When you enable open or click tracking in MailBeast, tracking pixels and redirect links are hosted on a domain. By default, this is a MailBeast domain. A custom tracking domain uses YOUR domain instead (like track.yourdomain.com), which improves deliverability and looks more professional to recipients.
If you've already set correct DNS records or purchased mailboxes from our mailbox partner, there is very little of what you need to do in the dashboard. Otherwise, read along.
Better deliverability. Email providers trust emails more when the sending domain and link domains match. If you send from yourdomain.com but links point to a third-party tracking domain, it raises a red flag.
More trustworthy to recipients. People are more likely to click links from your own domain than from an unfamiliar tracking URL.
Avoids shared reputation risks. Default tracking domains are shared across many senders. If another sender behaves badly, it could affect the domain's reputation - and by extension, your link trust.
Professional appearance. Links like track.yourdomain.com/click/abc123 look cleaner and more professional than generic third-party URLs.
Click Add Domain
Enter your tracking subdomain (e.g., track.yourdomain.com or click.yourdomain.com)
MailBeast generates the CNAME record you need to add to your DNS
After adding the domain, MailBeast displays the DNS instructions:
DNS Type: CNAME
DNS Name (Host): The host value (e.g., mbtr.track.yourdomain.com)
DNS Value (Target): The MailBeast tracking server target
Use the copy buttons next to each value to copy them accurately.
Go to your domain registrar or DNS management panel
Add a new CNAME record using the values from Step 2:
Host/Name: The DNS Name value from MailBeast
Type: CNAME
Target/Value: The DNS Value from MailBeast
Save the record
If your DNS is on Cloudflare, see the dedicated Cloudflare DNS Setup guide - the orange-cloud / grey-cloud distinction is critical for tracking domains. For every other registrar (GoDaddy, Namecheap, Squarespace, cPanel, Route 53, etc.) the values are the same - find the "Add CNAME record" screen in your registrar's DNS panel and paste the values from Step 2 above.
Wait for DNS propagation (typically 15-60 minutes, up to 24 hours in rare cases)
Go back to Settings > Tracking Domains in MailBeast
Click Verify CNAME next to your domain
Once verified, the domain shows a green "Verified" status.
After verification, you can:
Set it as the default tracking domain using the toggle switch - all new email accounts will use this domain automatically
Assign it to specific email accounts - useful if you have multiple domains and want each account to use its matching tracking domain
If you use Cloudflare for DNS management, the CNAME record for your tracking domain must be set to DNS Only (grey cloud).
Orange cloud (Proxied) = Cloudflare intercepts the request, and MailBeast cannot verify the CNAME or serve tracking properly
Grey cloud (DNS Only) = Direct DNS resolution, everything works correctly
See the Cloudflare DNS Setup Guide for details on switching proxy mode.
If verification fails, MailBeast shows a specific error code to help you diagnose the issue:
The CNAME record has not been added to your DNS yet, or it has not propagated.
Fix: Verify that you added the record with the correct host and target values. Wait 15-60 minutes for propagation and try again.
A CNAME record exists for the host, but it points to the wrong target.
Fix: Check the CNAME target value in your DNS provider. It should match exactly what MailBeast provided. Update the record and try again.
The CNAME record exists and points to the correct target, but Cloudflare's proxy is intercepting the DNS lookup.
Fix: Go to Cloudflare > DNS > Records, find the tracking domain CNAME, and switch it from Proxied (orange cloud) to DNS Only (grey cloud). Save and verify again.
Your DNS has an A record for the tracking subdomain instead of a CNAME record.
Fix: Delete the A record and add a CNAME record instead. A records point to IP addresses, while MailBeast needs a CNAME that points to the tracking server hostname.
Use a dedicated subdomain. Do not use your root domain for tracking. Good choices: track.yourdomain.com, click.yourdomain.com, t.yourdomain.com, or go.yourdomain.com.
Match your sending domain. If you send from yourdomain.com, use a tracking domain on the same root domain (e.g., track.yourdomain.com). This domain alignment signals legitimacy to email providers.
One tracking domain per root domain is usually sufficient. You do not need a separate tracking domain for each email account if they all share the same root domain.
Understanding Your DNS Health Score - See how your overall DNS setup looks
Why DNS Records Matter - Understand the full picture of email authentication
