How does Klaviyo handle domain authentication without SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records?
Matthew Whittaker
Co-founder & CTO, Suped
Published 3 Jun 2025
Updated 16 Aug 2025
7 min read
It can be quite perplexing when you're told that your domain authentication, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC, is passing for emails sent via Klaviyo, even though you haven't published these records directly on your DNS. This situation often leads to questions about how email deliverability and domain reputation are maintained under such circumstances. The key lies in understanding how email service providers (ESPs) like Klaviyo manage authentication on your behalf, particularly through shared sending domains versus dedicated sending domains.
The confusion typically arises because while you're sending emails that appear to be from your domain, the actual technical authentication is often handled by Klaviyo's infrastructure. When you inspect the original headers of an email sent through Klaviyo, you'll see SPF, DKIM, and DMARC passing, but the domains associated with these passes might not be your primary domain.
When you use Klaviyo to send emails without setting up a dedicated sending domain, your emails are sent via Klaviyo's shared sending domains. In this scenario, Klaviyo manages the SPF and DKIM authentication records on their own subdomains. This is a common practice among ESPs to simplify the setup process for users. Klaviyo manages email authentication on their shared domains, meaning you don't need to add your own SPF or DKIM records to your primary domain's DNS.
For SPF, your emails pass because the Return-Path (or Mail From) domain in the email's hidden headers is a Klaviyo domain, which has the correct SPF records published. Similarly, for DKIM, Klaviyo signs your emails using their own DKIM keys associated with their sending domains. As a result, when a receiving mail server checks for authentication, it finds valid SPF and DKIM records for Klaviyo's domains, leading to a 'pass' result.
Example of email header with Klaviyo's shared domain authenticationplain
SPF: PASS with IP 195.121.94.170
DKIM: 'PASS' with domain ksd1.klaviyomail.com
Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of bounces@klaviyomail.com designates 1.2.3.4 as permitted sender) smtp.mailfrom=bounces@klaviyomail.com; dkim=pass header.d=klaviyomail.com; dmarc=pass (p=none dis=none) header.from=yourdomain.com
The DMARC pass is then achieved because the domains used for SPF and DKIM (Klaviyo's domains) align with each other. However, crucially, they might not align with your From header domain, which is your actual brand domain. While this setup works for basic deliverability, it means your domain's reputation is somewhat tied to Klaviyo's shared sending infrastructure, rather than being fully built on your own domain.
The benefits of a dedicated sending domain
Despite Klaviyo handling the authentication, implementing a dedicated sending domain for your brand is a best practice for several reasons. It provides you with greater control over your email reputation and ensures stronger brand alignment. With a dedicated domain, the SPF and DKIM authentication records are directly linked to your domain, not Klaviyo's shared ones.
When you set up a dedicated sending domain, Klaviyo provides CNAME records that you add to your DNS. These CNAMEs delegate the authentication authority to Klaviyo while still using a subdomain of your choice (e.g., send.yourdomain.com) as the sending domain. This ensures that the SPF and DKIM alignment happens directly with your domain, not Klaviyo's.
This approach is crucial for achieving full DMARC compliance, which requires both SPF and DKIM to pass and align with your From header domain. A dedicated domain enhances your brand's credibility and helps improve your email deliverability rates by fostering a stronger domain reputation independent of shared resources. DMARC is vital for protecting your domain from spoofing and phishing attacks.
Shared sending domain
Setup: Minimal DNS configuration needed from your side.
Authentication: Klaviyo handles SPF and DKIM via their shared domains (e.g., ksd1.klaviyomail.com).
Domain reputation: Shared with other Klaviyo users, less direct control.
Branding: May expose Klaviyo's domains in technical headers.
Dedicated sending domain
Setup: Requires adding CNAME records to your DNS.
Authentication: SPF and DKIM are authenticated via a subdomain you control.
Domain reputation: Your own reputation, allowing for better control and monitoring.
Branding: Emails appear more authentically from your brand domain.
Choosing a dedicated sending domain is especially important with new sender requirements from major mailbox providers like Gmail and Yahoo, which heavily emphasize strong authentication and DMARC enforcement. For a deeper dive into these standards, you can explore how SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication standards work.
Navigating Klaviyo's authentication setup
To set up a dedicated sending domain in Klaviyo, you'll generally follow a few steps within your Klaviyo account and your domain's DNS settings. This involves adding CNAME records that Klaviyo provides. These CNAMEs allow Klaviyo to manage the authentication for your chosen sending subdomain, like send.yourdomain.com. Setting up a subdomain for email sending is a straightforward process.
Once these CNAMEs are published and verified, your emails will be authenticated directly against your subdomain. This not only improves DMARC alignment but also gives you more robust control over your sending reputation. It's a critical step in ensuring your emails consistently reach the inbox.
While Klaviyo handles the SPF and DKIM aspects with a dedicated domain, you are still responsible for your domain's DMARC record. DMARC tells receiving mail servers what to do with emails that fail authentication. Configuring a DMARC policy is essential for email security and deliverability. You can learn more about DMARC, SPF, and DKIM basics to solidify your understanding.
Important for DMARC
Even with a dedicated sending domain in Klaviyo, you must independently publish a DMARC record for your root domain. While Klaviyo takes care of the SPF and DKIM on your subdomain, the DMARC record is typically placed on your organizational domain. This record instructs mailbox providers on how to handle emails that fail authentication checks, safeguarding your brand from spoofing and improving overall deliverability. Ensure your DMARC policy is not missing or set to a weak policy like p=none indefinitely.
Monitoring and maintaining domain health
Even when Klaviyo handles much of the technical authentication, continuous monitoring of your domain's email performance is critical. This includes regularly checking DMARC reports, which provide valuable insights into your email authentication results, including passes, failures, and alignment status.
If you notice emails failing DMARC, SPF, or DKIM, it's a clear signal that something needs attention. These failures can lead to your emails being marked as spam, rejected outright, or even trigger your domain's placement on a blocklist (or blacklist). Understanding why your emails are failing DMARC is the first step toward resolution.
Staying off blacklists (or blocklists) is paramount for maintaining high deliverability. Being blocklisted can severely impact your email campaigns, preventing messages from reaching their intended recipients. Regular checks and prompt action on authentication issues are key to preventing such problems and ensuring your emails always land in the inbox.
Authentication Result
Impact on Deliverability
Klaviyo setup (typical)
SPF pass (shared domain)
SPF record of Klaviyo's sending IP passed. Email is less likely to be blocked.
Automatic: Klaviyo handles this for shared domains.
DKIM pass (shared domain)
DKIM signature from Klaviyo's domain is valid. Adds trust to the email.
Automatic: Klaviyo manages DKIM keys for shared domains.
DMARC pass (shared domain)
Authentication passed, but alignment might be with Klaviyo's domain, not yours.
Dependent on Klaviyo's shared SPF/DKIM; DMARC record for your domain still needed.
DMARC fail
Email likely to go to spam or be rejected. Impacts sender reputation negatively.
Indicates an issue with SPF/DKIM alignment to your From domain.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Always prioritize setting up a dedicated sending domain with your ESP for better brand control and reputation.
Regularly review your email authentication reports, especially DMARC, to catch any issues early.
Ensure your DNS records, particularly CNAMEs for dedicated sending domains, are correctly configured.
Understand the difference between authentication passing on an ESP's domain and alignment with your own 'From' domain.
Common pitfalls
Assuming that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC passes on shared domains are sufficient for long-term brand reputation.
Neglecting to set up your own DMARC record even when using an ESP's shared or dedicated sending domains.
Not monitoring email headers for actual SPF, DKIM, and DMARC alignment with your brand domain.
Overlooking the impact of non-aligned authentication on deliverability and spam filtering, leading to blocklisting.
Expert tips
Utilize tools to analyze your email headers and verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC alignment correctly.
If your ESP's support says authentication is fine, clarify if it refers to their shared domains or your dedicated domain.
Gradually move your DMARC policy from 'p=none' to 'p=quarantine' or 'p=reject' once confident in your setup.
Consider how each email's technical headers reflect on your domain, not just the visible 'From' address.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says that while authentication might pass, the domain alignment for SPF or DKIM could still be failing, which is crucial for DMARC.
2022-08-20 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that the authentication showing as 'pass' in the email headers is likely for Klaviyo's own sending domains, not the user's primary domain.
2022-08-20 - Email Geeks
Strengthening your email sending identity
The distinction between Klaviyo handling authentication on their shared domains versus you configuring a dedicated sending domain is crucial for long-term email deliverability and brand reputation. While Klaviyo's shared domains offer a convenient starting point, adopting a dedicated sending domain provides superior control, stronger brand alignment, and improved DMARC compliance.
Understanding how these authentication protocols work, whether managed by your ESP or directly by your domain, empowers you to troubleshoot issues proactively and optimize your email sending strategy. Ultimately, investing in proper domain authentication is fundamental to ensuring your marketing and transactional emails consistently reach the inbox.
Klaviyo, even though you haven't published these records directly on your DNS. This situation often leads to questions about how email deliverability and domain reputation are maintained under such circumstances. The key lies in understanding how email service providers (ESPs) like Klaviyo manage authentication on your behalf, particularly through shared sending domains versus dedicated sending domains.
Klaviyo handles SPF and DKIM via their shared domains (e.g., ksd1.klaviyomail.com).
Gmail and 
Yahoo, which heavily emphasize strong authentication and DMARC enforcement. For a deeper dive into these standards, you can explore how SPF, DKIM, and DMARC email authentication standards work.
