Does using AMPhtml in emails affect how ISPs deliver them to different folders?

Summary

The general consensus across marketers, experts, and technical documentation is that using AMPhtml in emails does not directly impact how ISPs deliver emails to different folders. Deliverability is primarily determined by sender reputation, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), engagement rates, list hygiene, email design, and sending practices. While AMP can indirectly influence deliverability by improving user experience and engagement (potentially leading to better inbox placement), it does not override the fundamental aspects of email deliverability best practices. Additionally, to enable AMP, one must register with receivers and demonstrate a good sender reputation, and adhere to strict security requirements. The perceived lower open rates may be a result of how email clients and proxies handle AMP emails. Ultimately, deliverability hinges on sender practices, not the mere inclusion of AMP.

Key findings

  • AMP Not a Direct Factor: AMP itself doesn't directly affect inbox placement; other factors are more important.
  • Reputation Dominates: Sender reputation is the most critical factor influencing deliverability.
  • Authentication is Key: Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for validating email legitimacy.
  • Engagement Matters: User engagement rates (opens, clicks) play a significant role in deliverability.
  • List Hygiene Counts: Maintaining a clean and engaged email list improves deliverability.
  • Design Impacts: Poorly designed emails can negatively impact deliverability.
  • Volume Affects: Sudden increases in sending volume can trigger spam filters.
  • AMP OR perception: Perception of lower OR for AMP emails may be due to how clients/proxies handle them.
  • AMP Security Mandate: Adherence to specific security measures (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is mandatory for implementing AMP emails.

Key considerations

  • Build Reputation: Prioritize building and maintaining a positive sender reputation.
  • Authenticate Email: Implement and regularly audit SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configurations.
  • Engage Audience: Focus on creating relevant and engaging content to encourage interaction.
  • Clean Lists: Regularly clean and segment your email lists to ensure high engagement.
  • Design Well: Design emails that are visually appealing, technically sound, and avoid spam triggers.
  • Warm Up Sending: Gradually increase sending volume, especially when starting new campaigns.
  • AMP Registration: Complete the registration process with receivers to enable AMP functionality.
  • Monitor Metrics: Continuously monitor deliverability metrics and adjust strategies accordingly.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

The consensus among email marketers and experts is that using AMPhtml in emails does not directly determine inbox placement or deliverability to specific folders. Deliverability is primarily influenced by factors such as sender reputation, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), engagement rates, list hygiene, and content quality. While AMP can enhance user experience and potentially improve engagement, it does not override the importance of these fundamental aspects. Poor email design and sudden spikes in sending volume can negatively impact deliverability regardless of AMP usage. Some report the perception of lower open rates is due to email clients and proxies handling AMP emails in unique ways, leading to differences in how tracking pixels are loaded.

Key opinions

  • AMP Not a Direct Factor: AMP itself doesn't directly impact inbox placement or deliverability.
  • Sender Reputation Key: Sender reputation is a crucial determinant of deliverability.
  • Authentication Required: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential.
  • Engagement Matters: High engagement rates positively influence deliverability.
  • Poor Design Hurts: Poorly designed emails can negatively affect deliverability.
  • AMP and OR: Perception of lower OR may exist due to handling of AMP emails by clients and proxies.

Key considerations

  • Maintain Reputation: Continuously monitor and maintain a good sender reputation.
  • Authenticate Emails: Implement and maintain proper email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Boost Engagement: Focus on creating engaging content to improve engagement rates.
  • Design Carefully: Ensure emails are well-designed and avoid spammy content or broken HTML.
  • Warm Up Volume: Gradually increase sending volume to avoid triggering spam filters.
  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean and engaged email list to minimize bounces and complaints.
  • AMP security: Meet the security requirements for AMP emails including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication
Marketer view

Email marketer from Campaign Monitor shares that high engagement rates (opens, clicks) signal to ISPs that your emails are wanted, positively influencing deliverability. Conversely, low engagement or high complaint rates can lead to emails being directed to the spam folder, irrespective of AMP usage.

January 2025 - Campaign Monitor
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailVendorSelection.com responds that implementing AMP for Email doesn't directly impact deliverability. Deliverability hinges on sender reputation, authentication, and engagement, not the email format. AMP is supported based on subscriber preference and provider capability, not deliverability.

February 2024 - EmailVendorSelection.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot answers that maintaining a clean and engaged email list is crucial for deliverability. Sending emails to outdated, inactive, or purchased lists can result in high bounce rates and spam complaints, negatively affecting sender reputation and deliverability, regardless of whether AMP is used.

February 2023 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity answers that using AMP in emails doesn't automatically bypass spam filters or negatively affect deliverability. Deliverability is based on sender reputation and following best practices. AMP can enhance user experience, indirectly improving engagement metrics that influence deliverability.

January 2024 - Validity
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailgun explains that inbox placement isn't solely determined by the use of AMP; it's influenced by various factors, including sender reputation, email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), engagement rates, and content quality. AMP can indirectly affect placement if it enhances user engagement.

August 2022 - Mailgun
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares that AMP for Email doesn't directly impact inbox placement. Inbox placement is determined by factors like sender reputation and email authentication, not the inclusion of AMP. AMP focuses on interactive content, which indirectly enhances engagement and thus deliverability.

August 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from StackOverflow user explains that AMP by itself doesn't trigger spam filters, but if your email content contains spam-like characteristics (e.g., excessive links, misleading subject lines) or if you have poor sender reputation, the email, including the AMP part, is likely to be filtered.

January 2022 - StackOverflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid shares that poorly designed emails, regardless of whether they use AMP or not, can negatively affect deliverability. Emails with broken HTML, large image sizes, or spammy content are more likely to be flagged by spam filters.

February 2025 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that to enable AMP, registration with receivers is needed, along with demonstrating good sender reputation. Violating this trust leads to spam. Sending AMP mail itself doesn't improve deliverability or folder placement.

June 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from ReturnPath responds that sending volume can influence how ISPs treat your email. Sending large volumes of email suddenly, without a warm-up period, can trigger spam filters and negatively impact deliverability, regardless of whether the emails use AMP or not.

November 2024 - ReturnPath
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that 'open rates' measurement matters as AMP emails operate differently and go through different proxies. Neither of Uldis's theories are happening. People might use different email clients which might or might not fall back on html.

December 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit user shares that the perception of lower OR when sending AMP emails could be due to how AMP emails are handled by different email clients and proxies. Some clients might not support AMP, causing fallbacks, while others may load tracking pixels differently, leading to inaccurate open rate tracking.

January 2022 - Reddit

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Experts emphasize that deliverability to different folders is primarily determined by sender reputation and proper email authentication. A poor sender reputation increases the likelihood of emails landing in spam or junk folders, irrespective of AMP usage. Similarly, lacking proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) makes emails appear suspicious to ISPs, leading to filtering into the junk folder, regardless of whether the email contains AMPhtml.

Key opinions

  • Reputation Matters Most: Sender reputation is a primary determinant of deliverability.
  • Authentication is Critical: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for inbox placement.
  • AMP Irrelevant in Isolation: The presence of AMPhtml does not override the need for good reputation and authentication.

Key considerations

  • Monitor Reputation: Actively monitor and manage sender reputation to ensure it remains positive.
  • Implement Authentication: Implement and regularly review email authentication settings (SPF, DKIM, DMARC).
  • Don't Rely on AMP: Do not assume AMPhtml will improve deliverability without addressing underlying reputation and authentication issues.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical for inbox placement. Without proper authentication, ISPs may view emails as suspicious, leading them to be filtered into the junk folder. The presence of AMP in the email does not override the need for strong authentication.

May 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from SpamResource explains that deliverability to different folders heavily depends on sender reputation. If the IP address or sending domain has a poor reputation, emails are more likely to land in the spam or junk folder, regardless of whether they use AMP or not.

March 2022 - SpamResource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Technical documentation emphasizes that adhering to strict security and authentication requirements is critical for email deliverability, especially when using AMPhtml. Google Developers require SPF, DKIM, and DMARC for AMP emails, and failure to comply can result in emails being flagged as spam. Microsoft highlights that misconfigured S/MIME settings can negatively impact deliverability. IETF, DKIM.org, and DMARC.org emphasize that correctly configured SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are crucial for verifying email authenticity, preventing spoofing and phishing attacks, and improving deliverability.

Key findings

  • AMP Requires Security: Sending AMP emails mandates strict adherence to security requirements like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC.
  • S/MIME Impacts: Improperly configured S/MIME can lead to deliverability issues.
  • SPF is Crucial: Correctly configured SPF records are essential for specifying authorized mail servers.
  • DKIM Verifies Authenticity: DKIM verifies email authenticity, assuring ISPs that emails are not spoofed.
  • DMARC Builds on SPF/DKIM: DMARC builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide a policy framework for email authentication, preventing spoofing and improving deliverability.

Key considerations

  • Implement Authentication: Implement and validate SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your emails.
  • Configure S/MIME: Ensure S/MIME settings are correctly configured to avoid deliverability issues.
  • Adhere to AMP Requirements: Strictly adhere to Google's security requirements when sending AMP emails.
  • Regularly Review: Regularly review and update authentication settings to maintain deliverability.
Technical article

Documentation from IETF outlines that using SPF (Sender Policy Framework) records is crucial for email deliverability. SPF records specify which mail servers are authorized to send emails on behalf of your domain. Incorrectly configured or missing SPF records can lead to emails being rejected or marked as spam.

July 2022 - IETF
Technical article

Documentation from DMARC.org explains that DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) builds upon SPF and DKIM to provide a policy framework for email authentication. Properly configured DMARC policies can prevent email spoofing and phishing attacks, significantly improving deliverability by signaling to ISPs that the sender is legitimate.

July 2022 - DMARC.org
Technical article

Documentation from DKIM.org outlines that DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail) provides a method for verifying the authenticity of email messages. Properly implemented DKIM can significantly improve email deliverability by assuring ISPs that the email is not spoofed and originates from a legitimate source.

September 2023 - DKIM.org
Technical article

Documentation from Google Developers explains that to send AMP emails, you must adhere to strict security requirements, including SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication. Failure to meet these requirements will likely result in emails being flagged as spam or not rendering correctly, impacting deliverability.

June 2024 - Google Developers
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft outlines that using S/MIME for email encryption can affect deliverability if not implemented correctly. Misconfigured S/MIME settings can cause emails to be flagged as suspicious by some ISPs, thus landing in spam or junk folders.

December 2024 - Microsoft