SendGrid SMTP Setup

Why use SendGrid for SMTP with Fileflare?

SendGrid is an easy-to-use system that allows you to achieve a higher email deliverability. It allows you to do things like assigning new sending IP addresses and domain authentication.
You can set up a free SendGrid account to allow you to send download emails from your own email in Fileflare.
The process is not as technical as using the normal SMTP options with your email accounts. It's most probably much easier to use SendGrid as the middleman in this scenario to simplify the process.
If you are using Google Workspace, you will need to use this method because Google have now discontinued SMTP for their email system.
You can many more insights on deliverability and email tracking from within the SendGrid dashboard.

How to set up

Video guide

Written guide

Go to Fileflare > Settings > Email settings > SMTP. Here, you will see a bunch of boxes to enter your SMTP details. Keep this page open.
Sign up to SendGrid (the free SendGrid plan allows to send up to 100 emails/day)
Create an API key (This will be your password)
Click the "Create API Key" button


Enter a name, such as "Fileflare", so you remember what it is for, then enable all of the permissions, and then click the next button.
Copy the API key.


Paste your API key into the "Password" box on Fileflare's SMTP settings page.


Now enter the rest of the details into the other boxes in Fileflare's SMTP settings page using the below details:

Settings to use in the SMPT boxes:
Send from email address: the email address that you have set up in SendGrid's Sender Verification page
Username: apikey
Password: Enter your API key that you have just created into this box
Server Address (Host): smtp.sendgrid.net
Port Number: 587
Encryption method: TLS

SendGrid rate limits:
Send up to 100/emails per day on the free SendGrid plan. Easily upgrade to unlock more.
You may send up to 5k messages. This means once you have sent 5000 emails, you will need to create a new SMTP API key. It's a new limitation that SendGrid have recently introduced.
You may open up to 10k concurrent connections from a single server.

Please see SendGrid’s guide for setting up SMTP if you want to learn more about how it works.

Ensure that you add SendGrid to your SPF (only if you have an SPF and DMARC set up in your DNS).

Your SPF will look something like this:
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net ~all

Ensure to add include:sendgrid.net to your SPF.

The DMARC is there to take action on the SPF. This informs mail servers that you allow SendGrid to send using your domain. If you don't have an SPF set up, then I would advise you to do this.

Improve your email deliverability (optional but recommended)

Please learn about DMARC, DKIM, and SPF. You need to be very careful following the below steps because if you mess something up in your DNS settings, your domain could stop working. I would recommend getting a professional to do this or someone who is technical.

Once you have the below set up on your domain, you will be able to get the best deliverability rates.

Setting up DMARC

The DMARC will be set up using this app and your DNS settings. It's best this way because it creates and handles your DMARC for you, and it also reads the reports and puts them in a graph so you can understand who is trying to spoof your domain.

Click here to sign up to EasyDMARC (they have a free plan)
They will bring you through the process of adding a DMARC to your DNS (it's super easy with EasyDMARC)

Setting up DKIM with SendGrid

The DKIM will be set up in SendGrid, and your DNS settings.

Log into your SendGrid account
Go to Settings
Go to Sender Authentication
Click the "Authenticate Your Domain" button
Follow the steps to complete the setup and verify the adjustment

Setting up DKIM with Google Workspace

If you use Google for your email, then you can set up DKIM with your domain using the below.

Log into your Workspace Admin Console
Go to Apps > Google Workspace > Gmail.
Go to the "Authenticate email" box
Create your DKIM and add it to your DNS

View Google's full guide.

Setting up SPF

This will show you how to add an SPF to the DNS.

Log into your domain DNS provider and go to the DNS settings
Here, you will enter a TXT record for your SPF. Please copy the one below if you are only using Google and SendGrid. If you are using other email delivery apps, you will need to include them, too.

The SPF is what you will inform which platforms are allowed to send email using your domain. For this example, we are only using SendGrid and Google Workspace, so your SPF will look like this:
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com include:sendgrid.net ~all

SPF Syntax Table
Google's guide to setting up an SPF

Setting up Reverse DNS in SendGrid (only if sending over 5000 emails daily)

You can easily set this up in the Sender authentication section in SendGrid. Learn more.

Learn more about what SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are

See full SendGrid guide.

DKIM

DomainKeys Identified Mail (DKIM) is an authentication method that uses asymmetric encryption to sign and verify your email. With DKIM implemented, the sending email server adds a cryptographic signature to your emails' headers. The DKIM record is a TXT record that stores the DKIM public key. For more information about how DKIM works, see DKIM Records Explained.

SPF

Sender Policy Framework (SPF) is an email authentication standard developed by AOL that allows you to list all the IP addresses that are authorized to send email on behalf of your domain. The SPF record is a TXT record that lists the IP addresses approved by the domain owner. The receiving server can compare the email sender’s actual IP address to the list in the SPF record. For more information about how SPF works, see SPF Records Explained.

DMARC

Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance (DMARC) is a protocol that verifies the authenticity of an email's sender. It helps prevent malicious senders from harming your sender reputation. DMARC provides a policy to email service providers, instructing them on the actions to take when they receive an email that fails SPF, DKIM, or both checks, and appears to be from your domain—a sign it may be spoofed.

DMARC is an optional field for Sender Authentication. SendGrid suggests starting with the simplest DMARC policy: v=DMARC1; p=none . However, your organization may enforce a stricter policy, which you should then apply. Twilio SendGrid will accept any valid DMARC policy during its verification process. For more information on DMARC, please refer to the article, Everything about DMARC.

Updated on: 01/10/2024