When you track link clicks with Mailtrack, your tracked links go through our tracking domain, which registers the click and then takes the recipient to the page you linked to. With a custom link tracking domain, your tracked links use a subdomain of your own website instead, for example track.yourcompany.com.
This has two benefits:
- Brand consistency: recipients see your own domain when they hover over a link.
- Better deliverability: links that match your sending domain look more trustworthy to spam filters and to your recipients.
The custom domain only applies to link tracking. Email open tracking and PDF tracking keep using the standard domain. Learn more.
Before you start
- You need access to your domain's DNS settings. They're usually managed where you bought your domain or where it's hosted (for example GoDaddy, Namecheap or Cloudflare).
- The domain must be the domain of your main email account or of one of your alias domains. For example, if you send from anna@yourcompany.com, use a subdomain of yourcompany.com.
Step 1: Choose a subdomain
Pick a subdomain you're not using for anything else. Common choices are:
track.yourdomain.comlinks.yourdomain.comclick.yourdomain.com
Step 2: Add a CNAME record to your DNS
In your DNS provider, create a new record with these details:
-
Name / Host / Label: your subdomain from Step 1 (for example
track) - Type: CNAME
-
Value / Points to:
links.mailtrack.io - TTL: Default
Tip: most DNS providers only ask for the subdomain part (track) and add your domain automatically.
DNS changes can take from a few minutes up to 24 hours to take effect, depending on your provider.
Step 3: Activate your custom domain
- Go to your dashboard and open Settings & account > Tracking.
- Under Custom link tracking domain, enter your full subdomain (for example
track.yourdomain.com). - Click Save custom domain.
We'll email you when your custom domain is ready. From then on, the tracked links in the emails you send will use your domain.
Troubleshooting
-
Not active after 24 hours? Check that the CNAME record points exactly to
links.mailtrack.ioand that its name matches the subdomain you entered. You can confirm it with any public DNS lookup tool. - The record can't be created? A subdomain with a CNAME record can't have other records (such as an A record). Use a subdomain that isn't already in use.
If it still doesn't work, contact our support team from the Help & Contact section of your dashboard.
Related articles
- Link click tracking with Mailtrack
- Does custom domain tracking apply to email opens and PDF tracking?
- Domain verification: a different setting that verifies your sending domain (DKIM) to improve deliverability.
- Get a professional custom domain email for Gmail: also different, it gives you an email address on your own domain.