How relevant is SpamAssassin scoring for modern email deliverability?
Summary
What email marketers say11Marketer opinions
Email marketer from HubSpot.com shares that focusing on email authentication, list segmentation, and personalization efforts will have a greater impact on deliverability than just optimizing for SpamAssassin scores.
Email marketer from Email Geeks acknowledges that SpamAssassin itself does not mean everything, but is still used by personal servers or small in-house built company mail servers. It can point out obvious issues on the email structure. However, it's only an indicator and part of a global analysis.
Email marketer from Litmus.com shares that while SpamAssassin can catch some issues, focusing on email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene, and engagement metrics will have a greater impact on deliverability.
Email marketer from Reddit shares that SpamAssassin's importance has diminished due to the rise of sophisticated spam filters. Now, focus on sender reputation, engagement metrics, and proper email authentication is more important.
Email marketer from Mailjet.com shares that while SpamAssassin is a factor, modern deliverability depends on sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), engagement, and list hygiene. SpamAssassin is just one filter among many.
Email marketer from EmailOctopus.com shares that SpamAssassin checks are a good starting point for assessing email content, but other factors like sender reputation and engagement greatly outweigh its significance in modern deliverability.
Email marketer from GMass.co responds that while SpamAssassin flags can provide helpful hints, real-world deliverability is heavily influenced by Google's and other ISPs' algorithms, which prioritize sender reputation and recipient interaction.
Email marketer from SendGrid.com responds that SpamAssassin is an older tool. Modern filters incorporate machine learning and user behavior, making SpamAssassin less determinative on its own. Strong sender reputation and authentication are more critical.
Email marketer from emailmarketingforum.com comments that SpamAssassin can be useful as an initial check but shouldn't be considered the ultimate authority on email deliverability. Modern email providers use more complex systems.
Email marketer from MailerCheck.com shares that achieving a low SpamAssassin score is essential, but it's only one piece of the deliverability puzzle. Building a good sender reputation and keeping your lists clean are also extremely important.
Email marketer from GlockApps.com responds that SpamAssassin is a general, open-source filter, while modern spam filters used by Gmail, Yahoo, etc., are far more sophisticated and personalized. Passing SpamAssassin is a minimum requirement, not a guarantee of inbox placement.
What the experts say4Expert opinions
Expert from Word to the Wise responds that SpamAssassin should be seen as one part of the puzzle. Good content, sender reputation, and authentication are essential for modern deliverability. Don't rely on just one thing.
Expert from Email Geeks states that the number of recipients on domains using SpamAssassin is less than 5% of a standard mailing list, making it relatively meaningless for deliverability.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that while SpamAssassin was important years ago and is still used in some places, its influence has been decreasing. Factors like sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and engagement are now more critical.
Expert from Email Geeks suggests specifying the SpamAssassin version being used, as the version number matters for scoring. She's interested in seeing results across multiple versions to demonstrate score variations. She notes that the number of recipients on domains using SpamAssassin is small and that you don’t know what version any particular recipient group is running and the scores can vary wildly from version to version
What the documentation says3Technical articles
Documentation from cPanel.net describes SpamAssassin as a useful tool for identifying spam, but highlights the need for supplementary filtering techniques to address evolving spam tactics. It's one piece of the puzzle.
Documentation from MDaemon.com explains how to configure SpamAssassin, it acknowledges its value as part of a layered defense. However, also notes that relying solely on SpamAssassin is insufficient for modern threats. It should be used in conjunction with other security measures.
Documentation from Apache.org explains that SpamAssassin is an email spam filter based on content matching, DNS-based and collaborative filtering databases, and other advanced techniques. It aims to identify spam based on message content and headers.