yes, you can keep your domain at Namecheap and get business email on it without buying a Namecheap mailbox. Add the domain to a free email host such as the Mailbux Free plan, then in Namecheap open Domain List, Manage, Advanced DNS, set Mail Settings to Custom MX with my.mailbux.com at priority 10, and add one SPF TXT record. Your website records stay as they are. Namecheap says new records normally take about 30 minutes to work. The steps below follow Namecheap'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%2Fnamecheap) [See pricing](https://mailbux.com/pricing)

- The domain stays at Namecheap; only mail records change
- Mail Settings must be set to Custom MX, not Email Forwarding
- Required: MX my.mailbux.com (priority 10) and one SPF record
- 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: which Namecheap DNS is your domain on?

Namecheap lets you edit mail records in your account only when the domain uses its BasicDNS, PremiumDNS or FreeDNS. Open Domain List, then Manage next to the domain, and look at the Nameservers section on that page.

- **Namecheap BasicDNS (or PremiumDNS / FreeDNS):** follow this page.
- **Namecheap Web Hosting DNS:** Namecheap says the records go in your hosting control panel instead, not in Advanced DNS.
- **Custom DNS** (nameservers of a site builder or a DNS service): add the records there. For Cloudflare, follow [free email with a Cloudflare domain](https://mailbux.com/free-email/cloudflare).

If you are not sure what a new domain needs in general, start with [I bought a domain, how do I get email on it?](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/bought-domain-how-to-get-email)
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%2Fnamecheap)

## Step 1: Add the domain to Mailbux

Do this first so you can copy the exact values instead of typing them, and so mailboxes exist before mail starts arriving.


### 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: Set Mail Settings to Custom MX

This is the Namecheap-specific part. Namecheap does not show MX records in the normal record list until you pick a mail option. The Mail Settings section takes one option at a time:

| Mail Settings option | What it does | Use it for Mailbux? |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Email Service | The domain has no MX records | No |
| Email Forwarding | Namecheap forwarding; its MX records are set automatically | No |
| MXE Record | Forwards mail to a mail server IP address | No |
| Private Email | MX for Namecheap's own mailbox service, set automatically | No |
| Custom MX | MX records for a third-party mail service | **Yes** |

Because only one option is active, switching from Email Forwarding to Custom MX means Namecheap forwarding stops receiving your mail. Create the matching mailboxes or aliases in Mailbux first (Manage → Mailboxes, Manage → Aliases). If you are leaving forwarding behind, [moving from email forwarding to a real mailbox](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/email-forwarding-to-real-mailbox) has the full checklist.


### Sign in and open the domain

Sign in to Namecheap, select Domain List in the left sidebar, then select Manage next to the domain.

### Open Advanced DNS

Open the Advanced DNS tab and scroll to the Mail Settings section.

### Choose Custom MX

In the Mail Settings drop-down, choose Custom MX.

### Enter the MX record

Enter @ as the Host, my.mailbux.com as the Value and 10 as the Priority. Leave TTL on Automatic.

### Save

Save the change. If more than one MX row is listed, remove every row that does not point to my.mailbux.com.

| Type | Host | Value | Priority | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MX | @ | my.mailbux.com | 10 | Required. Added in Mail Settings under Custom MX. |

## Step 3: Add the SPF record in Host Records

Before adding it, look through Host Records for a TXT row that starts with `v=spf1`. Namecheap says it adds an SPF record automatically for services you have with Namecheap, so a domain that used Namecheap forwarding or Private Email may already have one. A domain may have only one SPF record: delete the old one if you no longer use that service, or edit it and add `include:msg25.com` if you still send through it ([how to merge SPF records](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-security/fix-multiple-spf-records-merge)).


### Add a new record

On the Advanced DNS tab, in Host Records, select Add New Record.

### Fill in the TXT record

Choose TXT Record as the Type, enter @ as the Host and v=spf1 include:msg25.com ~all as the Value.

### Save all changes

Select Save All Changes. Namecheap says new host records normally take about 30 minutes to take effect.

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

## Step 4 (optional): DKIM

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.
In Namecheap, DKIM is also a TXT record in Host Records. Namecheap's rule for the Host field: enter only the part before your domain (for example `selector._domainkey`), never the full domain name, even if a guide shows it with the domain.

## Namecheap-specific traps

- **A CNAME record on the bare domain:** Namecheap warns that a CNAME on `@` overrides every other record for that name, including MX, so mail will not work. Use an A record or URL redirect for the website instead.
- **Mail Settings left on Email Forwarding:** forwarding MX records stay in place and mail never reaches your mailbox. It must say Custom MX.
- **Domain name typed into Host:** `@` means the domain itself; `yourdomain.com` in the Host field creates the wrong name.
- **No mail A record needed:** Namecheap's page mentions creating an A record when the mail server is your own domain. With my.mailbux.com you skip that; mail apps connect to my.mailbux.com directly.
- **Editing the wrong place:** records in Advanced DNS do nothing while the domain uses Custom DNS or Web Hosting DNS.

## Step 5: Check that it worked

1. Run `nslookup -type=MX yourdomain.com` and `nslookup -type=TXT yourdomain.com` (or `dig`). You should see my.mailbux.com and one v=spf1 record.
2. In Mailbux, Domains → Open DNS setup checks the records automatically; choose Re-check now after editing.
3. Create a mailbox under Manage → Mailboxes, send it a message from a personal address, then reply and look for `spf=pass` in the original headers of the reply.

Sources: Namecheap Knowledgebase, "How can I set up MX records required for mail service?", "How do I add TXT/SPF/DKIM/DMARC records for my domain?" and "How to connect a domain to a server or hosting" (Namecheap Knowledgebase on namecheap.com), checked 9 November 2026.

## 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

Where are MX records in Namecheap?
In Domain List, select Manage next to the domain, open the Advanced DNS tab and scroll to Mail Settings. Choose Custom MX to enter your own MX records.
Can I keep Namecheap email forwarding and add a mailbox?
Not on the same domain. Mail Settings takes one option, so choosing Custom MX replaces Email Forwarding. Recreate the forwarded addresses as mailboxes or aliases at your new host first.
How long does Namecheap take to apply the records?
Namecheap says newly created records normally take about 30 minutes to take effect. Other networks may cache the old values a little longer.
Do I have to move my domain away from Namecheap?
No. The domain and the website stay at Namecheap. You only change the mail records: one MX record and one SPF record.
Does the free plan add anything to my emails?
Yes. Outgoing mail on the Free plan carries a small "Sent via Mailbux" footer.

## 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%2Fnamecheap) [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)

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

[### 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)

[### 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)

[### Multiple SPF Records? How to Merge Them Into One (and Fix SPF PermError) Two SPF records on one domain make SPF fail with PermError. Here is how to find them, merge every sender into one record and stay under the 10-lookup limit.](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-security/fix-multiple-spf-records-merge)

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