Here’s a simple explanation of what Cloudflare Email Routing (as explained in that link) is:

What is Cloudflare Email Routing?

Cloudflare Email Routing is a free service by Cloudflare that allows you to:

• Create custom email addresses on your domain (like hello@yourdomain.com).

• Forward emails from those custom addresses to your existing personal email inbox (like Gmail, Yahoo, etc).

• Without hosting your own mail server or paying for an expensive email hosting service.

How it Works (Simple Steps)

• You add your domain to Cloudflare.

• You set up email routing rules (example: sales@yourdomain.com → forwards to your yourname@gmail.com).

• Cloudflare automatically receives emails sent to sales@yourdomain.com.

• Cloudflare forwards the email to your real inbox without the sender knowing anything about it.

• You don’t store emails on Cloudflare; it only passes them through (no mailbox).

Why use it?

• Professional email addresses without needing to buy G Suite or other email hosting.

• Simpler management — you don’t run an email server.

• Spam protection — you get basic protection built in.

• Free — no hidden charges from Cloudflare for routing emails.

Important Points

• You can only forward emails, not send emails from these addresses (sending needs SMTP setup separately).

• SPF/DKIM/DMARC records are needed to make sure emails are not marked as spam.

• Cloudflare never stores your emails permanently.

• You can create multiple aliases (like info@, support@, etc.) all forwarding to your personal inbox.

Example

Simple Use Case

• You have a website mywebsite.com.

• You set up contact@mywebsite.com to forward to your myname@gmail.com.

• Visitors email contact@mywebsite.com, but you receive it normally at your Gmail.

Summary in One Line:

Step-by-Step Setup of Cloudflare Email Routing

1. Add your Domain to Cloudflare

• If your domain is not already in Cloudflare, add your domain first.

• Update your domain’s nameservers to point to Cloudflare (your registrar will have settings for this).

2. Enable Email Routing

• In your Cloudflare dashboard, go to your Domain.

• Click Email (left side menu).

• Click Set up Email Routing.

• Agree to the terms and continue.

3. Create an Email Address (Alias)

• Example: info@yourdomain.com or sales@yourdomain.com.

• Add the destination address — where Cloudflare should forward emails (example: your Gmail or Yahoo address).

4. Update DNS Records Automatically

• Cloudflare will ask permission to add MX and TXT records.

• Allow Cloudflare to automatically configure the correct DNS records.

• These records tell the internet that Cloudflare handles email for your domain.

Important DNS records added:

• MX record pointing to mx1.mailroutes.com

• TXT records for SPF / verification.

(You don’t need to manually add anything if you allow auto-add.)

5. Test your Email Forwarding

• Send a test email to info@yourdomain.com.

• Check if it reaches your Gmail or whichever email you set.

• It should arrive almost immediately.

Quick Diagram:

Someone sends mail → your Cloudflare-managed domain → forwarded to your personal Gmail/Yahoo.

Bonus Tip

• You can add multiple aliases.

• Example:

  
  

  • support@yourdomain.com → your Gmail

  • billing@yourdomain.com → your Gmail

  • founder@yourdomain.com → another inbox if needed

  
  

No extra charges.

• If you want to send emails as info@yourdomain.com, you need a separate SMTP service (example: Gmail SMTP, SendGrid, Zoho).

• Email Routing is for receiving only.

Here is how you can send emails as info@yourdomain.com after setting up Cloudflare Email Routing:

SMTP Sending Options for Cloudflare Email Routing

Since Cloudflare only forwards emails (receive-only), to send emails as info@yourdomain.com, you need an SMTP service (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol).

Here are the simple methods:

Option 1: Gmail SMTP (if you have a Gmail account)

Use your Gmail to send as info@yourdomain.com.

How to Set Up:

• Go to Gmail Settings → Accounts and Import tab.

• Under Send mail as, click Add another email address.

• Enter:

  
  

  • Name: Your Name

  • Email: info@yourdomain.com

  
  

• SMTP Server Settings:

  
  

  • SMTP server: smtp.gmail.com

  • Port: 587

  • Username: your Gmail address

  • Password: your Gmail password or App password (if 2FA enabled).

  
  

• Verify using the confirmation code.

✅ Now when you compose an email, you can choose info@yourdomain.com as the From address.

Option 2: Free SMTP Providers

You can use free SMTP services like:

• Brevo (formerly Sendinblue) — 300 emails/day free

• Zoho Mail — Free plan (good for custom domain email)

• SendGrid Free Plan — 100 emails/day free

General SMTP settings for such providers:

• SMTP server: Provided by service (e.g., smtp-relay.sendinblue.com)

• Port: 587 (TLS) or 465 (SSL)

• Authentication: Username/Password provided

Option 3: Your Own Web Hosting SMTP

If you have web hosting (like Hostinger, Bluehost, etc.), they usually provide free SMTP:

• SMTP server: mail.yourdomain.com

• Username: info@yourdomain.com

• Password: (hosting panel-generated password)

But free hosting SMTP can sometimes be unreliable for inbox delivery.

Important Tips

• Always configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC DNS records properly to prevent emails going to spam.

• Most SMTP providers give you these DNS records.

• Cloudflare DNS dashboard → add the TXT records they ask.

Simple Summary