Before you start: You’ll need an AhaSend account. Sign up for free to get 1,000 emails per month at no cost.
Sign Up & Verify Email
- Sign up for a free account
- Verify your email address by clicking the link in your inbox
- Log in to your dashboard to continue setup
Add & Configure Domain
Before you can send emails, you need to add and verify your domain:
- Add your domain in your dashboard under Domains
- Add the DNS records provided by AhaSend to your domain’s DNS settings
- Wait for verification (usually takes a few minutes)
Need help with domain setup? Check out our detailed domain configuration guide for step-by-step instructions for all major DNS providers.
Important: You cannot send emails until your domain is verified. The verification process ensures good deliverability and prevents spoofing.
Choose Sending Method
Create Sending Credentials
Create the appropriate credentials for your chosen method:For HTTP API:
- Go to API Keys in your dashboard
- Click “Create API Key”
- Copy and securely store your API key
- Go to SMTP Credentials in your dashboard
- Click “Create SMTP Credential”
- Save the username and password
Keep your credentials secure! Never commit them to version control or expose them in client-side code.
Send & Verify First Email
Send your first email using the code examples below, then verify delivery:After sending:Jump to: HTTP API | SMTP Relay
- Check your inbox - Your test email should arrive within seconds
- Check the Messages page in your dashboard to see delivery status
- Look for a 202 response with a message ID
Success! See your email in both your inbox and the Messages page? You’re all set up! 🎉
HTTP API
Send emails using our modern HTTP API. Perfect for web applications and microservices.API Version Note: These examples use our latest API v2, which provides the most powerful features including advanced tracking, bulk sending, and better error handling. For simpler use cases, you can also use our API v1.
Basic Email
Replace the placeholders:
YOUR_API_KEY
with your actual API key from Step 4{account_id}
with your account ID from your dashboard[email protected]
with your verified domain from Step 2[email protected]
with the recipient’s email address
SMTP Relay
Use our SMTP servers with any email library. Great for existing applications or when you need SMTP compatibility.SMTP Settings
Get SMTP credentials: You should have created these in Step 4. If not, go to your dashboard → Credentials → Create New Credential
SMTP Examples
Next Steps
Now that you’ve sent your first email, here’s what to do next:Set up Domains
Add and verify domains for better deliverability and custom from addresses
Send with SMTP
Use SMTP credentials to send emails through your existing email libraries
Send with API
Advanced API features like templates, attachments, and bulk sending
Sandbox SMTP
Test safely with sandbox mode to avoid sending emails to real recipients
Troubleshooting
Having issues? Here are the most common problems:401 Unauthorized Error
401 Unauthorized Error
Domain Still Not Verified
Domain Still Not Verified
- DNS changes can take up to 24 hours to propagate
- Double-check that you added all required DNS records exactly as shown
- Use a DNS checker tool to verify your records are live
- Contact support if verification fails after 24 hours
SMTP Authentication Failed
SMTP Authentication Failed
- Double-check your SMTP username and password
- Make sure you created SMTP credentials in your dashboard (not your login password)
- Try port 2525 if 587 is blocked by your network
Email Not Delivered
Email Not Delivered
- Check your dashboard message logs for delivery status
- Verify the recipient email address is correct
- Check the recipient’s spam folder
- Make sure you’re not hitting rate limits (1,000 emails/month on free plan)
Need more help? Email our engineering team at [email protected] - we typically respond within a few hours!