# Reply-to address

> A reply-to address is where replies to an email go when it differs from the From address. How the Reply-To header works, when to use it and common mistakes.

Canonical: https://www.cresca.xyz/glossary/reply-to-address

A reply-to address is the email address that receives replies to a message when you want them to go somewhere other than the From address. It is set in the Reply-To header of the email. When a reader presses Reply, their mail app addresses the reply to the reply-to address, not to the sender.

## How a reply-to address works

Every email has a From header, which is the sender the reader sees. An email can also have a Reply-To header. If it is present, mail apps use it for replies. If it is missing, replies go to the From address.

For example, a receipt can be sent from billing@acme.com with a reply-to address of support@acme.com. The customer sees the billing sender, and a reply lands in the support inbox where someone can answer it.

## When to use a reply-to address

- You send from an address that nobody reads, such as notifications@, and want replies to reach a team inbox.
- You send on behalf of a person and want replies to go to that person.
- Marketing email goes out from one address and replies should reach sales or support.
- You use a subdomain for sending, such as mail.acme.com, and want replies on your main domain.

## Reply-to address vs From address vs Return-Path

The From address is who the email is from. The reply-to address is where human replies go. The Return-Path, also called the bounce address or MAIL FROM, is where mail servers send bounce messages. Readers never see the Return-Path, and replies never go to it.

## Common mistakes with a reply-to address

- Using a reply-to address on a different domain from the From address. Some spam filters treat the mismatch as a warning sign, so keep both on your own domain where you can.
- Pointing replies at a no-reply address. People reply anyway, and the question is lost.
- Forgetting that the inbox must exist. A reply to a missing mailbox bounces back to your customer.

In Cresca

## How Cresca handles the reply-to address

In Cresca, each sender address can have a default Reply-To, set when you create the sender on a verified domain. For email sent through the API, pass reply\_to with one address or a list of addresses.

- [Sending domains and senders](https://www.cresca.xyz/sending-domains)
- [Send email API: reply\_to](https://www.cresca.xyz/docs/api-reference/send-email)

FAQ

## Reply-to address questions

### What is a reply-to address in email?

It is the address that replies are sent to when it differs from the From address. It is set with the Reply-To header.

### Can the reply-to address be different from the From address?

Yes. That is its purpose. Keeping both on the same domain is safest for deliverability.

### Can an email have more than one reply-to address?

Yes. The Reply-To header can list several addresses, and a reply is then addressed to all of them.

Glossary

## Related email terms

- [Email body](https://www.cresca.xyz/glossary/email-body)
- [Email header](https://www.cresca.xyz/glossary/email-header)
- [Email recipient](https://www.cresca.xyz/glossary/email-recipient)

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