Will using Stripe for sending emails affect email deliverability?

Summary

Using Stripe for sending emails generally shouldn't negatively impact deliverability, as Stripe uses Amazon SES and manages authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and reputation. However, several factors can influence this, including your DMARC policy, Stripe's shared IP reputation, and overall sender reputation. If your DMARC policy is strict (p=reject or p=quarantine), you must ensure Stripe is authorized. Since Stripe utilizes shared IP addresses, your deliverability can be affected if other users send spam. It's crucial for Stripe to maintain good sender reputation with low bounce rates and minimal spam complaints. Ensure you have proper email setup, including DKIM, DMARC, and SPF records. Warming up your email with services like Stripe can improve deliverability, and having a dedicated IP can further improve deliverability, though it requires management. Remember that your overall email reputation depends on following email best practices and your third-party sender's reputation.

Key findings

  • Authentication: Stripe handles SPF, DKIM and DMARC which improves deliverability.
  • DMARC Influence: A DMARC p=reject policy requires proper authorization for Stripe.
  • Shared Reputation: Stripe utilizes shared IPs, making deliverability depend on Stripe's sending reputation.
  • Reputation Importance: Maintain a good sending reputation (low bounce, spam complaints).

Key considerations

  • Stripe Authorization: Authorize Stripe with SPF/DKIM if using strict DMARC.
  • Sender Evaluation: Evaluate Stripe's sending practices
  • Configure Email: Implement proper SPF/DKIM/DMARC records.
  • Warmup Strategy: Consider Warming up your email for improved deliverability.
  • Reputation Management: Email reputation needs to be monitored

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Using Stripe for sending emails generally doesn't negatively affect email deliverability, as Stripe handles technical aspects such as authentication (SPF, DKIM) and reputation management. However, several factors can influence this. A strict DMARC policy on your domain requires proper authorization for Stripe to send emails on your behalf. Stripe's shared IP reputation, if well-maintained, benefits your deliverability, but can be negatively impacted if other users send spam. Maintaining a good sender reputation with low bounce rates and spam complaints is crucial. Proper email setup including DKIM, DMARC, SPF records and potentially warming up your email improves deliverability, but a dedicated IP is more complex to manage.

Key opinions

  • Stripe Handles Authentication: Stripe manages SPF, DKIM, and reputation, ensuring generally good deliverability for transactional emails.
  • DMARC Impact: A strict DMARC policy requires proper authorization for Stripe to send emails on behalf of your domain.
  • Shared IP Reputation: Deliverability relies on Stripe maintaining a good shared IP reputation, which can be affected by other users.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintaining a good sender reputation, managed by Stripe, is essential for ensuring emails reach the inbox.

Key considerations

  • DMARC Configuration: Ensure Stripe is authorized to send emails on your behalf if your domain has a strict DMARC policy.
  • Stripe's Reputation: Be aware that your deliverability is tied to Stripe's overall IP and sender reputation.
  • Email Setup: Proper email setup, including DKIM, DMARC, and SPF records, is important for optimal deliverability.
  • Warmup: Consider email warmup best practices with Stripe to improve deliverability.
  • Customer Support: Changing from addresses may cause minor customer support headaches
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that as long as best practices are followed, third party senders such as stripe won't affect deliverability. But you must make sure they meet all the requirements. Including, DKIM, DMARC and SPF setup.

February 2022 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet discusses the concept of shared IP reputation. When using a service like Stripe, your emails are sent using their shared IP addresses. If Stripe maintains a good IP reputation, your deliverability is generally good. However, if other users of Stripe send spam, it can negatively impact your deliverability.

August 2021 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that there shouldn't be deliverability issues if messages come from stripe.com instead of your domain, especially if Stripe doesn't allow custom From addresses. However, if custom From addresses are allowed and not set up correctly, it may cause problems. Changing the From address might also cause minor customer support headaches.

February 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit states that using a reputable third-party service like Stripe for sending emails usually doesn't negatively affect deliverability, assuming they adhere to email best practices. However, they caution that if your domain's DMARC policy is strict (p=reject), you need to ensure Stripe is properly authorized to send on behalf of your domain.

October 2022 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stripe Support shares that Stripe uses a dedicated email infrastructure, and if you're using Stripe to send emails (like receipts), they handle the technical aspects of deliverability, including authentication (SPF, DKIM) and reputation management. This generally ensures good deliverability for transactional emails.

January 2023 - Stripe Support
Marketer view

Email marketer from GMass shares it depends on your current setup. Stripe's deliverability is generally good, but it can affect things if you have a strict DMARC record because you need to authorize stripe to send emails for you. Make sure they have DMARC, DKIM and SPF set up.

May 2024 - GMass
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that maintaining a good sender reputation is essential for deliverability. Services like Stripe must actively manage their sender reputation to ensure emails reach the inbox. Factors like bounce rates, spam complaints, and engagement rates all contribute to sender reputation.

March 2023 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity shares that the bounce rate can impact deliverability. Third-party sending service might experience high bounce rates, which can affect deliverability. Stripe must keep bounces under control.

March 2021 - Validity
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks clarifies that DMARC is only an issue if it's already enabled on the domain used in the From address and wont influence Stripe if the messages are sent from stripe.com

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendgrid says that email warmup is an important piece of setting up your email. Warming up your email with services like Stripe will improve deliverability.

June 2022 - Sendgrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from MailerQ says that having a dedicated IP when using a third party sender will improve deliverability. However you need to manage it.

September 2021 - MailerQ

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Experts indicate that using Stripe for sending emails should generally not cause deliverability problems due to Stripe's use of AmazonSES, proper email authentication (DKIM, DMARC, BIMI), and established email practices. However, your deliverability becomes tied to Stripe's overall reputation. You should evaluate the trustworthiness of any third-party sender. Email deliverability depends on multiple types of reputation: IP, domain, content, and infrastructure. Ensuring all these are in good standing, alongside Stripe's reputation, is key for successful email delivery.

Key opinions

  • Stripe's Setup: Stripe uses AmazonSES and implements proper email authentication protocols (DKIM, DMARC, BIMI), minimizing initial deliverability concerns.
  • Reputation Inheritance: Using a third-party sender like Stripe means you inherit their email sending reputation, impacting your deliverability.
  • Complex Reputation: Email deliverability depends on multiple factors: IP, domain, content, and infrastructure reputation.

Key considerations

  • Evaluate Trustworthiness: Ensure the third-party sender is trustworthy and follows email best practices.
  • Your Email Practices: Even with a reputable sender, maintain good email practices for your content, domain, and IP to support deliverability.
  • Infrastructure Reliability: Confirm that the email sending infrastructure used by Stripe (e.g. Amazon SES) is reliable and well-maintained.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares an analysis of a Stripe receipt, noting that Stripe uses AmazonSES, double DKIM signs, publishes DMARC p=reject, and includes a BIMI header. Concluding that there isn’t any reason to expect delivery problems letting stripe handle the mail.

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that your email reputation depends on following email best practices, but using a third party sender like Stripe means you are inheriting their reputation. So make sure you evaluate how trustworthy they are before sending through them.

September 2021 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that reputation is complex. There are multiple types of reputation you have to consider, IP reputation, domain reputation, content reputation, infrastructure reputation and more. You need to make sure all those are in tip top shape to send emails successfully. So when using a third party you need to rely on their reputation, but make sure your content, domain and IP follow email best practices.

March 2024 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Email deliverability when using third-party senders like Stripe hinges on proper configuration of sender authentication methods (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Correctly implementing these methods ensures that emails are less likely to be flagged as spam and more likely to reach the recipient's inbox. If your domain has a strict DMARC policy, ensuring that Stripe is authorized to send emails on your behalf by correctly configuring SPF and DKIM records is crucial. It is also important to not send spam emails and have a good list of subscribers.

Key findings

  • Sender Authentication is Key: Properly configuring SPF, DKIM, and DMARC significantly improves email deliverability.
  • DMARC Policy Impact: Strict DMARC policies require careful alignment with third-party senders like Stripe.
  • SPF Authorizes Senders: SPF is essential for authorizing third-party services to send emails on behalf of your domain, preventing them from being marked as spam.
  • DKIM associates domain name with messages: DKIM is used to associate a domain name with an email message

Key considerations

  • Configure SPF and DKIM: Ensure SPF and DKIM records are correctly configured to authorize Stripe to send emails on behalf of your domain.
  • Align with DMARC: If you have a strict DMARC policy, verify that Stripe is properly aligned to prevent deliverability issues.
  • Maintain Good Email Practices: In addition to technical configurations, maintain good email sending practices (avoid spam, maintain a clean subscriber list) to improve deliverability.
Technical article

Documentation from Google explains how to improve deliverability if you are having issues, it says to make sure you are authenticating your email with SPF, DKIM and DMARC. Also it says to not send spam emails and always have a good list of subscribers.

May 2023 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor defines DKIM, it is used to associate a domain name with an email message, thereby permitting a signing domain to claim some responsibility for the message. This is essential for third party senders like stripe

January 2023 - RFC Editor
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that a strict DMARC policy (p=reject or p=quarantine) can impact deliverability if third-party services are not properly aligned with your domain. You need to ensure Stripe is authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain by configuring SPF and DKIM records correctly.

February 2022 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from Amazon Web Services explains the importance of sender authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) for email deliverability. It highlights that properly configuring these authentication methods significantly improves the likelihood of emails reaching the recipient's inbox, and services like Stripe, using SES, often handle this configuration for their users.

October 2023 - Amazon Web Services
Technical article

Documentation from RFC Editor defines the Sender Policy Framework (SPF) and how it can be used to authorize sending mail servers for a domain. This is a key element in ensuring third-party services like Stripe can send emails without being flagged as spam.

December 2022 - RFC Editor