What are the best inbox monitoring tools for Sparkpost and Amazon SES?

12 Marketer opinions 3 Expert opinions 5 Technical articles 3 Resources

Summary

The best inbox monitoring tools for Sparkpost and Amazon SES encompass a variety of options, ranging from dedicated third-party platforms like GlockApps, Litmus, Validity Everest, MailMonitor, and InboxMonster, to built-in features offered by Sparkpost and Amazon SES themselves. Key strategies involve utilizing inbox placement testing through seed accounts, monitoring critical email metrics (bounce rates, open rates, click-through rates), setting up bounce/complaint notifications via Amazon SNS, and tracking reputation data using feedback loops and blocklist monitoring services. eDataSource provides enhanced integration for Sparkpost users. A holistic approach, combining platform-specific tools with broader reputation monitoring services, is recommended for comprehensive deliverability management.

Key findings

Diverse Toolset: A wide array of inbox monitoring solutions exist, each with unique features to track and enhance email deliverability.
Metric Importance: Monitoring key email metrics such as bounce rates, open rates, and click-through rates is essential for campaign performance assessment.
Inbox Placement Testing: Tools such as GlockApps and Litmus simulate sending to seed accounts, providing insights into inbox placement across diverse ISPs.
Platform-Specific Tools: Both Sparkpost and Amazon SES offer native tools and features for monitoring sending activity and deliverability.
Reputation Management: Leveraging feedback loops, monitoring blocklists, and tracking reputation data are crucial for maintaining sender reputation.
Integration Benefits: eDataSource offers tighter integration with Sparkpost and AWS, streamlining reporting for joint users.

Key considerations

Budget: Tools range in price; consider your budget when selecting a solution.
Integration Needs: Choose tools that integrate seamlessly with your existing email infrastructure (Sparkpost, Amazon SES).
Feature Requirements: Evaluate features such as inbox placement testing, reporting, and reputation monitoring to find the best fit.
Technical Expertise: Some solutions require technical expertise for setup and data interpretation.
Data Analysis Capacity: Assess your ability to analyze and act on the data provided by these tools.
Proactive vs. Reactive: Decide whether you need proactive monitoring or a reactive approach to troubleshoot issues.
Actionable Insights: The primary goal is to leverage insights to improve email deliverability and sender reputation.

What email marketers say
12Marketer opinions

Several tools and methods are available for inbox monitoring with Sparkpost and Amazon SES. These include dedicated platforms like GlockApps, Litmus, Validity Everest, MailMonitor, and InboxMonster, which offer features such as inbox placement testing via seed accounts and comprehensive deliverability analytics. Additionally, monitoring key email metrics like bounce rates and click-through rates, along with utilizing Amazon CloudWatch and setting up bounce/complaint notifications through Amazon SNS, are essential for maintaining deliverability. Feedback loops and blocklist monitoring also provide insights into sender reputation and potential deliverability issues.

Key opinions

Tool Variety: A wide range of inbox monitoring tools are available, each offering unique features and benefits for tracking and improving email deliverability.
Key Metrics: Monitoring metrics like bounce rates, open rates, and click-through rates is crucial for assessing email campaign performance.
Inbox Placement Testing: Tools like GlockApps and Litmus simulate real-world sending to determine inbox placement across various ISPs.
Integration: Some tools, like InboxMonster, offer specific integrations with platforms like Amazon SES.
Reputation Monitoring: Using feedback loops and monitoring blocklists can provide insights into sender reputation and potential deliverability problems.

Key considerations

Budget: Different tools have varying pricing structures; consider your budget when selecting an appropriate inbox monitoring solution.
Integration Needs: Choose tools that integrate well with your existing email infrastructure, like Sparkpost or Amazon SES.
Feature Set: Evaluate the features offered by each tool, such as inbox placement testing, reporting, and reputation monitoring, to determine the best fit for your needs.
Data Analysis: Consider your ability to interpret and act upon the data provided by these tools.
Proactive vs. Reactive: Determine whether you need proactive monitoring with alerts or a reactive approach to troubleshoot deliverability issues.

Marketer view

Email marketer from Mailjet highlights the importance of monitoring key metrics like bounce rate, open rate, and click-through rate to ensure optimal email deliverability when using tools like Sparkpost or Amazon SES.

February 2024 - Mailjet

Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit shares that tools like GlockApps or Litmus can provide insights into inbox placement for emails sent through platforms like Amazon SES, helping to identify potential deliverability issues.

September 2024 - Reddit

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks recommends Kickbox, Validity, or GlockApps for inbox monitoring.

April 2022 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from G-Lock Software Blog explains that inbox placement tools help track email deliverability across different ISPs by sending test emails to seed addresses and analyzing where they land (inbox, spam, or missing).

August 2021 - G-Lock Software Blog

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks recommends InboxMonster for inbox monitoring.

January 2022 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that Litmus offers email testing and deliverability tools, including inbox placement testing, to help ensure emails reach the inbox when sent from platforms like Sparkpost and Amazon SES.

February 2023 - Litmus

Marketer view

Email marketer from MailMonitor shares that MailMonitor provides insights into deliverability by creating real email accounts, simulating an end user to see how your email campaigns are seen.

March 2025 - MailMonitor

Marketer view

Email marketer from Validity shares that Validity Everest offers comprehensive inbox monitoring and placement data, competitive intelligence, and reputation management, helping you optimize deliverability with Sparkpost and Amazon SES.

September 2024 - Validity

Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow suggests using Amazon CloudWatch, along with custom tracking via pixel tracking or link decoration, to monitor email opens and clicks for emails sent via Amazon SES.

November 2021 - Stack Overflow

Marketer view

Email marketer from GlockApps explains that GlockApps simulates real-world sending by sending emails to seed accounts across various ISPs and provides reports showing where the emails land (inbox, spam, or missing).

February 2023 - GlockApps

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks offers a demo of Inbox Monster, highlighting its integration with Amazon SES.

January 2022 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester shares a list of email testing tools including Mailtrap, Send Check It, GlockApps, MailMonitor, Litmus, Email on Acid. They detail the features and benefits of each tool, and provide a scoring of which is the best.

April 2023 - EmailToolTester

What the experts say
3Expert opinions

Expert advice highlights the importance of using a multi-faceted approach to inbox monitoring for Sparkpost and Amazon SES. This includes leveraging platform-specific tools like eDataSource (a Sparkpost product) for integrated reporting. Monitoring feedback loops (FBLs) and reputation data from services like Microsoft SNDS and Google Postmaster Tools are crucial for understanding and addressing deliverability problems. Additionally, it's essential to monitor blocklists and track IP/domain reputation to maintain overall deliverability.

Key opinions

Platform Integration: eDataSource offers enhanced integration with Sparkpost and AWS, potentially simplifying reporting for users of both platforms.
Feedback Loop Importance: Feedback loops (FBLs) from ISPs provide direct insights into deliverability issues and should not be ignored.
Reputation Monitoring: Monitoring IP and domain reputation through services like Microsoft SNDS and Google Postmaster Tools is vital for maintaining deliverability.
Blocklist Monitoring: Regularly checking blocklists helps identify and address potential deliverability problems caused by listing on these lists.

Key considerations

Data Interpretation: Effectively interpreting data from FBLs, SNDS, Postmaster Tools, and blocklists requires expertise and a deep understanding of email deliverability principles.
Proactive Measures: Monitoring should be a proactive, ongoing effort, rather than a reactive measure taken only when deliverability issues arise.
Holistic Approach: A comprehensive inbox monitoring strategy incorporates both platform-specific tools and broader reputation monitoring services for a complete view of deliverability.
Actionable Insights: The goal of monitoring is not just to collect data, but to use the insights gained to improve email deliverability and sender reputation.

Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that monitoring blocklists is crucial for maintaining deliverability and recommends using tools to track your IP and domain reputation, especially when using services like Sparkpost and Amazon SES.

January 2022 - Word to the Wise

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks suggests eDataSource, a Sparkpost product, for better integration with current reporting, especially for users with both Sparkpost and AWS.

July 2022 - Email Geeks

Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource emphasizes the importance of using feedback loops (FBLs) and monitoring reputation data from services like Microsoft SNDS and Google Postmaster Tools to understand and address deliverability issues with services such as Sparkpost and Amazon SES. Ignoring the data is ignoring a warning sign from the ISPs.

March 2023 - Spam Resource

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Both Amazon SES and Sparkpost offer built-in monitoring tools and features to track email deliverability. Amazon SES provides options like the SES console, Amazon CloudWatch, and the SES API for monitoring sending activity, bounces, complaints, and deliveries. It also supports setting up bounce and complaint notifications via Amazon SNS. Sparkpost features real-time data, automated analysis, and webhooks for receiving event data like bounces, deliveries, and opens. Amazon SES also offers an optional Virtual Deliverability Manager for proactive monitoring.

Key findings

Built-in Tools: Amazon SES and Sparkpost provide native tools for monitoring sending activity and key email metrics.
Data Access: Amazon SES offers multiple access points for data (console, CloudWatch, API), allowing flexibility in how you monitor your sending.
Real-time Data: Sparkpost provides real-time data and automated analysis for staying on top of critical email metrics.
Event-Driven Monitoring: Sparkpost's webhooks enable event-driven monitoring, allowing for immediate responses to bounces, deliveries, and opens.
Proactive Monitoring (SES): Amazon SES offers a paid Virtual Deliverability Manager service for proactive monitoring and recommendations.

Key considerations

Technical Expertise: Utilizing the SES API and setting up Amazon SNS notifications require technical expertise.
Cost (SES): The Virtual Deliverability Manager for Amazon SES is an optional, paid service, so budget should be considered.
Integration Complexity: Integrating Sparkpost webhooks requires development effort to handle and process the incoming data.
Dashboard Limitations: While both platforms offer dashboards, consider whether the built-in reporting meets your specific monitoring needs.
Notification Configuration: Proper configuration of bounce and complaint notifications is crucial for maintaining a good sender reputation with Amazon SES.

Technical article

Documentation from Amazon AWS explains that Amazon SES provides several ways to monitor your sending activity, including using the SES console, Amazon CloudWatch, and the SES API. These tools allow you to track metrics like sends, bounces, complaints, and deliveries.

June 2022 - Amazon AWS

Technical article

Documentation from Sparkpost details that webhooks allow you to receive real-time event data, like bounces, deliveries, and opens, which can be used to monitor the performance of your emails when using Sparkpost.

July 2023 - Sparkpost

Technical article

Documentation from Sparkpost explains that the SparkPost platform has real-time data and automated analysis which help you to stay on top of all your critical email metrics.

April 2024 - Sparkpost

Technical article

Documentation from Amazon AWS outlines how to set up bounce and complaint notifications using Amazon SNS for both hard bounces and complaints to maintain a good sender reputation when using Amazon SES.

October 2024 - Amazon AWS

Technical article

Documentation from Amazon AWS details the Virtual Deliverability Manager offering, an optional paid service, that provides proactive monitoring and recommendations to improve deliverability for Amazon SES users.

November 2022 - Amazon AWS

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