Summary
KBXSCORE is a free, quick assessment tool for email deliverability, helpful for pre-send checks, new domain setup, and routine monitoring. It verifies authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), identifies blocklisting, and tests email content for spam triggers. Experts and marketers emphasize its value for early issue detection. However, being in beta, it may have bugs and some components like OpenDMARC or SpamAssassin scoring can be unreliable. It is therefore recommended as a preliminary check before more comprehensive testing and users should be cautious in interpreting specific results.
Key findings
- Quick Assessment: KBXSCORE offers a fast snapshot of email deliverability factors.
- Authentication Checks: Verifies proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration.
- Blocklist Detection: Identifies if your IP or domain is on any blocklists.
- Content Analysis: Tests email content for spam triggers like spammy words and poor HTML.
- Early Issue Detection: Helps proactively identify and resolve issues before campaigns are sent.
Key considerations
- Beta Status: KBXSCORE is in beta and may contain bugs; exercise caution.
- Preliminary Tool: Use as a first-line check before conducting more in-depth deliverability tests.
- Component Reliability: Be aware that components like OpenDMARC and SpamAssassin scoring may have limitations or provide confusing results.
- Routine Monitoring: Incorporate KBXSCORE into your routine monitoring, especially after infrastructure changes.
What email marketers say
6 marketer opinions
KBXSCORE is a valuable tool for quickly assessing email deliverability. It's particularly useful for pre-send checks, setting up new domains, and routine monitoring. Users can confirm proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), check for blocklisting, and test email content for spam triggers to proactively address potential deliverability issues.
Key opinions
- Authentication: KBXSCORE helps confirm that SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records are correctly set up.
- Blocklist Monitoring: The tool identifies if your sending IP or domain is on any blocklists.
- Content Testing: KBXSCORE can assess email content for spam triggers like excessive spammy words or poor HTML.
- Routine Checks: Useful for ongoing deliverability monitoring and after infrastructure changes.
Key considerations
- Proactive Use: Utilize KBXSCORE before sending campaigns or setting up new domains to avoid deliverability problems from the outset.
- Infrastructure Changes: Run KBXSCORE after making changes to email infrastructure or sending practices to catch unintended consequences.
- Initial Assessment: View KBXSCORE as an initial assessment tool, potentially followed by more in-depth deliverability testing.
Marketer view
Email marketer from G2 shares that KBXSCORE helps quickly check for common deliverability issues, such as SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration, as well as identifying if the sending IP or domain is on any blocklists. It's useful for pre-send checks.
15 Mar 2023 - G2
Marketer view
Email marketer from Mailjet advises using KBXSCORE for routine deliverability checks, especially after making changes to your email infrastructure or sending practices. This helps catch any unintended consequences that could negatively impact inbox placement.
16 Nov 2023 - Mailjet
What the experts say
7 expert opinions
Experts highlight KBXSCORE's utility as a quick, early assessment tool for email deliverability. It helps verify authentication, check for blocklisting, and identify potential issues before launch. While useful, it's in beta, may have bugs, and some of its components (like SpamAssassin scoring and OpenDMARC integration) can be confusing or inaccurate. Therefore, it's best used as a preliminary check before more comprehensive testing.
Key opinions
- Early Assessment: KBXSCORE offers a quick, preliminary check of email deliverability.
- Authentication Verification: It verifies proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC configuration.
- Blocklist Detection: The tool checks for listing on major blocklists.
- Potential Inaccuracies: Components like OpenDMARC and SpamAssassin scoring may be confusing or report inaccuracies.
Key considerations
- Beta Status: Be aware that KBXSCORE is in beta and may have bugs.
- Preliminary Tool: Use KBXSCORE as an initial assessment tool, followed by more comprehensive testing if needed.
- Individual Components: Be cautious about interpreting results from potentially inaccurate components like OpenDMARC or SpamAssassin.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks admits that SpamAssassin scoring can be confusing, and they are debating whether to reverse the values or leave them as is to reflect what SpamAssassin actually provides.
9 Oct 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Word to the Wise responds that KBXSCORE is valuable as a quick-check tool to verify that basic email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is properly configured and that your sending domain/IP is not listed on any major blocklists. It is recommended for use prior to more comprehensive testing.
6 Nov 2022 - Word to the Wise
What the documentation says
3 technical articles
KBXSCORE is a free tool providing a quick overview of email deliverability, covering aspects like authentication, spam filters, and blocklist status. The tool enables users to identify and address potential issues by providing detailed reports that pinpoint problems such as incorrect SPF records or email content, which can be used to improve overall deliverability. KBXSCORE can function as a substitute to dedicated testing environment by ensuring emails are properly authenticated and free of common errors before going live.
Key findings
- Quick Snapshot: KBXSCORE provides a fast overview of email deliverability.
- Comprehensive Reports: Offers detailed reports including authentication, spam filter tests, and blocklist checks.
- Issue Identification: Helps identify and pinpoint specific deliverability problems.
- Testing Alternative: Can be used as an alternative to a dedicated email testing environment.
Key considerations
- Pre-Send Check: Use KBXSCORE before sending campaigns to avoid deliverability issues.
- Authentication Focus: Ensure proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to improve deliverability.
- Remediation Steps: Use the reports to pinpoint issues and take corrective actions.
Technical article
Documentation from EmailToolTester explains that KBXSCORE provides detailed reports on various aspects of email deliverability, including authentication, spam filter tests, and blocklist checks. It suggests using these results to pinpoint and fix issues, such as correcting SPF records or improving email content.
7 Aug 2023 - EmailToolTester
Technical article
Documentation from Mailtrap indicates KBXSCORE can be used in place of a dedicated email testing environment in some cases. You can use it to ensure your emails have proper authentication and are free of common mistakes, improving your deliverability when going live.
5 May 2025 - Mailtrap
How accurate are seedlists in deliverability platforms like Everest and Glockapps?
Are inbox placement platforms a good strategy for email deliverability?
How can I accurately test and measure email deliverability and sender reputation?
How accurate are email spam testing tools and what are the alternatives?
How accurate are seed lists for email deliverability testing?
