# Your first email. A clear path to production.

Create an API key, test a message in the sandbox and verify your sending domain. Follow the quickstart, then bring the same sending workflow into your application.

[Start for Free](/dashboard/signup?returnTo=%2Fdashboard%2Fw%2Femail)

[Contact sales](/demo?product=email&source_page=%2Femail-api%2Fgetting-started)

## Set up with your agent

[Read the agent setup guide](/docs/ai/set-up-your-agent)

Copy this prompt into your coding agent:

```text
Bird connects customer communications, data and automation. Help me build with Bird using my coding agent.
1. Read https://bird.com/docs/ai/set-up-your-agent.md and follow its setup workflow for this client. Use an existing connected Bird MCP server or signed-in CLI when available.
2. Read the product guide for the task I want to complete and inspect my existing integration. Identify the workspace, available operations and required setup.
3. Help me complete a first example for the product and destination I choose. Follow the operation through to its actual result, explain any uncertainty, and help me choose the next step.

First task: Create an API key, send a controlled test and verify my sending domain using the first-send guide.

Use this Bird page as the starting context: https://bird.com/email-api/getting-started
Read its Markdown alternative and linked guides. Keep the first example relevant to this page and the customer outcome I choose. Preserve the supplied campaign context when following Bird signup or sales links.
```

[Read customer stories](/customers)

[Explore Enterprise](/enterprise)

- [Airwallex](/customers/airwallex)
- [Glovo](/customers/glovo)
- [Zillow](/customers/zillow)
- Uber
- [Binance](/customers/binance)
- Adobe
- Meta
- PayPal
- Pinterest
- Square
- [Al Jazeera](/customers/aljazeera)
- [Aramex](/customers/aramex)
- [Bazaar Technologies](/customers/bazaar)
- [ComparaOnline](/customers/compara)
- [Emma](/customers/emma)

## Three steps to your first integration.

Test the integration first, then prepare your domain for real recipients.

- **01** Sign up for Bird. Create your account and an API key for the region your application will use. Keep the key in your server environment and use it to authenticate your requests.
- **02** Send your first email. Send a test email to a sandbox address with one API call. No domain to verify yet, the sandbox lets you try sending, webhooks, and suppression immediately. [Read the quickstart →](/docs/get-started/send-your-first-email)
- **03** Register your sending domain. Add your domain and publish the DNS records Bird provides for DKIM signing and an aligned return path. Configure your DMARC policy, then check verification before sending to customers. [Sending domains guide →](/docs/guides/email/sending-domains)

## Questions before your first send

### How do I test without sending real email?

Send to documented sandbox addresses such as delivered@messagebird.dev, bounce@messagebird.dev or complaint@messagebird.dev. These exercise outcomes and webhooks through the normal pipeline. Keep a rehearsal audience limited to sandbox addresses; real addresses in the same send receive real mail.

### Do I need my own verified domain immediately?

The onboarding domain supports a first send under its documented restrictions, and sandbox addresses support testing. Verify your own sending domain for regular sending. Check your workspace’s current limits rather than relying on a fixed plan allowance on this page.

### Where should I start?

Use the first-email quickstart for an API integration, the SMTP guide for an existing SMTP application, Email marketing for campaigns, or the agent-mailbox quickstart for conversations. Each path links to the matching setup and documentation.

## Choose your next step

- [Explore the Email platform](/email-api): Find sending, receiving, campaigns and delivery controls.
- [Connect an SMTP application](/email-api/features/smtp): Keep your SMTP integration and configure Bird as its relay.
- [Find a guide or answer](/email-api/resources): Continue with setup, troubleshooting and email concepts.

## Your first email starts here.

Create your account, run a sandbox send and use the delivery events to check your integration before you send to customers.

[Read the Email docs](/docs/guides/email/overview)



## Related resources

- [Getting started with email](/learn/email/getting-started-with-email) (video)
- [Build your first integration](/learn/paths/integration) (course)

[Get an implementation brief](/learn/workspace?topic=email)