# Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions. For detailed troubleshooting, see our [Troubleshooting Guide](/docs/troubleshooting).

---

## Getting Started {{ id: 'getting-started' }}

### How long does it take to set up Bento?

Most customers are sending their first email within **30-60 minutes**. The main steps are:

1. Add DNS records (15-20 minutes)
2. Wait for DNS propagation (can be instant, sometimes up to 24 hours)
3. Import subscribers or connect an integration (10-15 minutes)
4. Send your first email

See our [Onboarding Guide](/docs/intro/speedrun) for a step-by-step walkthrough.

---

### What's the difference between Events and Subscribers API?

| Events API                         | Subscribers API                    |
| ---------------------------------- | ---------------------------------- |
| Triggers automations (flows)       | Does NOT trigger automations       |
| Best for real-time actions         | Best for bulk imports/syncs        |
| Creates/updates subscriber on send | Creates/updates subscriber on send |
| Tracks behavioral data             | Just syncs profile data            |

**Use Events API when:** A user does something (signs up, purchases, clicks)  
**Use Subscribers API when:** You're syncing data from another system nightly

---

### Can I send emails from multiple domains?

Yes. Each "Site" in Bento can have its own sending domain. You can create multiple sites under one account and switch between them.

---

### Do I need to be approved before sending?

Yes. New accounts go through a brief approval process to prevent spam. This typically takes **a few hours** during business hours. See [Approvals](/docs/deliverability/approvals) for details.

---

## Sending Emails {{ id: 'sending-emails' }}

### What's the difference between transactional and marketing emails?

**Transactional emails** are triggered by a user action and expected immediately:

- Password resets
- Order confirmations
- Account notifications

**Marketing emails** are promotional content:

- Newsletters
- Product announcements
- Sale promotions

In Bento, transactional emails are sent via the Emails API with `transactional: true`. They bypass unsubscribe status and have higher priority.

---

### How do I send a welcome email when someone subscribes?

1. Create a Flow triggered by the event you're tracking (e.g., `$signed_up` or `$form_submitted`)
2. Add an email step to the flow
3. Publish the flow

When the event fires, the flow will send the email automatically. See [Workflows concept](/docs/concepts/workflows) for more details.

---

### Can I schedule emails for a specific time?

**For broadcasts:** Yes, you can schedule them for a future date/time.

**For flows/automations:** Emails send immediately when triggered, but you can add delay steps ("wait 1 day") to control timing.

---

### What's the maximum email size?

We recommend keeping emails under **100KB** for best deliverability. This includes HTML and inline CSS. Images should be hosted externally and linked, not embedded.

---

### How do I A/B test emails?

Bento supports A/B testing in broadcasts. When creating a broadcast:

1. Enable A/B testing
2. Create variant subject lines or content
3. Set the test size (what percentage sees each variant)
4. Bento will automatically send the winner to the remaining recipients

---

## API & Integrations {{ id: 'api-integrations' }}

### Do you have an SDK for [language]?

We have official SDKs for:

- Node.js
- Python
- Ruby
- PHP
- Laravel
- Go
- Elixir
- .NET
- Rust

See [all SDKs](/docs/sdks). If we don't have an SDK for your language, you can use the REST API directly - see [API Documentation](/docs/developer_guides/introduction).

---

### How do I track events from the browser?

Use [Bento.js](/docs/web_analytics), our client-side tracking library:

```html
<script src="https://app.bentonow.com/{YOUR_SCRIPT}.js" async defer></script>
<script>
  window.addEventListener('bento:ready', function () {
    bento$(function () {
      bento.identify('user@example.com')
      bento.track('page_viewed', { page: window.location.pathname })
    })
  })
</script>
```

---

### Can I use Bento with [platform]?

We have native integrations with:

- Shopify, Stripe, WooCommerce
- Zapier, Make.com, n8n
- Segment, Webflow, Bubble
- WordPress, and many more

See [all integrations](/docs/integrations/directory). If we don't have a native integration, you can usually connect via Zapier, webhooks, or our API.

---

### What's the API rate limit?

| Endpoint Type     | Limit               |
| ----------------- | ------------------- |
| `/fetch/*`        | 100 requests/minute |
| `/batch/*`        | 100 requests/minute |
| `/experimental/*` | 100 requests/minute |

Need more? [Contact us](mailto:support@bentonow.com) about higher limits.

---

### Why is my API returning HTML instead of JSON?

You're missing the `User-Agent` header. This is required - Cloudflare blocks requests without it. Add:

```
User-Agent: YourAppName/1.0
```

See [Authentication](/docs/authentication) for complete details.

---

## Deliverability {{ id: 'deliverability' }}

### Why are my emails going to spam?

Common causes:

1. **DNS not set up correctly** - Check Deliverability → DNS Records
2. **New domain needs warmup** - See [Warmup Guide](/docs/deliverability/warmup)
3. **List quality issues** - Old lists or purchased lists hurt deliverability
4. **Content triggers** - Avoid spam words, excessive images, or URL shorteners

See [Deliverability Guide](/docs/deliverability) for a complete checklist.

---

### How long does domain warmup take?

For a new domain, expect **4-8 weeks** to build full reputation. During this time:

- Weeks 1-2: Send only to highly engaged subscribers
- Weeks 3-4: Gradually increase volume
- Weeks 5+: Reach normal sending patterns

See [Warmup Guide](/docs/deliverability/warmup) for detailed schedules.

---

### Do you support dedicated IPs?

Yes, for high-volume senders. Dedicated IPs make sense when you're sending **100,000+ emails per month** consistently. Contact us to discuss if it's right for you.

Below that volume, our shared IP pools typically provide better deliverability because they maintain consistent sending patterns.

---

### What's a good open rate?

| Open Rate | Assessment      |
| --------- | --------------- |
| 40%+      | Excellent       |
| 25-40%    | Good            |
| 15-25%    | Average         |
| Below 15% | Needs attention |

Note: Apple Mail Privacy Protection can inflate open rates. Focus on click rates and conversions for more accurate engagement metrics.

---

### How do I authenticate my domain (SPF/DKIM/DMARC)?

1. Go to **Deliverability** → **DNS Records** in Bento
2. Copy the records shown
3. Add them to your domain's DNS settings
4. Click **Validate** to confirm

We provide records for:

- **SPF**: Authorizes Bento to send email from your domain
- **DKIM**: Adds a cryptographic signature to emails
- **DMARC**: Tells receivers what to do with failed authentication

See [DNS Setup](/docs/dns) for provider-specific instructions.

---

## Billing & Account {{ id: 'billing-account' }}

### How does pricing work?

Bento charges based on the number of subscribers you have. All features are included at every tier - no feature gating. See [bentonow.com/pricing](https://bentonow.com/pricing) for current pricing.

---

### What counts as a subscriber?

A subscriber is a unique email address in your account. The same email across multiple tags or segments counts as one subscriber.

**What doesn't count:**

- Unsubscribed contacts (they're removed from your count)
- Duplicate email addresses
- Email addresses in your blocklist

---

### Can I have multiple users on my account?

Yes. Go to **Settings** → **Team** to invite team members. You can set different permission levels for each user.

---

### How do I cancel my account?

Email [support@bentonow.com](mailto:support@bentonow.com) and we'll process your cancellation. You can export your data before canceling.

We don't do long-term contracts - you can cancel anytime.

---

### Do you offer refunds?

We offer refunds on a case-by-case basis. If you're unhappy with Bento for any reason, reach out and we'll make it right.

---

## Still Have Questions?

- **[Discord](https://discord.com/invite/ssXXFRmt5F)** - Fastest for quick questions
- **[Email Support](mailto:support@bentonow.com)** - For account-specific issues
- **[Troubleshooting Guide](/docs/troubleshooting)** - Detailed problem-solving