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Set Up Custom Email Forwarding in Under 5 Minutes

Configure email forwarding on your is-pro.dev subdomain using a free email service, set up MX and SPF records, and start receiving emails at your custom address.

Introduction

Configure email forwarding on your is-pro.dev subdomain using a free email service, set up MX and SPF records, and start receiving emails at your custom address.

What You Will Need

  • An is-pro.dev subdomain (free at dash.is-pro.dev)
  • A Cloudflare account (free tier, linked to your is-pro.dev zone)
  • An email forwarding service like Cloudflare Email Routing (free) or Forward Email
  • A personal email inbox to receive forwarded messages
  • 5 minutes of free time

Step 1: Enable Email Routing in Cloudflare

Log in to your Cloudflare account and select the is-pro.dev zone. Navigate to "Email → Email Routing" and click "Get started". This feature is free and handles forwarding for up to 100 email addresses per zone.

Step 2: Create a Custom Email Address

Under Email Routing, click "Addresses". Enter your desired email prefix (e.g., hello for hello@yourname.is-pro.dev). Then enter your destination email address where forwarded emails should arrive. Click "Create" to save.

Step 3: Configure MX Records in DNS

Cloudflare Email Routing requires specific MX records. In the DNS section of your is-pro.dev zone, add the MX records provided by Cloudflare (typically route1.mx.cloudflare.net, route2.mx.cloudflare.net). Set the priority to 10 and 20 respectively.

Step 4: Add SPF Record to Prevent Spoofing

To prevent your emails from being marked as spam, add a TXT record for your subdomain with the SPF value: v=spf1 include:_spf.mx.cloudflare.net ~all. This authorizes Cloudflare's mail servers to send on your behalf.

Step 5: Test the Forwarding

Send a test email to your new custom address. It should arrive in your destination inbox within seconds. Check your spam folder if it does not appear. Reply to verify the SPF/DKIM configuration is working correctly.

Troubleshooting

Emails not arriving: Check your MX records in the DNS dashboard. Cloudflare Email Routing also requires that Proxied (orange cloud) is disabled for the MX records — they must be DNS-only (gray cloud).

Emails going to spam: Verify your SPF record is correct and add DKIM signing in the Email Routing dashboard under "Settings → DKIM". This cryptographically signs your outgoing messages.

Forwarding limit reached: Cloudflare's free tier forwards up to 100 emails per day. For higher volume, consider using a dedicated email service or upgrading your Cloudflare plan.