Is it better to use a shared pool of dedicated IPs or separate IPs for multiple newsletters with different subdomains?

Summary

The decision of whether to use a shared pool of dedicated IPs or separate IPs with subdomains for multiple newsletters hinges on control, volume, and risk tolerance. Sharing a dedicated IP pool internally, with all senders adhering to best practices and sending legitimate opt-in mail, can be viable and efficient. However, this approach requires careful management and can be risky if sending practices vary. Using separate IPs and subdomains isolates reputation issues, ensuring that problems with one newsletter don't affect others. High-volume senders generally benefit from dedicated IPs, which offer greater control over sender reputation. Regardless of the IP strategy, proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and consistent sending patterns with good engagement are essential for maintaining deliverability. Also, IP warmup is important when using dedicated IPs.

Key findings

  • Shared Pool Viability: Shared IP pools can be effective when senders adhere to best practices, send legitimate opt-in mail, and maintain consistent sending volumes.
  • Risk in Mixed Environments: Shared IP pools are riskier in mixed environments with varying sending practices; lack of control over other senders can negatively impact reputation.
  • Isolation with Separate IPs/Subdomains: Using separate IPs and subdomains isolates reputation issues, preventing deliverability problems with one newsletter from affecting others.
  • High Volume and Dedicated IPs: Dedicated IPs offer greater control over sender reputation and are generally recommended for high-volume senders.
  • Authentication is Crucial: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for verifying sender identity and improving deliverability, regardless of the IP strategy.
  • IP Warmup Importance: Warming up new IPs gradually is crucial for establishing a positive reputation with ISPs when using dedicated IPs.
  • Domain Choice Matters: The choice of domain strategy (separate vs. consolidated domains) impacts the segmentation of sending reputation.

Key considerations

  • Control Over Sending Practices: Assess the level of control you have over the sending practices of all senders sharing an IP pool.
  • Sending Volume and Consistency: Consider your sending volume and consistency when choosing between shared and dedicated IPs.
  • Importance of Reputation Isolation: Evaluate the importance of isolating reputation issues across different newsletters.
  • Authentication Implementation: Ensure proper implementation of SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your emails.
  • Sender Reputation Monitoring: Monitor sender reputation metrics (e.g., spam complaints, engagement) to identify and address any deliverability issues.
  • Best Practices Adherence: Adhere to email deliverability best practices to maintain a positive sender reputation.
  • IP Warmup Strategy: Implement a proper IP warmup strategy when transitioning to dedicated IPs.

What email marketers say
9Marketer opinions

The question of whether to use a shared pool of dedicated IPs or separate IPs for multiple newsletters with different subdomains elicits varied recommendations, largely dependent on volume, control, and risk tolerance. Shared IP pools can be advantageous if you control all sending practices and volumes are consistent, allowing for efficient resource utilization. However, they pose a risk if sending practices are inconsistent or if you lack control over the other senders sharing the pool, as their actions can negatively impact your sender reputation. Separate IPs and subdomains offer better isolation of reputation issues; if one newsletter encounters deliverability problems, it won't necessarily affect the others. Regardless of the IP strategy, proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and a consistent sending pattern with good engagement are crucial for maintaining a positive sender reputation and achieving optimal deliverability.

Key opinions

  • Shared Pools (Controlled): Shared IP pools can be effective if you control all sending practices, volumes are consistent, and all mail is opt-in. This helps smooth volume across IPs.
  • Shared Pools (Uncontrolled): Shared IPs pose a risk if you don't control the sending practices of all entities sharing the IP, potentially harming your sender reputation.
  • Separate IPs/Subdomains: Separate IPs and subdomains isolate reputation issues, preventing problems with one newsletter from affecting others.
  • Volume Threshold: Dedicated IPs are generally recommended for high-volume senders (e.g., >50,000 emails/month), while shared IPs may be suitable for lower volumes.
  • Authentication: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for verifying the sender's identity and improving deliverability, regardless of the IP strategy.
  • Subdomains: The subdomain and domain reputations are the most important factor for ensuring deliverability. Use them to isolate brands.

Key considerations

  • Control: Assess the level of control you have over sending practices. If you control all aspects of sending, a shared pool might be feasible.
  • Volume: Consider the volume of emails you send. High-volume senders generally benefit more from dedicated IPs.
  • Isolation: Determine the importance of isolating reputation issues. If isolation is critical, separate IPs and subdomains are preferable.
  • Authentication: Ensure proper email authentication is in place to verify the sender's identity and improve deliverability.
  • Sender Reputation: Monitor sender reputation metrics (spam complaints, engagement) and maintain consistent sending patterns to improve deliverability.
  • Segmentation: Consider segmenting email traffic by type or brand to maintain better control over deliverability.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet shares that dedicated IP pools give you control over your sender reputation, which is crucial for maintaining high deliverability. This means that your sending reputation isn’t affected by the activities of other senders who are sharing an IP address.

September 2023 - Mailjet
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus shares that sender reputation is influenced by factors like email volume, spam complaints, and engagement rates. A consistent sending pattern and high engagement can improve your sender reputation, regardless of whether you use shared or dedicated IPs. They did not answer shared pool directly but gave key information about IP reputation.

April 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from SendGrid recommends dedicated IPs if you send a high volume of email (more than 50,000 emails per month). They state it gives you more control over your sender reputation, and that shared IPs are suitable for lower volumes but come with risks associated with other senders' behavior.

April 2022 - SendGrid
Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps notes that shared IPs can be a cost-effective option for low-volume senders, but they come with risks. Your sender reputation can be affected by the actions of other senders sharing the same IP address, which can impact deliverability. If the newsletters aren't yours or you don't control the practices you don't know what damage is being done!

September 2021 - GlockApps
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for improving email deliverability. Implementing these protocols helps verify the sender's identity and reduces the chances of emails being marked as spam. This is important for shared or dedicated IPs.

March 2025 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Customer.io recommends using a combination of dedicated IPs and subdomains to manage sender reputation for multiple newsletters. They suggest segmenting email traffic by type or brand to maintain better control over deliverability. They do not explain shared IP pools but they do explain the need to segment email traffic.

December 2023 - Customer.io
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that using separate IPs and subdomains for different newsletters can help isolate reputation issues. If one newsletter has deliverability problems, it won't affect the others. They didn't directly answer shared IP pools but focused on why the subdomain is the most important factor to ensure deliverability.

June 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketers from the Email Marketing Tips Forum discuss the benefits of using subdomains for different newsletters to isolate reputation issues. They mention that if one subdomain gets a poor reputation, it won't necessarily affect the deliverability of other subdomains. They didn't directly answer the IP shared pool questions but suggest you do not have to worry about this so much.

April 2024 - Email Marketing Tips Forum
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks agrees that shared pools are more of a risk in a mixed environment. When you are the only one in the pool, use them together as this can really help with consistent sending volumes when not every newsletter sends every day.

July 2021 - Email Geeks

What the experts say
5Expert opinions

The experts offer a nuanced view on using shared pools of dedicated IPs versus separate IPs for multiple newsletters. If all data is legitimate opt-in and the sending volume is consistent, a shared pool managed internally can be viable. The number of IPs needed depends on volume, and platform recommendations should be considered. Maintaining distinct domains for each newsletter is recommended for isolating deliverability problems and preserving domain reputation. Dedicated IPs offer the best control over sender reputation, but require adherence to best practices and consistent sending. Warming up new IPs is crucial for establishing a positive reputation with ISPs.

Key opinions

  • Shared Pool Viability: Shared IP pools can be viable if the data is legit opt-in and the sending volume is consistent across all newsletters, but only if all mail streams are controlled.
  • IP Quantity: The required number of IPs depends on sending volume and platform recommendations. A starting point of 5-7 IPs may be suitable for a substantial volume, but always check vendor recommendations.
  • Domain Isolation: Maintaining distinct domains for each newsletter is recommended to isolate deliverability problems and protect domain reputation.
  • Dedicated IP Control: Dedicated IPs offer the greatest control over sender reputation, but they require adherence to best practices and consistent sending volumes.
  • IP Warmup: Gradual IP warmup is essential for establishing a positive reputation with ISPs when transitioning to a dedicated IP.

Key considerations

  • Data Quality: Ensure all data used for newsletters is legitimate opt-in to maintain a positive sender reputation.
  • Volume Consistency: Assess whether sending volumes are consistent across all newsletters. Inconsistent volumes may make a shared pool less suitable.
  • Platform Recommendations: Consult the recommendations of your email sending platform (e.g., Sendgrid) regarding the appropriate number of IPs for your sending volume.
  • Best Practices: Adhere to email deliverability best practices, such as proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) and avoiding spam triggers.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Monitor sender reputation metrics to identify and address any deliverability problems promptly.
  • Domain Choice: Carefully consider the impact of consolidating versus separating email domains per newsletter.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests keeping different domains for each newsletter, since domain reputation is well handled by Gmail, and this will help you isolate Gmail problems that may come up in the future. The admin work to switch it all over + that would mean a bit of a reset of domain reputation for some of them, makes me think it wouldn't be worth it.

March 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise Laura Atkins explains the importance of IP warmup, particularly when transitioning to a dedicated IP. She emphasizes the need to gradually increase sending volume to establish a positive reputation with ISPs. She does not directly discuss shared pools vs separate IPs but explains the need to maintain IP reputation which is key for email deliverability.

August 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that if it's all legit opt-in data, it's not a bad idea to consider a shared pool just for yourself and spread the volume around. They have helped various brands implement a configuration like this in the past.

June 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that dedicated IP addresses offer the best control over sender reputation, which is essential for maintaining consistent deliverability. They emphasize that dedicated IPs are suitable for senders who adhere to best practices and have consistent sending volumes. They do not answer the shared pool question directly but they do make it clear that it is all about best practice, and that you are responsible for your IP reputation.

March 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests that if the volume was totally even, maybe 5-6 IPs would be a starting point, but assuming they're not, 7 IPs sounds right. They suggest checking what the platform (Sendgrid) recommends, too.

March 2024 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

The documentation emphasizes several key aspects of email deliverability related to IP addresses and sender reputation. Dedicated IP addresses offer control over sender reputation, particularly beneficial for high-volume senders with consistent sending practices. IP pools enable segmentation of mail streams, allowing for isolation of reputation issues across different types of emails or brands, whether implemented through separate IPs or subdomains. Maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial, and authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for verifying sender identity and preventing spam.

Key findings

  • Dedicated IP Control: Dedicated IP addresses offer complete control over sender reputation.
  • IP Pool Segmentation: IP pools allow segmentation of mail streams by type or brand to isolate reputation issues.
  • Sender Reputation: Maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial for email deliverability.
  • Authentication: Authentication methods like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are essential for verifying sender identity and preventing spam.

Key considerations

  • Sending Volume: Consider your sending volume and consistency when choosing between dedicated and shared IPs.
  • Reputation Management: Evaluate the level of control you want over your sender reputation.
  • Segmentation Needs: Determine if you need to segment your email traffic by type or brand for reputation isolation.
  • Authentication Setup: Implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to authenticate your emails and improve deliverability.
Technical article

Documentation from Amazon Web Services explains that dedicated IP addresses are suitable for senders who want to manage their own reputation. They provide complete control over the sending reputation, which is crucial for high-volume senders who can maintain consistent sending practices. They don't directly address shared pools vs. separate IPs for multiple newsletters but provides core information to help come to a conclusion.

November 2024 - Amazon Web Services
Technical article

Documentation from RFC explains that SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication method designed to prevent spammers from sending messages on behalf of your domain. It specifies which mail servers are authorized to send email from your domain, improving deliverability.

June 2023 - RFC
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost states that using IP pools allows you to segment your mail streams. You can use different pools for different types of mail (transactional vs. marketing) or for different brands. This approach lets you isolate reputation issues. While not directly answering shared vs. separate, it infers benefits to different pools, but this could be done in different subdomains too.

September 2023 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains that maintaining a good sender reputation is crucial for email deliverability. They emphasize the importance of using authentication methods (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to verify the sender's identity. This can be applied for both dedicated and shared IP addresses.

September 2023 - Microsoft