Quick answer
How to use a custom email domain with iCloud+?
Subscribe to iCloud+, turn on two-factor authentication, add the domain you already own on iCloud.com, then publish the DNS records Apple shows: a verification TXT, MX records, SPF and DKIM. One account holds up to 5 custom domains with 10 addresses each. Postelva sells the domain; you type Apple's records.
iCloud+ custom email domain limits
| Item | Limit or rule |
|---|---|
| Plan needed | Any paid iCloud+ tier |
| Custom domains per account | Up to 5 |
| Addresses per domain | Up to 10 personalised addresses |
| Sharing | A domain can be shared with up to 5 other people, each with up to 10 addresses |
| Account security | Apple Account with two-factor authentication |
| Not supported | Managed accounts; domains registered as an Organisation Domain in Apple Business |
| Address conflict | An address already used with another Apple Account cannot be added |
Steps with a domain bought outside Apple
Register the domain
Buy it in the Postelva client area. Apple also sells domains from iCloud settings, but that path uses a card or PayPal, not crypto.
Prepare the Apple Account
Check that iCloud+ is active, two-factor authentication is on and iCloud Mail works on your devices.
Add the domain on iCloud.com
Sign in on iCloud.com, open the custom email domain settings and enter your domain. Apple displays the records to publish.
Publish the records
Enter the verification TXT, the MX records, the SPF and the DKIM CNAME in the DNS editor, exactly as Apple shows them.
Create the addresses
Add personalised addresses, or import those you already use on the domain, and test from an outside account.
Which DNS records does iCloud+ need?
A verification TXT at the root, two MX records, an SPF TXT and a DKIM CNAME, with the exact values taken from Apple's screen. Apple's support page names no record. Third-party hosting guides report MX hosts mx01.mail.icloud.com and mx02.mail.icloud.com, both at priority 10, an SPF of v=spf1 include:icloud.com ~all (older guides used redirect=icloud.com) and a DKIM CNAME named sig1._domainkey that points to a domain-specific target under icloudmailadmin.com. Postelva did not read these on an Apple page, so treat them as hints and publish what Apple displays.
The verification TXT carries a per-account value that you must not guess. Once saved, verify the result with how to check MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records. An existing SPF record is extended, not duplicated; see how to create an SPF record.
Can I buy the domain from Apple instead?
Yes, but the price is hidden until checkout and crypto is not accepted. Apple registers new domains from iCloud settings through Cloudflare as registrar. Cloudflare's documentation says estimates in USD and local currency appear at purchase, the final payment is charged in US dollars, and the feature is meant for new registrations made from an Apple device. Apple Pay does not support recurring payments, so a card or PayPal is needed for auto-renew. Apple's route fits readers who accept its payment terms.
Buying elsewhere keeps the domain independent of Apple, which matters when you move: how to move email to a new provider without losing mail shows that only DNS records change. You can remove a domain on iCloud.com, after which iCloud Mail can no longer send or receive for it.
Why bring a Postelva domain to iCloud+?
It splits the two things Apple bundles: the address, which you own, and the mailbox, which Apple hosts. A .com at Postelva costs $12.49/year a year, the same price on renewal, paid in BTC, USDT, USDC, ETH, SOL, LTC. Postelva provides free DNS hosting with A, AAAA, CNAME, ALIAS, MX, TXT, NS, SRV and CAA records, DNSSEC, and your own nameservers if you prefer (2 to 13). usually within minutes of the top-up being credited.
According to Postelva's count of 12 November 2026, only 2 of the 7 providers in these guides take crypto directly, Proton as Bitcoin credit and Migadu on request through its support; a domain bought at Postelva lets crypto holders keep one part of the stack crypto-funded. Postelva has no one-click iCloud template, since one-click DNS templates for Proton Mail, Fastmail, Zoho Mail, Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, plus an SPF + DMARC template and a "no email" template for a domain that sends nothing. email replies within 12 hours, 7 days a week, including help with MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC records.
An iCloud+ custom domain allows up to 5 domains and 10 addresses per domain, and the domain remains the property of its registrant. The wider concept is in what is a custom email domain.
Questions about iCloud+ and custom domains
Can the same address exist on two Apple Accounts?
No. An address already tied to another Apple Account cannot be added; change that account's email first. Deleting that account does not free the address.
Can family members use my domain?
Yes. You can share it with up to 5 other people, each with up to 10 addresses. People outside Family Sharing must accept an invitation.
Does it work on old iPhones?
Sharing with people outside your family needs iOS 16 or later. Devices on iOS 15 or earlier may not show all addresses.
How much does iCloud+ cost?
Apple's page lists no price, so none is quoted. Check your region in Settings.
In summary
- iCloud+ allows up to 5 custom domains and 10 addresses per domain.
- Two-factor authentication is required; managed accounts are not supported.
- Add the domain on iCloud.com, then publish the records Apple shows.
- Third-party guides report MX mx01 and mx02.mail.icloud.com at priority 10: verify on Apple's screen.
- Apple takes no crypto; a Postelva domain is $12.49/year a year for a .com.
- No one-click iCloud template at Postelva: records are typed by hand.
Sources (3)
- Apple - Use Custom Email Domain with iCloud Mail — Apple (read 2026-11-12)
- Apple - Set up an existing domain with iCloud Mail — Apple (read 2026-11-12)
- Cloudflare - iCloud domains — Cloudflare (read 2026-11-12)