Free Business Email for Your Porkbun Domain

Porkbun's knowledge base lists two ways to get an address on your domain:

The catch is that you can't mix them. Porkbun's own FAQ says a domain has one set of MX records, so once they point to another provider, Porkbun's forwarding for that domain stops working. Write down your current forwards first: they are listed under Current Forwards on the Email Hosting and Forwarding page (the envelope icon next to the domain). Not sure you need more than forwarding? Email forwarding vs email hosting lays out the difference, and switching from forwarding to a real mailbox covers the move step by step.

Also check who runs the domain's DNS. If the domain uses Porkbun's default nameservers (curitiba, fortaleza, maceio and salvador.ns.porkbun.com), follow this page. If you pointed the nameservers to another company, for example Cloudflare, add the records there instead.

Create the mailboxes first, so nothing bounces when the MX record changes.

Porkbun's default email records are two MX rows, fwd1.porkbun.com (priority 10) and fwd2.porkbun.com (priority 20), plus a TXT row v=spf1 include:_spf.porkbun.com ~all. They are what makes forwarding work.

SPF lists who may send mail for your domain, and Porkbun's knowledge base says a root domain can have only one SPF record. Find the TXT row that starts with v=spf1.

• Only Porkbun's line is there: click the pencil icon, replace the value with v=spf1 include:msg25.com ~all and save. Porkbun's SPF is no longer needed once forwarding is off.
• Another service also sends as your domain (a newsletter tool, a shop): keep its include and add ours in the same line, for example v=spf1 include:msg25.com include:_spf.newslettertool.example ~all.
• No SPF line yet: add one with the steps below.

How to merge SPF records has more examples.

DKIM is optional and improves deliverability. In Mailbux open Domains, then Open DNS setup and copy the DKIM TXT record. In Porkbun add it as a TXT record and type only the part of the name before your domain into Host, because Porkbun adds the domain for you. Porkbun's own Configure DMARC button only appears with Porkbun hosted email, so you add these records by hand.

DMARC is optional too: a TXT record with Host _dmarc. Start with a monitoring policy and read the reports before tightening it. Reading DMARC reports in plain English explains them.

• The equal-priority MX. fwd1.porkbun.com uses priority 10, the same number as my.mailbux.com. If you leave it, mail is split between the two, so some messages land in your mailbox and others are forwarded. Delete both fwd rows.
• The Fix DNS button. At the bottom of the Email Hosting and Forwarding page, Fix DNS puts Porkbun's MX and SPF records back. Don't click it after you switch, or your mail goes back to forwarding.
• Typing @ or the domain in Host. Porkbun wants Host blank for the root domain and only the subdomain part for anything else. Typing the full domain creates a record on the wrong name.
• Testing from the wrong address. Porkbun warns that testing a forward from the inbox it forwards to causes a loop. After the switch, test from an address that is not on your domain.
• Park Domain. Porkbun says parking only affects web hosting records, so it won't fix or break your email.
• Website records. Leave the A, ALIAS and CNAME rows that run your site alone. Email without changing nameservers explains why mail records don't affect the site.

1. Porkbun says new records usually resolve moments after you add them, but your own computer may keep an old answer for a few hours. Check from outside with an online DNS lookup, or run nslookup -type=MX yourdomain.com and nslookup -type=TXT yourdomain.com. You should see only my.mailbux.com for MX and one v=spf1 line with include:msg25.com.
2. In Mailbux, Domains, then Open DNS setup checks the records for you; choose Re-check now after editing.
3. Send a test from a personal address to your new mailbox and reply from Mailbux webmail. In the reply's headers you should see spf=pass, and the From line shows your own domain.

Sources: Porkbun knowledge base articles "How to Add DNS Records on Porkbun", "How to Edit DNS Records", "How to Set Up Email Forwarding Service", "Hosted email vs. email forwarding", "How to use Porkbun email when your DNS is hosted elsewhere", "How to fix your Porkbun email MX records", "How to reset DNS and park your domain", "How To Turn On DKIM and DMARC", "How to switch to Porkbun's Nameservers" and "How Long Will It Take for Changes to DNS to Show Up?" (kb.porkbun.com), checked 13 November 2026.

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. Just bought the domain? I bought a domain, how do I get email on it? covers the first hour. For the full picture, read our free business email account guide, and compare plans on the pricing page.