Are the DMARC changes required when sending less than 5000 emails a day?

Shopify Discussion

Topic summary

Main issue: Whether recent email-authentication changes (DMARC) are required for stores sending fewer than 5,000 emails/day, and the impact if not configured.

Context:

  • OP’s domain provider says DMARC can’t be added on their current plan; suggests an expensive upgrade to Microsoft 365. OP found Google guidance that seemed to tie strict requirements to senders of >5,000/day and wonders if they can avoid changes.
  • Concern: Shopify warned that if no action is taken, it will rewrite the sender address to a Shopify domain to meet minimum requirements, potentially affecting brand identity.

Clarifications offered:

  • A responder states “all sites need this,” pointing to Google’s “Requirements for all senders,” implying obligations apply even under the 5,000/day threshold.

Notes:

  • DMARC: a DNS policy that works with SPF/DKIM to authenticate email and reduce spoofing.

Outcomes/decisions:

  • No final resolution or step-by-step fix provided. No confirmation on alternatives to the provider’s paid upgrade.

Status:

  • Open. Key questions remain about whether sub-5,000/day senders are exempt and how to avoid sender address rewriting without upgrading email services.
Summarized with AI on January 7. AI used: gpt-5.
1

I am not technical at all and am getting spooked by the need to make changes on my domain. I contacted my domain provider and was told the DMARC could not be added to my email service and that I would have to move/upgrade (at quite an expense) to a dedicated MS360 service. Which is a pain on a few levels. But then I found this article (https://support.google.com/a/answer/81126?hl=en-GB&visit_id=638412589191916693-438820448&rd=1#zippy=%2Crequirements-for-all-senders) on google which seems to imply that the rules insisting on having this DMARC thing will only apply if you send >5000 email a day. So, tempted to leave things as they are. But fear that the solution detailed in the recent Spotify email (“If you take no action, we will rewrite your sender email to [a Shopify email rather than my branded email} to meet the minimum requirements so that you can continue sending emails to your customers with no interruption”) will still apply and my customers will start getting my emails from a different address?? I’m so confused… Anyone out there that can help me navigate this please?

2

all sites need this. in the url you sent (which is official from google) there is a dropdown section about the 5000 which says “Requirement for all senders” which means under 5000