Summary
When sending emails via a third-party service like SendGrid, but using a From: address from a freemail domain such as gmail.com, you are likely to encounter DMARC rejection errors from Gmail itself. This happens even if gmail.com's published DMARC policy is set to p=none. Gmail, as the domain owner, reserves the right to enforce stricter internal policies for its own domain, particularly against unauthenticated or spoofed email. This situation highlights a fundamental conflict in email authentication, where a third-party sender authenticates the message for their domain (e.g., SendGrid), but this authentication does not align with the perceived From: domain (gmail.com), leading to DMARC failure. This issue is becoming more prevalent as mailbox providers tighten their security measures against spoofing and phishing, requiring senders to authenticate their emails properly for domains they own and control.
Key findings
- DMARC rejection reason: Emails sent from a freemail domain like gmail.com through a third-party ESP like SendGrid will fail DMARC alignment.
- Gmail's internal policy: Despite gmail.com's DMARC record possibly being p=none, Gmail enforces an internal rejection policy for emails impersonating its own domain when unauthenticated.
- Spoofing detection: This behavior is an intentional measure by Gmail to prevent domain spoofing and phishing attempts, even if the sender intends no malicious activity.
- Recent observed behavior: There have been recent observations of Gmail tightening its enforcement on such emails, leading to more frequent rejections.
Key considerations
- Domain ownership: Always send emails from a domain you own and control to ensure proper DMARC alignment and authentication. Learn more about DMARC, SPF, and DKIM alignment failures.
- Authentication standards: Ensure your sending domain has correctly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to pass authentication checks. Google's DMARC initiative documentation provides further guidance.
- ESP configuration: When using an ESP, configure it to send emails using your authenticated domain, not a freemail domain. This prevents DMARC alignment issues, which are critical for Gmail deliverability.
- Contact Google: For specific questions about Gmail's evolving policies or rejection messages, engaging directly with Google support or reviewing their official documentation is advisable.
What email marketers say
Email marketers widely acknowledge the inherent problems of sending emails from a freemail domain through third-party platforms. The general consensus points to the increasing stringency of major mailbox providers, like Gmail, in enforcing DMARC and other authentication standards. Many marketers share experiences of similar rejections and highlight the need to transition to owned domains for improved deliverability and reputation, as outlined in our guide on email deliverability issues.
Key opinions
- Spoofing is problematic: Using a freemail domain in the From: address when sending via an ESP is generally considered poor practice and a spam indicator.
- Expected DMARC failure: It's understood that DMARC will fail due to misalignment when the From: domain (e.g., gmail.com) does not match the ESP's authentication domain.
- Gmail's evolving policy: Some marketers suspect Gmail is testing or implementing a de facto p=reject policy for its own domain, even if its public DMARC record is p=none.
- Recent behavior change: Marketers have noted a recent increase in rejections for unauthenticated emails from gmail.com through third-party services, indicating a shift in Gmail's filtering.
Key considerations
- Own your sending domain: The most fundamental solution is to acquire and properly configure your own domain for email sending.
- Implement authentication: Proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC setup for your owned domain is crucial to avoid emails going to spam.
- Understand ESP limitations: While ESPs like SendGrid authenticate for their own domain, they cannot provide DMARC alignment for a freemail domain you don't own.
- Stay informed: Keep abreast of evolving mailbox provider policies. For example, SendLayer's blog discusses why Gmail blocks emails, a common issue related to unauthenticated sending.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that emails appear to be from gmail.com but are mailed from and signed by SendGrid.
Marketer view
Email marketer from SendLayer highlights that Google has begun rejecting all unauthenticated emails and advises setting up SPF and DKIM records.
What the experts say
Experts in email deliverability consistently advise against spoofing domains, especially those of major mailbox providers like Gmail. They highlight that while DMARC policies provide recommendations, receiving mail servers retain ultimate control over how they handle incoming mail, particularly if it impersonates their own domain. The consensus is that any attempt to send email from a domain you do not own through an unauthorized ESP is a fundamental misstep that will lead to deliverability issues and is not a sustainable practice. This aligns with broader best practices for email authentication using DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.
Key opinions
- Spoofing is unsustainable: There is no long-term solution for sending emails by impersonating a domain you do not own, as it is a form of domain spoofing.
- Receiver's prerogative: Mailbox providers, including Gmail, can enforce their own internal rules for incoming mail, regardless of a domain's published DMARC policy (even p=none).
- Authentication responsibility: Authentication (SPF/DKIM) by an ESP only applies to their sending domain, not to a spoofed From: domain.
- Compliance concerns: Some ESPs allowing freemail domains in the From: address are seen as having lax compliance, contributing to broader deliverability issues across their platform.
Key considerations
- Acquire a dedicated domain: For commercial or bulk email, owning and authenticating your domain is paramount. This is a foundational step to understanding your email domain reputation.
- Consult mailbox providers: When facing unexpected rejections, direct communication with the mailbox provider (e.g., Google) for clarification on their specific policies is advised.
- Monitor deliverability: Continuously monitor your email deliverability, including bounce messages, to identify and address issues promptly. Our guide on troubleshooting DMARC reject policies can help.
- Avoid free email domains: Using free email domains for bulk or commercial sending is a major red flag that will negatively impact inbox placement and can even lead to your IP being on a blocklist or blacklist.
Expert view
Email expert from Email Geeks questions whether mail originating from gmail.com is being sent via a non-Gmail service.
Expert view
Email expert from SpamResource.com emphasizes that using a domain you do not own as your From: address is a clear violation of best practices and will inevitably lead to delivery issues.
What the documentation says
Official documentation from major ESPs and email authentication standards bodies consistently emphasizes the importance of DMARC alignment and discourages the use of freemail domains as the From: address when sending via third-party services. These documents indicate that while a domain's published DMARC policy dictates external recommendations, mailbox providers can enforce stricter internal rules to protect their own brand and users from spoofing. The messaging across various platforms, including SendGrid's support and Twilio's DMARC guide, stresses the need for senders to control and authenticate the domains they use.
Key findings
- DMARC protection: DMARC is designed to protect domain reputation by preventing unauthorized parties from sending mail from a domain.
- Freemail domain restrictions: ESPs like SendGrid explicitly state that sending messages with freemail From: addresses to DMARC-checking domains is not supported and will result in delivery failures.
- Authentication requirements: Official guides emphasize that proper SPF and DKIM record setup for your *sending domain* is essential to fix unauthenticated sender errors.
- Reasons for rejection: Common reasons for email rejections include lacking SPF/DKIM protection, high spam rates, and impersonating domains like gmail.com.
Key considerations
- Domain authentication setup: The primary solution to unauthenticated email rejection is to correctly set up SPF and DKIM records for your own sending domain, ensuring DMARC alignment.
- Avoid impersonation: Do not use freemail domains (like gmail.com, yahoo.com) as your From: address if you are not sending directly through their authenticated mail servers.
- DMARC policy adjustment: If a strict DMARC policy's SPF alignment (ASPF) is causing misalignment issues, consider adjusting it to a relaxed setting. For more information on this, see our list of DMARC tags and their meanings.
- Compliance with sender requirements: Ensure compliance with bulk sender requirements from mailbox providers to avoid rejections. This is outlined in DuoCircle's article on Gmail's 550-5.7.26 error.
Technical article
Documentation from SendGrid Support clarifies that SendGrid accounts cannot send messages using Gmail, AOL, or Yahoo From addresses to domains that check DMARC.
Technical article
Documentation from Google Support advises users to visit their DMARC initiative page to understand unauthenticated email rejections.
Related resources
10 resources
Related pages
Why are emails suddenly rejected by Gmail?
Why do my emails go to spam due to DMARC, SPF, and DKIM alignment failures?
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How do I troubleshoot DMARC reject policies and improve email deliverability?
Why is my DMARC failing even though DKIM and SPF pass in Sendgrid?
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