How to Set Up a Custom Email Address on Porkbun

Porkbun is a popular low-cost registrar — and if your domain lives there, adding a custom email address that forwards to your normal inbox takes just a few minutes. No new inbox required.

This guide sets up a custom email address on your Porkbun domain using Routr, an email forwarding service. You'll create a Routr account, add your domain, then add a few DNS records at Porkbun. Those records point your mail to Routr's forwarding servers, so they only start working once your domain is connected to your Routr account.

New to custom email in general? Start with our overview of how to set up a custom email address, then come back for the Porkbun steps.

What you'll need

• A domain using Porkbun's nameservers (the default).
• An inbox to forward to — Gmail, Outlook, or similar.
• A Routr account — you'll set it up in the first step below.
• About five minutes.

Step 1: Connect your domain to Routr

The DNS records below send your mail to Routr's forwarding servers, so Routr needs to know your domain first:

1. Create your Routr account and enter your Porkbun domain.
2. Choose the inbox to forward to.
3. Routr confirms the exact records to add — the three below.

The DNS records you'll add

Step 2: Add the records in Porkbun

1. Log in to Porkbun and go to Account → Domain Management.
2. Find your domain, click Details, then Edit under DNS Records.
3. Delete any existing MX records.
4. Add a record: Type MX, Host (blank), Answer mx1.improvmx.com, Priority 10.
5. Add a record: Type MX, Host (blank), Answer mx2.improvmx.com, Priority 20.
6. Add a record: Type TXT, Host (blank), Answer v=spf1 include:spf.improvmx.com ~all.

Step 3: Verify and start using your address

DNS changes usually take 5–30 minutes. Use Routr's “check now” button to confirm the records are live. To reply from your custom address, turn on Gmail's “Send mail as” feature — your Routr dashboard includes a guide.

Frequently asked questions