Bluehost DNS runs through cPanel's Zone Editor, which uses slightly different labels ("Zone File Editor") depending on your plan tier. Here's exactly where to go and what to enter.
Step 1: Open the Zone Editor
Log in to Bluehost → hosting dashboard → Domains → select your domain → "DNS" (or, on cPanel-based plans: cPanel → Domains → Zone Editor). Look for the TXT records section.
Step 2: Add the SPF TXT Record
- Type: TXT
- Host record:
@ - Value - Google Workspace:
v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all - Value - Microsoft 365:
v=spf1 include:spf.protection.outlook.com ~all - Value - Bluehost Webmail:
v=spf1 include:hostgator.com include:bluehost.com ~all - TTL: Default (typically 14400) is fine.
Common Bluehost-Specific Issue
If your domain was registered through Bluehost but email is hosted elsewhere (Google Workspace, Microsoft 365), Bluehost sometimes pre-populates an SPF record pointing at its own mail servers. Leaving that in place alongside your real ESP's include causes soft-fail warnings on legitimate mail. Replace it entirely rather than appending to it - one record, one set of merged includes.
Verify the Record
Bluehost DNS changes usually take 30 minutes to a few hours to fully propagate. Check status with MXToolbox's SPF lookup tool, then send a test email and confirm spf=pass appears in the message headers before moving on to DKIM and DMARC.
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