What are the best inbox tracking tools and how do I choose one?

Summary

Choosing the right inbox tracking tool depends heavily on your specific needs, budget, and technical setup. Tools like GlockApps are cost-effective for basic monitoring, while Validity's Everest offers more comprehensive features. Factors to consider include sending volume, audience type (B2B vs. B2C), geographic coverage, and the importance of features such as authentication tracking, rendering tools, and ESP integration. Effective email tracking provides real-time insights into open rates, click-through rates, and engagement, enabling optimization and improved deliverability. A/B testing, maintaining a clean email list, monitoring sender reputation and blocklists, and using tools like Google Postmaster Tools are essential for maximizing inbox placement. Furthermore, ensuring consistent email rendering across different clients and devices through preview tools is vital.

Key findings

  • Tool Variety & Cost: A wide range of inbox tracking tools exist, varying significantly in features and price, from cost-effective options to comprehensive solutions.
  • Essential Metrics: Monitoring key metrics like open rates, click-through rates, unsubscribe rates, and engagement is critical for campaign optimization.
  • Deliverability Factors: Sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), and regular list cleaning are crucial for maximizing inbox placement and avoiding spam filters.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Regularly monitoring sender reputation (e.g., Google Postmaster Tools, Microsoft SNDS) and blocklists helps identify and address deliverability issues promptly.
  • Rendering Consistency: Ensuring consistent email rendering across different clients and devices is essential for a positive user experience.

Key considerations

  • Specific Needs: Assess your business's specific requirements, such as the need for pure inbox placement monitoring versus a comprehensive suite of reputation data tools.
  • Budget Constraints: Determine a realistic budget and explore tool options that align with your financial capabilities.
  • Audience & Volume: Consider your target audience (B2B or B2C), sending volume, and geographic coverage when selecting a tool.
  • Feature Requirements: Evaluate the importance of specific features, including authentication tracking, rendering tools, ESP integration, and detailed analytics.
  • Platform Integration: Choose a platform that seamlessly integrates with your existing marketing automation and email service provider (ESP) systems.
  • Deliverability Practices: Implement best practices for email deliverability, including maintaining a healthy email list, proper authentication, and monitoring sender reputation.

What email marketers say
14Marketer opinions

Choosing the best inbox tracking tool involves understanding your specific needs and budget. Key factors include whether you need pure inbox placement monitoring or a comprehensive suite of reputation data tools. Tools like GlockApps are more affordable for basic monitoring, while Validity's Everest offers extensive features for businesses heavily reliant on email. Consider your sending volume, recipient type (B2B or B2C), desired coverage (freemail providers, local ISPs, US only or international), and the importance of features like authentication tracking and ESP integration. Email tracking helps measure campaign success by providing data on open rates, click-through rates, and engagement, enabling optimization and improved deliverability through practices like A/B testing and maintaining a healthy email list.

Key opinions

  • Tool Variety: A range of tools exist from basic to comprehensive, impacting price and features.
  • Key Metrics: Tracking open rates, click-through rates, and recipient engagement provides insights for optimization.
  • Deliverability Factors: Sender reputation, authentication, and list cleaning are crucial for ensuring emails reach the inbox.
  • Customization: A/B testing subject lines and content improves engagement and identifies what resonates with the audience.

Key considerations

  • Budget: Determine your budget to narrow down tool options. GlockApps is inexpensive while Validity's Everest is expensive.
  • Business Needs: Assess whether you need pure inbox placement monitoring or a comprehensive suite of reputation tools.
  • Target Audience: Consider whether your recipients are B2B or B2C and your desired geographical coverage.
  • Feature Importance: Evaluate the importance of features like authentication tracking, rendering tools, and ESP integration.
  • Email Health: Understand the importance of maintaining a healthy email list and ensuring email deliverability.
  • Platform Integrations: Select a platform that integrates well with your existing tech stack and other business needs.
Marketer view

Email marketer from SuperOffice states that tracking email engagement, such as opens and clicks, allows you to identify your most engaged contacts and tailor your messaging accordingly.

November 2024 - SuperOffice
Marketer view

Email marketer from Capterra explains that email tracking provides insights into how recipients interact with your emails, allowing you to optimize your email marketing strategy and improve engagement.

March 2022 - Capterra
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot shares that maintaining a healthy email list and following best practices for deliverability are crucial for ensuring your emails reach the inbox.

December 2021 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that the best tool depends on requirements. They mention Inbox Monster, Glock Apps, and Validity as options depending on whether the user needs pure inbox placement monitoring or a suite of reputation data tools.

March 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares that higher-ticket tools offer trials and value can be proven by addressing a problem statement, such as a deliverability problem or establishing a deliverability baseline.

September 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Woodpecker.co explains that A/B testing different email subject lines and content can help identify what resonates best with your audience, improving open rates and engagement.

November 2024 - Woodpecker.co
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks shares when helping clients select a tool, they ask about budget, sending volume, importance of email for revenue, number of campaigns to monitor, recipient type (B2B or B2C), desired coverage (freemail providers, local ISPs, US only or international), authentication tracking, rendering tools, reputation data, and ESP integration.

May 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks explains that Glock Apps is a more inexpensive option suitable for B2B or B2C senders focused on major freemail providers with a limited budget. Validity's Everest is the most expensive with the most data and features, best for businesses where email is core.

September 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Neil Patel shares that some of the biggest factors in deliverability are sender reputation, authentication, and list cleaning.

August 2024 - Neil Patel
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests considering factors like budget, the size of your email list, and the specific features you need (e.g., open tracking, link tracking, detailed analytics) when choosing an inbox tracking tool.

January 2025 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Sendinblue shares that some important email marketing metrics include open rate, click-through rate, unsubscribe rate, and conversion rate.

August 2023 - Sendinblue
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester explains that email tracking helps you measure the success of your email campaigns by providing data on open rates, click-through rates, and other key metrics.

May 2024 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Email marketer from G2.com shares that inbox tracking allows users to track the performance of sent emails in real-time, understand open rates, click-through rates, and recipient engagement, providing valuable insights for optimizing future campaigns.

April 2023 - G2.com
Marketer view

Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains that the best platform depends on your business needs and tech stack. Consider a marketing automation platform, and also consider factors such as the integrations it has.

June 2022 - ActiveCampaign

What the experts say
2Expert opinions

Monitoring blocklists and sender reputation are crucial for maintaining good inbox placement. Blocklist monitoring helps identify if your IP or domain is listed, allowing for proactive delisting. Tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS provide insights into how mailbox providers view your sending practices, enabling you to address issues impacting deliverability.

Key opinions

  • Blocklist Impact: Being listed on blocklists significantly affects inbox placement.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Mailbox providers assess sending practices, impacting deliverability.
  • Proactive Measures: Identifying and addressing issues early improves inbox placement.

Key considerations

  • Blocklist Checks: Regularly check if your IP or domain is on any blocklists.
  • Sender Reputation Tools: Utilize tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to monitor sender reputation.
  • Actionable Insights: Actively address any issues identified through monitoring to maintain deliverability.
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that blocklist monitoring can help identify if your IP address or domain has been listed on any blocklists, which can significantly impact inbox placement. This allows you to take proactive steps to get delisted.

April 2023 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that monitoring your sender reputation with tools like Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS provides insights into how mailbox providers view your sending practices, helping you identify and address any issues affecting deliverability and inbox placement.

November 2021 - Word to the Wise

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Inbox tracking tools offer various features, including previewing emails across different clients and devices to ensure consistent rendering and identify design issues. Platforms like Litmus provide screenshots and code analysis for comprehensive testing. Read receipts in Outlook can track email opens, though recipient approval is required. Running deliverability tests before sending campaigns is useful for assessing performance.

Key findings

  • Cross-Client Preview: Inbox Preview tools show how emails render across various clients and devices.
  • Comprehensive Testing: Platforms like Litmus offer detailed screenshots and code analysis.
  • Read Receipts: Outlook read receipts track email opens, subject to recipient approval.
  • Deliverability Testing: Pre-send deliverability tests help assess campaign performance.

Key considerations

  • Rendering Consistency: Ensure consistent email rendering across different clients and devices.
  • Design Issues: Identify and fix potential design issues before sending.
  • Recipient Approval: Be aware that read receipts require recipient approval.
  • Testing Importance: Prioritize running deliverability tests to ensure optimal campaign performance.
Technical article

Documentation from GlockApps shares that it is useful to run a deliverability test before you send out your campaign. The tests helps determine how well your emails will perform.

July 2023 - GlockApps
Technical article

Documentation from Litmus shares the platform allows you to test your email across various email clients and devices, providing screenshots and code analysis to ensure consistent rendering and identify potential issues.

January 2024 - Litmus
Technical article

Documentation from Microsoft explains how to request read receipts in Outlook to track whether recipients have opened your emails (note: recipient must approve sending the receipt).

May 2024 - Microsoft
Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp explains that Inbox Preview tools allow you to see how your email looks in different email clients and devices, ensuring consistent rendering and identifying potential design issues before sending.

August 2024 - Mailchimp