Setting up and connecting SendGrid to ShortStack

When you need SendGrid

Most teams don't need SendGrid. It's for sending from your own domain when that domain has a strict DMARC policy.

Your From address	Use it when
A ShortStack no-reply address: no-reply@shortstack.page, no-reply@lndg.page or no-reply@cmpgn.page	You want reliable delivery with no setup. Choose the one that matches your campaign's address.
An address on your own domain, sent through ShortStack	Your domain has no DMARC policy, or a policy of p=none.
An address on your own domain, sent through SendGrid	Your domain has a strict DMARC policy (p=quarantine or p=reject) and you need to send from it.

For more on choosing, see Which From address to use.

Before you start

• A SendGrid plan with a dedicated IP address, such as the Pro plan. A dedicated IP address is what lets your emails meet your domain's DMARC policy.
• Access to your domain's DNS settings, or the person who manages them. You'll add records that SendGrid gives you.
• The domain you'll send from. This is usually your main domain, such as yourcompany.com. If that domain already sends email through another service, use a subdomain instead, such as email.yourcompany.com.
• Your SendGrid plan's sending limits apply. If your SendGrid account runs out of credits, emails that use your key stop sending until you add more.
• Choose a From address verified in your SendGrid account. This applies only to Company Profiles that have your own SendGrid API key: your SendGrid account sends from addresses you've verified in it, so every email using that profile needs one. Avoid ShortStack's no-reply addresses on those profiles. On a Company Profile without a SendGrid key, ShortStack sends your emails as usual, and its no-reply addresses work as normal.
• A few minutes for DNS changes. New DNS records can take a few minutes to be recognized, so SendGrid's verification may not pass on the first try.

Connect SendGrid to ShortStack

Step 1: create a SendGrid account

Go to SendGrid's pricing page, click Start for free under the Pro plan, and follow the prompts. Skip this step if you already have an account with a dedicated IP address.

Step 2: set up reverse DNS

1. In SendGrid, go to Settings > Sender Authentication and click Create a Reverse DNS.
2. Choose your DNS host and select your IP address. On the Pro plan, there's one.
3. Enter the domain you'll send from, and click Next.
4. Add the A record SendGrid gives you to your DNS settings.
5. Tick I've added these records and click Verify. If it doesn't pass, wait a few minutes and click Verify again.

Step 3: authenticate your domain

1. In Settings > Sender Authentication, click Authenticate Your Domain and choose your DNS host.
2. When asked Would you like to brand the links for this domain?, choose Yes, then click Next.
3. Enter your sending domain in From Domain. Under Advanced Settings, make sure Use automated security is ticked, then click Next.
4. Add the DNS records SendGrid gives you, tick I've added these records and click Verify. If it doesn't pass, wait a few minutes and try again.

Step 4: create an API key

1. In Settings > API Keys, click Create API Key and name it, for example "ShortStack".
2. Choose Restricted Access. Under Access Details, set Mail Send to Full Access.
3. Click Create & View and copy the key. Store it somewhere secure, such as a password manager.

Step 5: add the key to your Company Profile

1. Go to the Emails Manager, click New Email and choose any type. You won't save this email; it's the way into your Company Profile.
2. Click the Company Profile name.
3. In Default From Email, enter an address on the domain you authenticated, such as no-reply@yourcompany.com.
4. Under Advanced settings, paste your SendGrid API key and click Save and Select.
5. Close the email wizard. If asked, choose Don't Save. Your profile changes are already saved.

What happens next

• New emails that use this Company Profile send through your SendGrid account.
• Existing emails that have their own From address keep it. To send them from your SendGrid domain, change the From address to one on that domain, or clear it so the profile's Default From Email is used.
• Other Company Profiles aren't affected. Add the key to each profile that should send through SendGrid.

If something goes wrong

What you see	What to do
SendGrid's Verify doesn't pass	Your DNS changes haven't been recognized yet. Wait a few minutes and click Verify again. Check the records were added exactly as SendGrid shows them.
An existing email still sends from its old address	That email has its own From address. Open it and change the From address, or clear it to use the profile's default.
Emails still land in spam	Check the From address is on the domain you authenticated in SendGrid, and that the email uses the Company Profile with your API key.
Emails suddenly stop sending, and SendGrid reports Maximum credits exceeded or You have exceeded your messaging limits	Your SendGrid account has hit its plan's sending limit. Add credits or upgrade your plan in SendGrid. To send through ShortStack in the meantime, remove the API key from the Company Profile and use a From address that ShortStack can send from.
Emails stop sending after the From address changed, and SendGrid reports The from address does not match a verified Sender Identity	The new From address isn't verified in your SendGrid account. This happens if you switch to a ShortStack no-reply address, such as no-reply@shortstack.page, on a Company Profile that has your SendGrid key. Either change the From address back to one on your authenticated domain, or keep the no-reply address and remove the API key from the Company Profile.
Email Login voters don't get their verification code	The code email uses a Company Profile with your SendGrid key, so any of the problems above stop the codes too. Check your SendGrid account first. See Setting up Email Login for voting.

For more, see Troubleshooting emails.

FAQs

Can I use a ShortStack no-reply address when I connect my own SendGrid account?

Not on a Company Profile that has your SendGrid API key. Your own SendGrid account sends only from addresses verified in it, so choose a verified address on your domain. To use a ShortStack no-reply address, such as no-reply@shortstack.page, use a Company Profile without a SendGrid API key, and ShortStack sends those emails as usual.

What happens when my SendGrid account runs out of credits?

Every email that uses a Company Profile with your SendGrid key stops sending, including verification codes for Email Login. Add credits or upgrade your SendGrid plan, or remove the key from the Company Profile so emails send through ShortStack.

Related resources

• Creating and managing Company Profiles
• Troubleshooting emails
• Creating autoresponder emails
• New accounts and protecting deliverability
• How to set up email marketing (video)