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Setup Namecheap DNS for Bento

Add Bento's required DNS records in Namecheap to authenticate your domain for email sending. One Namecheap quirk to remember: it auto-appends your domain to Host fields, so enter only the subdomain portion.

Adding DNS records is required for any customer sending over 5,000 emails on any given day. This is a new requirement from Gmail and Yahoo introduced in February 2024.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • Access to your Namecheap account
  • Your domain registered with Namecheap or using Namecheap DNS
  • Required permissions to modify DNS records

Required DNS Records

You'll need to add these 6 DNS records to your domain:

Required DNS Records
example              CNAME  example.test.sendgrid.net
bbb._domainkey       CNAME  bbb.domainkey.example.test.sendgrid.net
bbb2._domainkey      CNAME  bbb2.domainkey.example.test.sendgrid.net
bento                CNAME  ga.bentoemail.com
bento3180._domainkey TXT    k=rsa; p=example...
_dmarc               TXT    v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; adkim=s
You can find your specific DNS records in Bento under System > DNS. The values above are examples - use the actual values provided in your Bento account.
1Access Namecheap Advanced DNS
  1. Log into your Namecheap account at namecheap.com
  2. Navigate to Domain List from the left sidebar
  3. Find your domain and click Manage
  4. Click on the Advanced DNS tab
  5. You'll see the DNS records management interface
If you're using external nameservers, you'll need to manage DNS records where your nameservers are pointed, not in Namecheap.
DNS Menu Location
2Add CNAME Records

You'll need to add 4 CNAME records. Here's how to add the first one:

  1. Click the Add New Record button
  2. Select CNAME Record from the Type dropdown
  3. In the Name field, enter: example
  4. In the Target field, enter: example.test.sendgrid.net
  5. Set TTL to Automatic (recommended)
  6. Click the Save Changes button (green checkmark)
Namecheap automatically removes your domain from the Host field. So instead of entering example.yourdomain.com, you only need to enter example. The system will automatically append your domain.

Repeat this process for the remaining CNAME records for example:

  • bbb._domainkey → bbb.domainkey.example.test.sendgrid.net
  • bbb2._domainkey → bbb2.domainkey.example.test.sendgrid.net
  • bento → ga.bentoemail.com
The example domain is for demonstration purposes only. Please use your own domain records from Bento System > DNS in the menu.
Adding CNAME Records
3Add TXT Records

Next, add 2 TXT records. Start with the DKIM record:

  1. Click the Add New Record button
  2. Select TXT Record from the Type dropdown
  3. In the Name field, enter: bentoEXAMPLE._domainkey
  4. In the Content field, enter the full DKIM key (starts with k=rsa; p=...)
  5. Set TTL to Automatic
  6. Click the Save Changes button (green checkmark)

Then add the DMARC record:

  1. Click Add New Record again
  2. Select TXT Record from the Type dropdown
  3. In the Name field, enter: _dmarc
  4. In the Content field, enter: v=DMARC1; p=quarantine; adkim=s
  5. Set TTL to Automatic
  6. Click the Save Changes button (green checkmark)
Remember to click the green checkmark (Save Changes) after adding each record. Namecheap requires this step to save your changes.
Pro-tip: You can copy the exact DNS record values from your Bento account by clicking on each record. This helps avoid typos that could prevent verification.
Adding TEXT Records
4Verify Your DNS Records

After adding all 6 DNS records, you need to verify them in Bento:

  1. Return to Bento and navigate to System > DNS
  2. Wait 5-10 minutes for DNS propagation (can take up to 48 hours in some cases)
  3. Click the Check button next to each DNS record
  4. Properly configured records will show a green checkmark and blue text
  5. If any records fail verification, double-check the values and TTL settings
DNS propagation can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 48 hours. If records don't verify immediately, wait a bit longer and try again.
DO NOT EDIT EXISTING RECORDS FOR YOUR DOMAIN. You should only be ADDING new records, never editing existing ones.
Records Verified in Bento Settings -> DNS
5Final Record Overview

Once complete, your Namecheap DNS records should be as follows:

All 6 records should be visible in your DNS management interface with:

  • 4 CNAME records with proper Host and Value fields
  • 2 TXT records with proper Host and Value content
  • All records showing TTL as "Automatic"
  • Green checkmarks indicating saved status

Namecheap Notes

  • Domain Auto-Append: Namecheap automatically appends your domain to Host fields, so only enter the subdomain portion
  • Save Changes: Always click the green checkmark after adding each record to save changes
  • TTL Options: Namecheap offers "Automatic" TTL which is recommended for most use cases
  • Propagation: Namecheap DNS changes typically propagate within 30 minutes to 4 hours

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

  • Records not verifying: Double-check that all values match exactly what's shown in your Bento account
  • Host field confusion: Remember that Namecheap auto-appends your domain - only enter the subdomain part
  • Unsaved changes: Ensure you clicked the green checkmark to save each record
  • DNS propagation: Wait up to 48 hours for global DNS propagation
  • TTL settings: Use "Automatic" TTL for optimal performance

Next Steps

Once all DNS records are verified in Bento:

  1. Your domain is now authenticated for email sending
  2. You can start sending emails with improved deliverability
  3. Monitor your email performance in the Bento dashboard

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the Bento Discord!