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Follow these steps to start sending authenticated emails with OneSignal. The process takes about 10-30 minutes.
Diagram showing the email setup steps: provider, sender, DNS, and verification

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Step 1: Select a provider

In your OneSignal dashboard, navigate to Settings > Email > Set up Email and click Continue Setup to use OneSignal Email.
Email configuration page showing provider options
OneSignal also supports external providers: SendGrid, Mailgun, and Mailchimp.

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Step 2: Create a sender

Configure the default sender identity that OneSignal uses to send authenticated email from your domain:
  • Default sender email — The email address used when no other sender is specified.
  • Default sender name — The display name shown in the recipient’s inbox (e.g., Acme Team).
  • Default reply-to — The email address users reply to. You can override this per email.
  • Sending domain — OneSignal auto-generates a subdomain based on your sender email. You can customize it.
Form fields for default sender email, name, reply-to, and sending domain
For optimal deliverability, use a subdomain (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com) rather than your root domain. When you configure your sending domain for the first time, OneSignal automatically creates a test email subscription (defaulting to unsubscribed). Find it under Test Users or the Subscriptions page and select Re-subscribe to activate it.

Senders

Add and manage multiple senders, from addresses, reply-to addresses, and sending domains.

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Step 3: Configure DNS

Configure DNS records to authenticate your sending domain. You can auto-configure using your domain registrar login if your registrar is supported, or add the records manually. In the DNS configuration view, a warning icon means the record does not match and a check icon means it matches.
OneSignal dashboard showing required DNS records and their verification status

Email DNS configuration

Step-by-step guide for auto-configuring or manually adding SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.

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Step 4: Verify your account

Once DNS is configured, click Verify to open a support ticket. You’ll be asked about your company and intended use cases.
OneSignal account verification dialog with form fields
  • Provide complete answers to speed up approval.
  • The support team typically responds within 24 business hours.
  • You’ll receive an email when verification is complete.
  • You can send test emails while waiting for approval.

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Next steps

Once you’ve completed email setup, you can start importing your email list and set up for success.

Import email list

Import your email list from a CSV file or API.

Email reputation best practices

Protect your sender reputation with warm-up strategies, list hygiene, and deliverability monitoring.

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FAQ

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What is a subdomain and why should I use one?

A subdomain is a prefix added to your domain name — for example, mail.yourdomain.com is a subdomain of yourdomain.com. While your “From Address” can still appear as anything@yourdomain.com, the subdomain is used for email authentication and delivery.
Diagram showing the difference between the from domain and from address
Using a subdomain isolates your email sending reputation from your root domain. If your marketing emails generate complaints, it won’t affect your root domain’s reputation for other services like corporate email. You can also maintain separate reputations for different mail streams:
  • mail.yourdomain.com for marketing
  • receipts.yourdomain.com for transactional

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What DNS records are required?

OneSignal requires SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your sending domain. The exact values are shown in the OneSignal dashboard during setup. See Email DNS configuration for details.

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Can I use an external email provider instead of OneSignal Email?

Yes. OneSignal supports SendGrid, Mailgun, and Mailchimp/Mandrill as external providers. Select your provider during the initial setup step.

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What happens if my DNS records don’t match?

Emails sent from an unauthenticated domain are more likely to be rejected or filtered to spam by inbox providers. Verify your DNS records in the OneSignal dashboard — a warning icon indicates a mismatch that needs to be resolved.