Strictly speaking, no — you can technically send a Mailpro campaign from a free Gmail or Outlook address. In practice, sending from your own domain is what makes email marketing actually work: better deliverability, real branding, and a sender identity that survives over time.
What you really need a domain for
| Without your own domain | With your own domain |
|---|---|
| Sender looks like [email protected] | Sender looks like [email protected] |
| Cannot publish SPF / DKIM / DMARC for your sender | Full email authentication, much better inbox placement |
| Brand recognition is weak | Every email reinforces your brand |
| Provider can suspend bulk usage | You control the mailbox and policies |
What you actually need to set up
Buy a domain (any registrar — usually under $15/year), then publish three DNS records to authenticate Mailpro: SPF, DKIM and a DMARC record. Mailpro provides exact values for each.
What if I really can’t buy one?
You can still test Mailpro using a free address — that’s fine for trial sends. Before launching to real subscribers, register a domain. New users sometimes use a domain they already own for their website; if you have one, you’re ready.
Background reading
If domain names are a new topic, start with what is a domain name or the longer guide on the Mailpro blog.