What is MailChannels and Why is it Used for Your Plesk Email Hosting?

If you use Plesk Email Hosting with Rebel.com./ca, your outbound emails rely on an enterprise delivery network called MailChannels.

This guide explains what MailChannels does, why it protects your email delivery reputation, and how to properly configure your domain’s SPF (Sender Policy Framework) DNS record when sending email through Rebel or third-party services.

What is MailChannels?

MailChannels is a specialized outbound email filtering and delivery service integrated directly into our Plesk hosting servers.

When you send an email from your desktop client, mobile app, or webmail using your domain name, your message routes through MailChannels before reaching the recipient’s inbox.

Why Does Rebel Use MailChannels for Plesk Email?

Guaranteed Inbox Delivery: MailChannels automatically detects and stops outbound spam, compromised mailboxes, or phishing attempts before they leave the server. This prevents our shared hosting IP addresses from getting blacklisted by major email providers like Gmail, Yahoo, and Microsoft Outlook.
Automatic IP Reputation Protection: If a single account on a server gets compromised, MailChannels isolates that specific account without affecting the email delivery of other businesses hosted on the same server.
Advanced Security Filtering: It scans outbound mail for malware, malicious attachments, and spam signatures to ensure your domain maintains a high sender reputation.

The MailChannels SPF Record Requirement

Because MailChannels delivers outbound emails on behalf of your domain, your domain’s DNS records must authorize MailChannels as a legitimate sender. This is done through an SPF (Sender Policy Framework) TXT record in your Advanced DNS settings.

1. Standard Rebel Plesk Email SPF Record

If you only send emails through your Rebel Plesk email hosting (Webmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, mobile apps):

v=spf1 a mx include:relay.mailchannels.net -all

2. Combining MailChannels with Third-Party Email Providers

If you also send emails using third-party marketing or transactional platforms (such as Mailchimp, SendGrid, Constant Contact, or Google Workspace), you must include all senders within a single SPF record.

Example with SendGrid:
v=spf1 a mx include:sendgrid.net include:relay.mailchannels.net ~all
Example with Mailchimp:
v=spf1 a mx include:servers.mcsv.net include:relay.mailchannels.net ~all

Important: Never create more than one SPF record for a single domain name. Having multiple SPF records will cause authentication failures and result in your emails landing in spam folders or bouncing back. Always merge external providers into one single v=spf1 record.

Need Extra Help?

You can start a live chat on our website during our business hours or email our support team at service@rebel.com (or service@rebel.ca for Rebel.ca account holders).

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