One of the most commonly requested features in FileMaker solutions is the ability to send emails directly from within the app. However, recent updates to Microsoft Outlook and Google’s SMTP services have created reliability issues—emails sometimes fail to send or even crash FileMaker. To address this, we’ve helped many clients transition to SendGrid.
SendGrid is a cloud-based email delivery service that you can control using API calls from FileMaker. It’s reliable, scalable, and straightforward to implement (though there are a few setup nuances). To simplify this even further, we’ve created a Kyologic SendGrid Add-On, which can be easily adapted to support most email-sending use cases, including attachments.
This guide will walk you through:
Creating and authenticating a SendGrid account
Upgrading your plan
Generating an API key
Installing and testing the Kyologic SendGrid Add-On in your FileMaker file
Step 1: Authenticate Your Domain in SendGrid
Visit sendgrid.com and click “Start for Free” to create your account.
Once logged in, go to Settings > Sender Authentication from the sidebar.
Click “Authenticate Your Domain”.
Choose your DNS host provider (e.g., GoDaddy, Cloudflare) and select any tracking link options you prefer. Click Next.
Enter your domain name (e.g., yourcompany.com) and click Next.
SendGrid will generate a list of CNAME and TXT records you need to add to your DNS settings.
Note: Some DNS providers automatically append your domain name to records. For example, if SendGrid gives you em4554.yourcompany.com, and your provider adds yourcompany.com automatically, you should enter just em4554 as the record name.If you manage your domain, log in to your DNS account and add each of the records.
If someone else manages your DNS:Click the “Send to a Coworker” tab in SendGrid.
Enter their contact information so they receive the setup instructions.
Once you’ve added the DNS records, return to SendGrid, check “I’ve added these records”, and click Verify.
✔️ Proceed only after Sender Authentication shows as Verified.
Step 2: Upgrade to a Paid SendGrid Plan
SendGrid’s free plan has very limited functionality. We recommend upgrading to the Essentials Plan.
In SendGrid, go to Settings > Account Details.
Click the “Your Products” tab.
Under Email API, select the Essentials plan (~$20/month for up to 50,000 emails).
✉️ Important: One email = one recipient. An email with 1 TO, 1 CC, and 2 BCCs counts as 4 emails against your monthly quota.Enter your billing details to complete the upgrade.
Step 3: Create and Save Your API Key
An API key allows FileMaker to communicate securely with SendGrid.
Go to Settings > API Keys in the SendGrid sidebar.
Click “Create API Key”.
Enter a name for your key (e.g., FileMaker Email Integration).
Select Restricted Access.
Under Mail Send, toggle on the permission for Mail Send.
Leave all other permissions off.
Click “Create & View”.
Copy the API Key and save it somewhere secure (like a password manager). This is the only time you will be able to see it.
Step 4: Set Up the Kyologic SendGrid Add-On in FileMaker
Download the Kyologic SendGrid Add-On. [Insert download link here]
Unzip the download.
Close FileMaker Pro on your computer.
Move the unzipped add-on files to the following folder on your machine:
[Your User Directory]/Documents/FileMaker/Addons/AddonModules
⚠️ FileMaker Bug Alert: If you have multiple add-ons in the AddonModules folder, FileMaker may import the wrong one. To avoid this, temporarily clear out the folder before installing the add-on.Open FileMaker Pro.
Open your FileMaker solution.
Go to any layout and enter Layout Mode.
In the Add-Ons tab (usually on the left), click the + button at the bottom.
Select the SendGrid Add-On from the list.
This will add a new layout to your file called SendGrid_SampleData. Navigate to that layout.
Enter the API Key you created earlier into the appropriate field.
Step 5: Test the Integration
In the SendGrid_SampleData layout, fill in the following fields with valid values:
From Email
To Email
Subject
Email Body
Click Send.
Confirm the email is delivered successfully.
You’re All Set
You’ve now authenticated your domain, created a secure API key, installed the Kyologic SendGrid Add-On, and successfully sent an email through FileMaker via the SendGrid API.
If you’d like help customizing this integration or building more advanced workflows (like scheduled sends, logging, or error handling), feel free to reach out to our team.