How to Set Up Custom Domains on Your Free Email Service

Using a generic email address like [email protected] works fine for personal use, but it can undermine your credibility when communicating with clients, partners, or customers. A custom domain email—like [email protected]—immediately signals professionalism and legitimacy.

The challenge? Most email providers charge premium rates for custom domain support. However, Aiinak Mail offers this feature as part of its free AI email service, giving you professional email addresses without the typical price tag. This guide walks you through the entire setup process.

Why Custom Domain Email Matters for Your Brand#

Before diving into the technical steps, consider why this investment of time pays off:

• Brand consistency: Every email reinforces your business name instead of promoting Gmail or Yahoo
• Trust signals: Recipients take messages from business domains more seriously than free email addresses
• Team scalability: Create addresses like support@, sales@, or any team member's name
• Portability: Your email address stays the same even if you switch providers later

With a Gmail alternative like Aiinak Mail, you get custom domain support alongside 50GB storage and AI-powered inbox features—all without monthly fees.

Step 1: Prepare Your Domain for Email Configuration#

You'll need a registered domain name before starting. If you haven't purchased one, domain registrars like Namecheap, Google Domains, or GoDaddy offer options starting around $10-15 per year.

Once you have your domain, gather access to your DNS settings. This is typically found in your domain registrar's dashboard under sections labeled "DNS Management," "Name Servers," or "Advanced Settings."

Information You'll Need Ready#

• Your domain registrar login credentials
• Administrative access to DNS records
• Your Aiinak Mail account (create one at mail.aiinak.com if you haven't)

The AI email service provides specific DNS records during the setup wizard, so you won't need to research technical values yourself.

Step 2: Add Your Domain in Aiinak Mail Settings#

Log into your Aiinak Mail dashboard and navigate to Settings > Domains > Add Custom Domain. Enter your domain name exactly as registered (without www or http).

The system generates three types of DNS records you'll need to add:

• MX Records: These tell the internet where to deliver email addressed to your domain
• SPF Record: A TXT record that authorizes Aiinak's servers to send email on your behalf
• DKIM Record: A cryptographic signature that verifies your emails are authentic

Copy these records carefully. The AI-powered email service displays them in a format ready to paste directly into your registrar's DNS panel.

Step 3: Configure DNS Records at Your Registrar#

Return to your domain registrar and access the DNS management area. Delete any existing MX records (unless you understand why they should remain).

Adding MX Records#

Create new MX records using the values from Aiinak Mail. You'll typically need to specify:

• Host: Usually @ or left blank (represents your root domain)
• Type: MX
• Points to: The mail server address provided
• Priority: The number specified (lower numbers = higher priority)
• TTL: 3600 (or "1 hour") works well

Adding TXT Records for Authentication#

Create TXT records for SPF and DKIM using the exact strings provided. These long text values prevent your emails from landing in spam folders and protect your domain from being spoofed by bad actors.

Save all changes and note that DNS propagation can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 48 hours, though most changes apply within a few hours.

Step 4: Verify and Activate Your Domain#

Back in Aiinak Mail, click the "Verify Domain" button. The free email service checks whether your DNS records are correctly configured. If verification fails:

• Double-check for typos in the DNS values
• Ensure you removed conflicting MX records
• Wait a bit longer for DNS propagation
• Use a DNS lookup tool to confirm records are visible

Once verified, your domain status changes to "Active," and you can start creating email addresses like [email protected] or [email protected].

Step 5: Create Email Addresses and Start Communicating#

With your domain active, navigate to Settings > Email Addresses > Create New. Choose the local part (the portion before the @) and assign it to yourself or team members.

Each email address inherits the full Aiinak Mail feature set:

• Smart inbox organization: AI categorizes incoming mail automatically
• Intelligent drafting: Get writing suggestions that match your professional tone
• Spam protection: Advanced filtering keeps unwanted messages out
• 50GB storage: Plenty of space for attachments and archives
• Mobile access: iOS and Android apps sync seamlessly

Send a test email to confirm everything works. Check both sending and receiving to verify the full configuration.

Troubleshooting Common Setup Issues#

Even with careful configuration, issues occasionally arise. Here are solutions to frequent problems:

Emails going to spam: Ensure both SPF and DKIM records are properly configured. Use mail testing tools to check your authentication setup.

Cannot receive email: Verify MX records point to the correct servers and have appropriate priority values. Check that no firewall or domain forwarding settings conflict.

Verification keeps failing: Some registrars add quotation marks automatically to TXT records—remove them if the value already includes quotes. Confirm you're editing DNS for the correct domain if you own multiple.

Start Using Professional Email Today#

Setting up custom domain email transforms how others perceive your communications. What once required expensive business email subscriptions is now available through AI-powered email services like Aiinak Mail at no cost.

The combination of professional addressing, intelligent inbox management, generous storage, and AI drafting assistance creates an email experience that rivals—and often exceeds—what paid alternatives offer.

Ready to elevate your email presence? Get Free Email with Aiinak Mail and configure your custom domain in minutes. Your professional inbox awaits.