This guide will help you send your first email with Send.dev. By the end, you'll have:

1. Created an API key
2. Verified a sending domain
3. Sent your first email

Step 1: Create an Account

Sign up at send.dev/signup using your email, Google, or GitHub account. Once logged in, you'll be taken to your dashboard.

Step 2: Create an API Key

Navigate to Settings → API Keys in your dashboard and click Create API Key.

Copy your API key—it will only be shown once. Store it securely, such as in environment variables:

export SEND_API_KEY="sk_live_your_api_key_here"

Step 3: Add a Sending Domain

To send emails, you need a verified domain. Navigate to Domains and click Add Domain.

Enter your domain (e.g., mail.yourdomain.com) and follow the DNS configuration instructions. You'll need to add:

• DKIM records - For email authentication
• SPF record - To authorize Send.dev to send on your behalf
• DMARC record - For delivery policy (optional but recommended)

See our Domain Setup Guide for detailed instructions.

Step 4: Send Your First Email

Once your domain is verified, you can send emails. Choose your preferred language:

curl -X POST https://api.send.dev/v1/emails \
-H "Authorization: Bearer sk_live_your_api_key" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
  "from": "hello@mail.yourdomain.com",
  "to": "recipient@example.com",
  "subject": "Hello from Send.dev!",
  "html": "<h1>Welcome!</h1><p>This is your first email via Send.dev.</p>",
  "text": "Welcome! This is your first email via Send.dev."
}'

{
"id": "email_01HXYZ123456789",
"status": "queued",
"from": "hello@mail.yourdomain.com",
"to": "recipient@example.com",
"subject": "Hello from Send.dev!",
"created_at": "2025-01-13T10:30:00Z"
}

What's Next?

You've successfully sent your first email! Here's what to explore next:

• Sending Emails - Learn all the options for sending emails
• Domain Setup - Configure DNS for your domain
• Attachments - Add files to your emails
• Best Practices - Tips for optimal deliverability
• Webhooks - Get notified about email events