Are DMARC records required by Mailgun and Yahoo?

Key findings

• Mandatory DMARC: Since February 2024, Google and Yahoo explicitly require a DMARC policy for bulk senders (those sending over 5,000 emails per day to their respective inboxes). This is a critical shift in email authentication standards.
• Mailgun's stance: Mailgun actively encourages its customers to set up DMARC records, emphasizing the importance of compliance with major mailbox provider requirements for successful email delivery.
• Deliverability impact: Failing to implement DMARC can severely impact email deliverability, leading to messages being blocked or routed to spam folders by Gmail and Yahoo Mail.
• Policy flexibility: While DMARC is required, senders can initially use a p=none policy for monitoring, though a stricter policy like p=quarantine or p=reject is ultimately recommended for better protection and compliance.

Key considerations

• Compliance urgency: All bulk senders must prioritize DMARC implementation to avoid deliverability issues with major mailbox providers.
• Impact on non-bulk senders: Even if you are not a bulk sender, implementing DMARC is a recommended best practice to protect your domain and improve sender reputation, as outlined in our guide on whether DMARC is required for mail sending domains.
• Stricter enforcement: Mailbox providers are increasingly stringent about email authentication, so aligning with these standards (including SPF and DKIM) is crucial. Learn more about what DMARC, DKIM, and SPF updates are needed.
• Yahoo's explicit policy: Yahoo has clearly stated DMARC is a requirement for bulk senders. Their sender best practices documentation provides detailed requirements.

Key opinions

• Clear necessity: Marketers largely agree that DMARC is now a fundamental requirement for maintaining good inbox placement with Gmail and Yahoo.
• Mailgun's messaging: Some initial confusion existed regarding Mailgun's exact stance, but it was clarified that their strong recommendation aligns with the external requirements from Google and Yahoo, rather than an internal platform mandate.
• Proactive approach: Many marketers recognize the need to be proactive in setting up DMARC, SPF, and DKIM to prevent emails from being flagged as spam or blocked outright.
• No exceptions: The understanding is that these requirements apply broadly to anyone sending bulk email, irrespective of their email service provider.

Key considerations

• Understanding the 'why': Marketers must grasp that DMARC is not just a technical formality but a critical security measure influencing email deliverability and sender reputation.
• Impact on smaller senders: While primarily for bulk senders, it is advisable for all marketers to consider DMARC implementation to maintain optimal deliverability, as detailed in our guide about the importance of DMARC for spam protection.
• Staying informed: It is important for email marketers to stay updated on new requirements from major mailbox providers to adapt their sending practices accordingly, as these changes directly affect campaign performance.
• Learning from others: Reviewing discussions from other marketers on platforms like Quora can provide practical insights into common DMARC setup challenges and solutions, helping to avoid potential blocklist or blacklist issues.

Key opinions

• Clear mandate: Experts confirm that Google and Yahoo have explicitly stated DMARC is required for bulk senders, correcting any misconceptions that it is merely a strong recommendation.
• Deliverability cornerstone: DMARC is seen as a foundational element for email deliverability, preventing unauthorized use of domains and improving trust with recipient servers.
• Importance of alignment: DMARC's effectiveness is tied to proper SPF and DKIM alignment, which validates the sender's identity and prevents spoofing.
• Monitoring is key: Even with a p=none policy, experts emphasize the value of DMARC reporting to gain visibility into email sending practices and identify unauthorized sending sources.

Key considerations

• Holistic approach: DMARC should not be viewed in isolation; it works in conjunction with SPF and DKIM to form a robust email authentication framework.
• Policy progression: While p=none is a starting point, senders should aim to move to stricter policies like p=quarantine or p=reject for maximum protection, as discussed in how to safely transition your DMARC policy.
• Understanding ESP roles: Email service providers (ESPs) like Mailgun are adapting their advice to reflect these new requirements, guiding customers towards compliance rather than forcing it on their platform.
• Avoid misinformation: It's crucial to rely on explicit statements from mailbox providers and reputable sources to understand DMARC requirements, rather than relying on potentially outdated or misinterpreted information, helping to prevent your email from ending up on a blocklist or blacklist.

Key findings

• Explicit requirements: Google and Yahoo's official sender guidelines clearly state that DMARC is required for bulk senders.
• Timeline: These requirements began enforcement in February 2024 for Google and Yahoo, with Microsoft also announcing similar mandates by May 2025.
• Beyond DMARC: Documentation often pairs DMARC with SPF and DKIM, indicating a comprehensive approach to email authentication is necessary.
• Policy recommendations: While a p=none policy might be acceptable initially for monitoring, a stricter policy is implicitly or explicitly encouraged for better domain protection.

Key considerations

• Verify direct sources: Always refer to the official sender guidelines from Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft for the most accurate and up-to-date requirements, to understand if your email may be blocklisted or blacklisted.
• Bulk sender definition: Pay attention to how bulk sender is defined (e.g., sending over 5,000 emails per day) to determine if the requirements apply to your sending volume.
• Comprehensive authentication: Ensure your domain has correctly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to meet the full authentication suite expected by receiving mail servers, as highlighted in a simple guide to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.
• Monitoring DMARC reports: Documentation from Mailgun and others often emphasizes the utility of DMARC reports for gaining visibility into email streams, which is critical for identifying and mitigating unauthorized sending, as discussed in understanding DMARC reports from Google and Yahoo.