Freshworks (specifically Freshmarketer) is the email marketing and marketing automation product in the Freshworks CRM suite, integrated with Freshsales, Freshdesk, and Freshchat for unified customer data. The unsubscribe mechanism uses the {{unsubscribe_link}} Liquid merge tag in email templates, and Freshworks emits RFC 8058 headers automatically for authenticated domains. Contact consent is tracked as a marketing-optin flag at the CRM contact level, shared across Freshsales and Freshmarketer. This guide covers the tag, the unified consent model, and how to verify the setup end to end.
Freshworks unsubscribe link
| Tag syntax | {{unsubscribe_link}} |
| Placement | Auto-embedded in every campaign footer |
| Scope | Contact-level opt-out shared across Freshworks Suite |
| Config path | Admin > Email > Sender authentication |
| RFC 8058 one-click | Yes, automatic for authenticated sending domains |
How to add the unsubscribe tag in Freshworks
Place the merge tag exactly as shown below in the email template. Freshworks replaces it at send time with a signed URL scoped to the recipient and campaign.
{{unsubscribe_link}}For custom HTML templates, wrap the tag in an anchor to render a proper hyperlink in the delivered email:
<a href="{{unsubscribe_link}}">Unsubscribe from this list</a>Auto-embedded in every campaign footer
Yes, automatic for authenticated sending domains The recipient's mailbox provider (Gmail, Yahoo) uses the List-Unsubscribe-Post header to expose the native one-click button on the message. Requires domain authentication with DKIM and DMARC.
Freshworks marketing-optin flag is shared across Freshsales (CRM), Freshmarketer (email), and Freshdesk (support). A contact who unsubscribes via Freshmarketer email is flagged in Freshsales as well, potentially blocking follow-up sequences by sales reps. This is intentional for compliance but surprises revenue teams unfamiliar with the unified consent model.
Testing your Freshworks unsubscribe link
- Send a test message to a controlled Gmail address you own via the Freshworks campaign preview action
- Click the footer unsubscribe link and confirm the opt-out on the landing page
- Check the subscriber or contact record: the status should be Unsubscribed within seconds
- Verify the RFC 8058 headers in Gmail: open the message, click three dots, then Show original. Look for
List-UnsubscribeandList-Unsubscribe-Post: List-Unsubscribe=One-Click
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How to add the Freshworks unsubscribe link (step by step)
Freshmarketer campaign templates include the unsubscribe link in the default footer, but custom HTML templates and automation journey emails require the tag inserted manually.
- Open your Freshmarketer campaign or journey email template.
- Add or edit a text block in the footer where the unsubscribe link should appear.
- Insert the Liquid tag
{{unsubscribe_link}}. Freshworks replaces it at send time with a signed URL unique per CRM contact. - Wrap in an anchor with your preferred label:
<a href="{{unsubscribe_link}}">Unsubscribe</a>. - Add the physical postal address. Freshworks reads it from Admin > Email > Sender authentication settings.
- Send a test to a seed address and verify the rendered link routes to the Freshworks-hosted preference page.
Unified consent across the Freshworks Suite
Freshworks marketing-optin flag is shared across Freshsales (CRM), Freshmarketer (email), and Freshdesk (support). A contact who unsubscribes via Freshmarketer email is flagged in Freshsales as well, potentially blocking follow-up sequences by sales reps. This is intentional for GDPR and CAN-SPAM compliance but surprises revenue teams unfamiliar with the unified consent model. Transactional emails (order confirmations, password resets, support ticket updates) bypass the marketing-optin check and continue to reach unsubscribed contacts as expected.
RFC 8058 one-click headers
Freshworks added RFC 8058 one-click unsubscribe automatically ahead of the Google and Yahoo February 2024 requirements. The List-Unsubscribe and List-Unsubscribe-Post headers inject on every marketing send from domains authenticated under Admin > Email > Sender authentication. SPF and DKIM records must be verified. Freshdesk transactional emails do not carry these headers by default since transactional sends are exempt from the bulk-sender requirements.
Journey Builder and unsubscribed contacts
Freshmarketer Journey Builder respects the marketing-optin flag at the journey step level: a contact who unsubscribes mid-journey is exited from all active journey enrollments and prevented from re-entering marketing sequences. Re-entry requires the contact to re-opt in through a signup form or explicit consent capture, which resets the marketing-optin flag. This design prevents the common failure mode where journeys continue on cached data after an opt-out.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Freshworks unsubscribe tag?
The tag is {{unsubscribe_link}}. Freshworks replaces it at send time with a signed URL unique per CRM contact. Use it inside an anchor: <a href="{{unsubscribe_link}}">Unsubscribe</a>.
Does a Freshmarketer unsubscribe also block Freshsales outreach?
Yes, when the outreach is a marketing sequence. The marketing-optin flag is shared across Freshsales and Freshmarketer. Sales reps sending 1-to-1 outreach through Freshsales can override with explicit business necessity documentation, but bulk sequences respect the flag.
Does Freshworks support one-click unsubscribe for Gmail and Yahoo?
Yes, automatically for authenticated domains. Freshworks injects List-Unsubscribe and List-Unsubscribe-Post headers on every marketing send from domains verified under Admin > Email > Sender authentication, satisfying the Google and Yahoo bulk-sender requirements.
Do Freshdesk transactional emails need the unsubscribe tag?
No. Freshdesk transactional emails (support ticket updates, password resets) are exempt from CAN-SPAM unsubscribe requirements. Adding the tag is optional but recommended for consistency across the Freshworks Suite.
Can I resubscribe a contact who unsubscribed from Freshworks?
Not through the API without explicit consent capture. The contact must re-opt in through a signup form, marketing landing page, or explicit consent captured in Freshsales, which resets the marketing-optin flag across the whole Freshworks Suite.
About the Author
Alaa · LinkedIn
Email infrastructure specialist with 8+ years of hands-on experience in SMTP, deliverability, and email verification. I’ve configured and troubleshot mail systems across Postfix, Exchange, and cloud relays, managed IP reputation and warmup campaigns, and built verification pipelines processing millions of addresses. My work spans DNS authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC, BIMI), bounce handling, blocklist monitoring, and compliance frameworks including CAN-SPAM and GDPR. I write every article on SMTPedia to give email professionals, developers, and marketers the accurate, RFC-grounded reference they need.
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