Available on the Free plan
By default, we sends your emails (such as review requests, reminders, and other notifications) from our own sender address, which is already configured for reliable deliverability.
If you prefer, you can send these emails from your own business email address to make them feel more personal and aligned with your brand. This article will guide you through:
Setting up your custom sender email
Adding and verifying DKIM and Return-Path
Understanding and configuring DMARC
How it works
Requirements
If you choose to use a custom sender email, please note that:
Only business domain emails (e.g., @yourdomain.com) can be used as custom sender email. Public domain emails such as @gmail.com or @outlook.com are not supported.
You’ll need to (1) confirm your sender signature and (2) add and verify both DKIM and Return-Path records in your domain settings
These steps must be completed by you (the store owner or your technical team). We cannot make these changes for you, as we do not have access to your DNS provider.
If you’re not able to complete both steps, we will switch back to using the default Judge.me sender email to ensure your review request emails are delivered reliably.
Email types and their sender address
Different types of Judge.me emails (such as review requests, reminders, and notifications) can be sent either from our default Judge.me address or from your verified custom sender email. The table below shows which email uses which address.
Email type | Default sender (Judge.me) | Custom sender (if verified) |
Review request emails | For stores with custom domain: requests+yourdomain.com@judge.me
For stores with myshopify.com domain: requests+example.myshopify.com@judge.me | Your custom sender email |
Review request reminder emails |
We're testing the use of custom sender emails for reminders. To ensure reliability, we are carefully monitoring bounce rates and will gradually switch to custom sender emails if the results show it is safe to do so. | |
Web review confirmation email | ||
| Your custom sender email |
Active sender email
To see which sender email we use to send emails for your store:
From your Judge.me admin, go to Settings > Email templates.
Click the Edit sender settings button on the top right.
You'll find the current sender email in the Sender email field:
Set up your custom sender
1. Add custom sender email
To add a custom sender email:
Go to the Use custom sender email setting page:
From your Judge.me admin, go to Settings > Email templates.
Click the Edit sender settings button on the top right.
In the Sender name field, enter the name you want to appear as the sender in your emails.
Click the Manage sender email button.
Add your sender email:
In the Step 1: Confirm sender signature section, in the Enter your store business email field, enter the sender email you want to use.
Click the Send confirmation email button.
2. Confirm sender signature
Once you click Send confirmation email, our email provider Postmark (support@postmarkapp.com) will then send you an email with the subject "Confirm sender signature".
To confirm your sender signature:
Open the email Postmark sent you and click the blue Confirm Sender Signatures button.
Once confirmed, you'll be redirected to a Postmark page that says "Sender Signature activated".
You can now verify the status in Judge.me:
Go back to the Use custom sender email setting page in your Judge.me admin.
In the Step 1: Confirm sender signature section, click the Check status button.
Your sender signature should now show a Confirmed status.
Add and verify DKIM and Return-Path
What are DKIM and Return-Path?
DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) is a digital signature that proves your email hasn't been tampered with. It's a security seal that shows the email genuinely came from your domain.
Return-Path tells email providers where to send bounce notifications and helps with email authentication. When properly configured, it helps ensure your emails are trusted by major email providers.
Adding and verifying DKIM and Return-Path ensures your emails land in customer's inboxes and not their Spam inbox.
1. Get your DKIM and Return-path values
To find your unique DKIM and Return-Path values:
Go to the Use custom sender email setting page:
From your Judge.me admin, go to Settings > Email templates.
Click the Edit sender settings button on the top right.
Click the Manage sender email button.
Find the DKIM and Return-Path values:
Scroll down to the Step 2: Add DNS records section.
If you have confirmed your sender signature, you should now see the Type, Hostname, and Value for both your DKIM and Return-Path records.
Keep this page open. You’ll need to copy these values to your DNS provider.
2. Find your DNS provider
To find who your DNS provider is:
Go to ICANN Lookup.
Enter your email domain (e.g. yourdomain.com) and click Lookup.
Scroll down and look for the Name field in the Registrar Information section.
If it says TUCOWS, your DNS provider is likely Shopify.
If it says a name of a hosting service (e.g., GoDaddy, Cloudflare), that's your DNS provider.
3. Add DKIM and Return-Path records to your DNS provider
To add DKIM and Return-Path to your DNS provider, follow the steps for your provider below.
Shopify
Shopify
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Shopify:
Open your DNS Settings in Shopify:
From your Shopify admin, go to Settings > Domains.
Select the domain that you want to configure.
Click Domain settings and select Edit DNS settings.
Add DKIM:
Click Add custom record and select TXT record.
In the Name field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the TXT value field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
Click Confirm.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add custom record and select CNAME record.
In the Name field: Enter
pm-bounces.In the Points to field: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Confirm.
Bluehost
Bluehost
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Bluehost:
Open your DNS Settings in Bluehost:
From your Bluehost admin, go to Domains > My Domains.
In the domain that you want to configure, click Manage > DNS.
Add DKIM:
Scroll down to the TXT section.
Click Add record.
In the Host Record field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the TXT Value field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
Click Save.
Add Return-Path:
Scroll down to the CNAME section.
Click Add record.
In the Host Record field: Enter
pm-bounces.In the Points To field: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Save.
GoDaddy
GoDaddy
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in GoDaddy:
Open your DNS Settings in GoDaddy:
Sign in to your GoDaddy Domain Portfolio.
Click DNS > DNS records.
Add DKIM:
Click Add New Record select TXT.
In the Name field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the Value field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
Click Save.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add New Record and select CNAME.
In the Name field: Enter
pm-bounces.In the Value field: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Save.
Squarespace
Squarespace
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Squarespace:
Open your DNS Settings in Squarespace:
From your Squarespace admin, go to DNS > DNS Settings.
Scroll down to Custom Records.
Add DKIM:
Click Add record and select TXT.
In the Host field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the Data field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
Click Save.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add record and select CNAME.
In the Host field: Enter
pm-bounces.In the Data field: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Save.
Cloudflare
Cloudflare
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Cloudflare:
Open your DNS Settings in Cloudflare:
From your Cloudflare admin, click DNS.
Add DKIM:
Click Add record and select TXT.
In the Name field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the Content field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
In the Proxy status field: Set to DNS only.
Click Save.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add record and select CNAME.
In the Name field: Enter
pm-bounces.In the Content field: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.In the Proxy status field: Set to DNS only.
Click Save.
Namecheap
Namecheap
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Namecheap:
Open your DNS Settings in Namecheap:
From your Namecheap admin, go to Domain List.
Click Manage next to your domain and go to the Advanced DNS tab.
Add DKIM:
Click Add new record and select TXT.
In the Name field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the Value field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
Click Save all changes.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add new record and select CNAME.
Host: Enter
pm-bounces.Value: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Save all changes.
DNSimple
DNSimple
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in DNSimple:
To open your DNS Settings in DNSimple:
From your DNSimple admin, go to the DNS record editor.
Add DKIM:
From the Add a Record menu, select TXT record.
In the Name field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the Content field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
Click Add record.
Add Return-Path:
From the Add a Record menu, select CNAME record.
In the Name field: Enter
pm-bounces.In the Content field: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Add record.
SiteGround
SiteGround
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in SiteGround:
To open your DNS Settings in SiteGround:
From your SiteGround admin, go to Site Tools > Domain > DNS Zone Editor.
Add DKIM:
From the Create New Record section, go to the TXT tab.
In the Name field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the Value field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
Click Create.
Add Return-Path:
From the Create New Record section, go to the CNAME tab.
In the Name field: Enter
pm-bounces.In the Resolves to field: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Create.
Linode
Linode
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Linode:
Open your DNS Settings in Linode:
From your Linode admin, go to Domains and click on the domain you want.
Add DKIM:
Scroll down to TXT record and click Add a TXT Record.
Hostname: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1.
Value: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1.
Click Save.
Add Return-Path:
Scroll down to CNAME record and click Add a CNAME Record.
Hostname: Enter
pm-bounces.Alias to: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Save.
DNS Made Easy
DNS Made Easy
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in DNS Made Easy:
Open your DNS Settings in DNS Made Easy:
From your DNS Made Easy admin, go to the DNS dropdown and select Managed DNS.
Select the domain you want.
Add DKIM:
On the Records page, scroll down to TXT Records (SPF) and click on "+".
Name: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1.
Value: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1.
Click Submit.
Add Return-Path:
On the Records page, scroll down to CNAME records and click on "+".
Name: Enter
pm-bounces.Alias to: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Submit.
Dreamhost
Dreamhost
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Dreamhost:
Open your DNS Settings in Dreamhost:
From your Dreamhost admin, go to Manage Websites > DNS Settings.
Add DKIM:
Click Add Record.
Hover over the TXT Record section and click ADD.
Host: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1.
TXT Value: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1.
Click Add Record.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add Record again.
Hover over the CNAME Record section and click ADD.
Host: Enter
pm-bounces.Points to: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Add Record.
DigitalOcean
DigitalOcean
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in DNSimple:
Open your DNS Settings in DigitalOcean:
From your DigitalOcean admin, go to Networking and click on the domain you want.
Add DKIM:
In Create new record, go to the TXT tab.
Value: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1.
Hostname: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1.
Click Create record.
Add Return-Path:
In Create new record, now go to the CNAME tab.
Hostname: Enter
pm-bounces.Is an alias of: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Create record.
Hostgator
Hostgator
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Hostgator:
Open your DNS Settings in Hostgator:
From your Hostgator admin, go to Domains > click Zone Editor.
Go to the domain you want and click Manage.
Add DKIM:
Click + Add Record.
Name: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1.
Type: Select TXT.
Record: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1.
Click Add Record.
Add Return-Path:
Click + Add Record again.
Name: Enter
pm-bounces.Type: Select CNAME.
Record: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Add Record.
Hover
Hover
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Hover:
Open your DNS Settings in Hover:
From your Hover admin, go to the Domain's Overview page> DNS section.
Add DKIM:
Click Add a record.
Type: Select TXT.
Host: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1.
Value: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1.
Click Add Record.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add a record again.
Type: Select CNAME.
Host: Enter
pm-bounces.Value: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Add Record.
Media Temple
Media Temple
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Media Temple:
Open your DNS Settings in Media Temple:
From your Media Temple admin, select the domain you want.
Under DNS & ZONE FILES, click Edit DNS Zone File.
Add DKIM:
Click + Add row.
Name: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1.
Type: Select TXT.
Date: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1.
Click Save changes.
Add Return-Path:
Click + Add row.
Name: Enter
pm-bounces.Type: Select CNAME.
Date: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Save changes.
Gandi
Gandi
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Gandi:
Open your DNS Settings in Gandi:
From your Gandi admin, under Domain, select your domain and click DNS Records.
Add DKIM:
Click Add.
Type: Select TXT.
Name: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1.
Text value: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1.
Click Create.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add.
Type: Select CNAME.
Name: Enter
pm-bounces.Text value: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Create.
Netregistry
Netregistry
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in Netregistry:
Open your DNS Settings in Netregistry:
From your Netregistry admin, select the domain you want.
Go to Zone Manager.
Add DKIM:
Click Add a zone record.
Type: Select TXT.
Name: Paste in the DKIM hostname from Step 1 .
Content: Paste in the DKIM value from Step 1. Make sure to put it inside a speech mark “...”.
Click Add Record.
Add Return-Path:
Click Add a zone record again.
Type: Select CNAME.
Name: Enter
pm-bounces.Points to: Enter
pm.mtasv.net.Click Add Record.
IONOS
IONOS
To add DKIM and Return-Path records in IONOS:
Open your DNS Settings in IONOS:
From your IONOS admin, click the gear symbol under Actions > DNS.
Add DKIM:
Click Add Record and select TXT under Type.
In the Host name field: Copy and paste the DKIM Hostname from Judge.me.
In the Value field: Copy and paste the DKIM Value from Judge.me.
Click Save.
4. Verify DKIM and Return-Path in Judge.me
Once you've added the DKIM and Return-Path records in your DNS provider, the change can take a few minutes to 48 hours to propagate.
To check if your DKIM and Return-Path records are verified:
Go to the Use custom sender email setting page:
From your Judge.me admin, go to Settings > Email templates.
Click the Edit sender settings button on the top right.
Click the Manage sender email button.
Scroll down to the Step 2: Add DNS records section.
Click the Check status button.
Once your records are verified, you’ll see a Verified status for your DKIM and Return-Path.
Add DMARC record (optional)
What is DMARC?
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is a standard that prevents spammers from using your domain to send email without your permission — also known as spoofing.
If you already have DMARC
If you already set up a DMARC policy for your domain, you don’t need to take any further action. Your existing DMARC record will continue to protect all your emails, including those sent via Judge.me.
If you don’t have DMARC
Gmail and Yahoo will require DMARC for all bulk senders who send more than 5,000 messages a day. But even if you aren’t sending at that volume, we encourage you to set up DMARC anyway.
Gmail and Yahoo don't require strict DMARC policies, so you can get started with a "p=none" policy. Here is an example of a DMARC record that you can use as a starting point:
v=DMARC1; p=none; sp=none; pct=100; rua=mailto:example@yourdomain.com;
The next step is adding that record to your domain's DNS provider's settings. Each DNS provider is a bit different, so there's no universal walkthrough.
The general steps would be:
Go to your domain's DNS provider's settings where you can add and manage records.
Create a new TXT record.
For the Host value, add
_dmarc.For the TXT value, add the DMARC record above.
Save your change.
Here's an example of how this looks in GoDaddy:
Note:
When you set up DMARC for your domain, the policy will cover all outgoing emails — not just Judge.me messages, but also newsletters, customer service replies, order confirmations, and more.
Update your custom sender
To change your custom sender email address:
Go to the Use custom sender email setting page:
From your Judge.me admin, go to Settings > Email templates.
Click Edit sender settings on the top right.
Click the Manage sender email button.
In the Step 1: Confirm sender signature section, click Change email.
Click Continue when prompted.
We'll now switch back to use the default Judge.me sender email.
You can enter the new email and click the Send confirmation email button to add a new custom sender.
You'd then need to confirm your sender signature and verify DKIM and Return-Path for this new custom sender email address to start using it.
Troubleshoot
I haven't received the confirmation email from Postmark
I haven't received the confirmation email from Postmark
If you've added your custom sender email and clicked the Send confirmation email button but haven't received the confirmation email from Postmark, it might be because the email was bounced. You can try and resend the confirmation email:
Go to the Use custom sender email setting page:
From your Judge.me admin, go to Settings > Email templates.
Click the Edit sender settings button on the top right.
Click the Manage sender email button.
In the Step 1: Confirm sender signature section, click the Resend confirmation email button.