# Bulk SPF, DKIM & DMARC Checker - Email Domain Health (`byusuklu/email-domain-health-checker`) Actor

Check any domain's email setup in seconds: MX, SPF (with lookup count), DKIM, DMARC policy, BIMI, MTA-STS and spam blocklists. Get a 0-100 score and plain-English fixes. Bulk, DNS only.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/byusuklu/email-domain-health-checker.md
- **Developed by:** [Hasan U.](https://apify.com/byusuklu) (community)
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 100.0% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $3.90 / 1,000 domain checkeds

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

An Actor is a serverless cloud program that runs on the Apify platform. It has two run modes.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.

Apify vocabulary and the platform model are defined once, in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md.

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.

Do not guess an integration path. Every one of them is in the agent quickstart at https://apify.com/agents.md: the Apify MCP server, Agent Skills with the Apify CLI, the JavaScript and Python clients, the REST API, and the account-free path for an agent with no human to sign in. It also carries the rule on stating cost before the first paid run.

For examples already wired to this Actor's own input schema, see the [API](#api) section below.

Each client library has reference documentation the quickstart does not restate: [JavaScript/TypeScript](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md) (`npm install apify-client`) and [Python](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md) (`pip install apify-client`).

# README

## Bulk SPF, DKIM & DMARC Checker — Email Domain Health

A **bulk SPF, DKIM and DMARC checker** that also looks at MX and blocklists: check how any list of domains is set up for email, in a few seconds per domain. You get a **0-100 score**, a letter grade and **plain-English fixes** for every problem found.

Since February 2024, Gmail and Yahoo require SPF, DKIM and DMARC from bulk senders. A domain that misses them lands in spam, or cannot receive replies at all.

**Try it on 10 domains for $0.04** (the free credit on Apify's free plan covers it).

### How to run it

1. Paste domains, email addresses or URLs into **domains** (they are cleaned and de-duplicated).
2. Optional: set `onlyBelowScore` to keep only domains with problems.
3. Press **Start** and download the results as Excel, CSV or JSON.

### What it checks

| Check | What you get |
|---|---|
| **MX** | Mail servers, detected email provider (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Zoho, Proofpoint, Mimecast, Cloudflare Email Routing and more), null-MX detection |
| **SPF** | The record, number of DNS lookups (the limit is 10), duplicate records, `+all` / missing `~all` |
| **DKIM** | Keys found on ~50 common selectors (Google, Microsoft, Klaviyo, Mailchimp, SendGrid, Amazon SES, Zoho...), wildcard detection, plus any selectors you add |
| **DMARC** | Policy (`none` / `quarantine` / `reject`), whether reports (`rua`) are set |
| **Extras** | BIMI, MTA-STS, TLS-RPT |
| **Blocklists** | Domain lists (Spamhaus DBL, SURBL, URIBL) and the IPs of the mail servers (Spamhaus ZEN, Barracuda, SpamCop) |

Everything uses public DNS. No email is sent and nothing touches the domain's mail server.

### Real numbers: new Shopify stores

We ran it on 60 randomly picked US Shopify stores launched in September–October 2026:

- **62%** had **no MX record**: the store's own domain cannot receive email.
- **65%** had **no SPF** record.
- **83%** had **no DKIM** key on common selectors.
- Average score **51/100**; 26 of 60 graded **F**. No domain was blocklisted.

Agencies and freelancers use this as a ready-made reason to reach out: "your domain can't receive email at hello@" is a concrete, checkable finding.

### Input

```json
{
  "domains": ["shopify.com", "info@example-store.com", "https://www.another-store.com/"],
  "dkimSelectors": ["mycustomselector"],
  "onlyBelowScore": 75
}
```

- **domains**: domains, email addresses or URLs. Cleaned and de-duplicated automatically.
- **dkimSelectors** (optional): extra selector names to probe.
- **onlyBelowScore** (optional): return only domains with a score below this number. Domains filtered out are not charged.

### Output (one row per domain)

```json
{
  "domain": "allbirds.com",
  "score": 100,
  "grade": "A",
  "mailProvider": "Microsoft 365",
  "mxHosts": ["allbirds-com.mail.protection.outlook.com"],
  "spfRecord": "v=spf1 include:... ~all",
  "spfLookups": 5,
  "dmarcRecord": "v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; rua=mailto:...",
  "dmarcPolicy": "quarantine",
  "dmarcReports": true,
  "dkimSelectorsFound": ["google", "selector1", "selector2", "k1", "s1", "s2", "mandrill", "krs"],
  "bimi": true,
  "mtaSts": false,
  "tlsRpt": false,
  "blocklisted": [],
  "issues": [],
  "fixes": [],
  "status": "ok"
}
```

A domain with problems lists them in `issues`, each with a matching step in `fixes`, for example *"No DMARC record"* → *"Add TXT \_dmarc.yourdomain.com: v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:dmarc@yourdomain.com"*.

### Scoring

Starts at 100. Deductions: no MX −30, no SPF −20, no DMARC −20, blocklisted −20, multiple SPF −15, `+all` −15, SPF over 10 lookups −10, no DKIM found −10, DMARC `p=none` −5, missing `~all` −5, no DMARC reports −3. Grades: A ≥ 90, B ≥ 75, C ≥ 60, D ≥ 40, F below.

### Pricing

**$3.90 per 1,000 domains checked** (pay per event `domain-checked`). Invalid and non-existent domains are free.

### Notes

- DKIM keys can't be listed through DNS, so a missing key on common selectors is a strong hint, not proof. Add your selector in `dkimSelectors` to be sure.
- Some blocklists don't answer queries from large public resolvers; the actor ignores those "refused" answers instead of reporting a false listing.

### FAQ

**Does it send any email?**
No. Everything is read from public DNS; nothing touches the domain's mail server.

**Why does it say "no DKIM" when I have DKIM?**
DKIM keys can't be listed through DNS, so the actor probes ~50 common selectors. Add your own selector name in `dkimSelectors` to be sure.

**Can I check email addresses instead of domains?**
Yes. Addresses and URLs are reduced to their domain automatically. It checks the domain's setup, not whether a mailbox exists.

**What does a low score mean?**
Each problem lowers the score by a fixed amount (see Scoring) and comes with a plain-English fix. A low score points to setup gaps; it does not by itself predict inbox placement.

### Related actors

- [Shopify Store Leads Scraper](https://apify.com/byusuklu/shopify-store-auditor): new US Shopify stores with marketing gaps and business contacts.
- [Shopify Theme & Apps Detector](https://apify.com/byusuklu/shopify-apps-detector): which apps and theme a store runs.
- [Shopify Store Audit](https://apify.com/byusuklu/shopify-store-audit): 27-check CRO & SEO score with ranked fixes.
- [Website Business Contact Finder](https://apify.com/byusuklu/website-business-contact-finder): role-based business emails, contact page, socials and platform for any website.

# Actor input Schema

## `domains` (type: `array`):

Domains to check. You can paste domains, email addresses or website URLs; they are cleaned automatically.

## `dkimSelectors` (type: `array`):

DKIM keys can't be listed, so ~50 common selectors are probed. Add your own selector names here if you know them.

## `onlyBelowScore` (type: `integer`):

Optional filter, e.g. 75 to get only domains with problems. Filtered-out domains are not charged.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "domains": [
    "shopify.com",
    "mailchimp.com"
  ]
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

One row per checked domain (table view).

## `fullResults` (type: `string`):

Every checked domain with all records, issues and fixes.

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "domains": [
        "shopify.com",
        "mailchimp.com"
    ]
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("byusuklu/email-domain-health-checker").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = { "domains": [
        "shopify.com",
        "mailchimp.com",
    ] }

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("byusuklu/email-domain-health-checker").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "domains": [
    "shopify.com",
    "mailchimp.com"
  ]
}' |
apify call byusuklu/email-domain-health-checker --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,byusuklu/email-domain-health-checker"
        }
    }
}
```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/Ch34ZwM9RNIUTq6xn/builds/7Q2JJmbqQrELTKvj4/openapi.json