> Domain at Porkbun? Swap its free forwarding for a real mailbox: delete the fwd1 and fwd2 MX records, add MX and SPF in Manage DNS Records, then test.

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

[Home](https://mailbux.com/)/[Free business email](https://mailbux.com/free-business-email)/Free Business Email for Your Porkbun Domain

# Free Business Email for Your Porkbun Domain

Yes. Porkbun's free email is forwarding only: mail to your domain is passed on to another inbox, and your replies go out from that other address. To send and receive as you@yourdomain.com without paying for a mailbox, add the domain to a free email host such as the Mailbux Free plan, then in Porkbun open Domain Management, click DNS under the domain and, in Manage DNS Records, delete Porkbun's mail records (fwd1.porkbun.com, fwd2.porkbun.com and its SPF line). Add an MX record pointing to my.mailbux.com with priority 10 and one SPF TXT record. The steps follow Porkbun's own knowledge base, checked on 13 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%2Fporkbun) [See pricing](https://mailbux.com/pricing)

- Porkbun's free forwarding stops once MX points to another host
- Required: MX my.mailbux.com (priority 10) and one SPF TXT record
- Delete fwd1.porkbun.com: it also has priority 10 and splits your mail
- Leave the Host field blank for the root domain; Porkbun has no @
- 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: what Porkbun gives you for free

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

| Option at Porkbun | Can you send as you@yourdomain.com? | Cost |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Email forwarding | No. Porkbun says replies show your personal address in the From line | Free, up to 20 forwards per domain, no catch-all |
| Porkbun hosted email | Yes | Paid, per address |
| Mailbux Free plan on your Porkbun domain | Yes, from Mailbux webmail and the Mailbux apps | Free, with a small "Sent via Mailbux" footer on outgoing mail |

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](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-comparisons/email-forwarding-vs-email-hosting) lays out the difference, and [switching from forwarding to a real mailbox](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/email-forwarding-to-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](https://mailbux.com/free-email/cloudflare), add the records there instead.
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%2Fporkbun)

## Step 1: Add the domain to Mailbux

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


### 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 Porkbun domain and save.

### Recreate your forwards as mailboxes

Under Manage, then Mailboxes, create the addresses you used as Porkbun forwards, for example hello and your own name, both at yourdomain.com.

### Keep the DNS values open

Open Domains, then Open DNS setup. Each record has a copy button. Keep this tab open next to Porkbun.

## Step 2: Replace Porkbun's MX records

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.


### Open the DNS records

Log in to Porkbun. You land on Domain Management (otherwise choose ACCOUNT, then Domain Management). Click the DNS button under the domain name. Another way: Details to the right of the domain, then the edit icon next to DNS RECORDS.

### Delete the forwarding MX rows

In Manage DNS Records, find the MX rows fwd1.porkbun.com and fwd2.porkbun.com. Click the trash can icon next to each and click OK to confirm.

### Add the new MX record

Click Add Record and set Type to MX. Leave Host blank (blank means the root domain on Porkbun). Answer: my.mailbux.com. Priority: 10. Leave TTL at the default.

### Save

Click Add. Click Back to see the full list and check that my.mailbux.com is the only MX record on the root domain.

| Type | Host | Value | Priority | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| MX | (blank) | my.mailbux.com | 10 | Required. Delete fwd1.porkbun.com and fwd2.porkbun.com. |

## Step 3: Replace the SPF record

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](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-security/fix-multiple-spf-records-merge) has more examples.


### Add a TXT record

Click Add Record and set Type to TXT. Leave Host blank.

### Enter the value

Answer: v=spf1 include:msg25.com ~all, without quotation marks. Leave TTL at the default.

### Save and check

Click Add, then check that the list shows only one TXT line starting with v=spf1.

| Type | Host | Value | Priority | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| TXT | (blank) | v=spf1 include:msg25.com ~all |  | Required (SPF). One SPF record per domain; merge if another sender needs one. |

## Step 4 (optional): DKIM and DMARC

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](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-security/read-dmarc-aggregate-reports-plain-english) explains them.

## Porkbun-specific traps

- **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](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/free-email-without-changing-nameservers) explains why mail records don't affect the site.

## Step 5: Check that it worked

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.

## 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. Just bought the domain? [I bought a domain, how do I get email on it?](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/bought-domain-how-to-get-email) covers the first hour. For the full picture, read our [free business email account guide](https://mailbux.com/blog/business-email/free-business-email-account), and compare plans on the [pricing page](https://mailbux.com/pricing).

## Frequently asked questions

Does Porkbun give you free email with a domain?
Porkbun gives free email forwarding: up to 20 forwarding addresses per domain that pass mail on to an inbox you already have. Replies come from that other address. A mailbox you can send from is a paid add-on at Porkbun, or you can point the domain to a free email host.
Can I keep Porkbun forwarding and use another email host?
No. Porkbun says a domain can only have one set of MX records, so once they point to another provider, Porkbun's forwarding for that domain stops. Recreate the addresses you need at the new host.
What do I put in the Host field for an MX record on Porkbun?
Nothing. Porkbun uses a blank Host for the root domain, so yourdomain.com mail needs Host left empty, Answer my.mailbux.com and Priority 10.
Will my Porkbun website stop working?
No. The site uses A, ALIAS or CNAME records. Email uses MX and TXT records, so changing them does not affect the website.
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%2Fporkbun) [See pricing](https://mailbux.com/pricing)
Last updated November 13, 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)

[### Email Forwarding vs Email Hosting: Which One Do You Need? Forwarding passes mail on to an inbox you already have; hosting gives your address a real mailbox that sends as your domain. Here is when each one is enough.](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-comparisons/email-forwarding-vs-email-hosting)

[### How to Get an Email Address With Your Name (Your Own Domain) Register a domain with your name, add it to an email host and set two DNS records. Here is how to pick the domain, the address, and keep it safe for years.](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/email-address-with-your-name)

[### 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)

[### Switch From Email Forwarding to a Real Mailbox on Your Domain Forwarding only receives. To send and receive as you@yourdomain, create mailboxes first, switch MX, add SPF, then turn forwarding off, in that order, so nothing is lost.](https://mailbux.com/blog/email-guides/email-forwarding-to-real-mailbox)

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