What deliverability monitoring platforms are recommended for startups?

Summary

Startups have a variety of deliverability monitoring platforms to choose from, each offering a unique set of features and capabilities. Free tools like Postmaster Tools and SNDS offer limited insights into Gmail and Microsoft-owned domains, while other platforms provide a broader, though still limited, view. The choice often boils down to price sensitivity and preferred reporting. Platforms are generally categorized into high-end (e.g., Validity Everest, Inbox Monster) and mid-tier (e.g., GlockApps, Kickbox, SendForensics) options. For transactional emails, Postmark is favored. Key features to look for include list verification (Kickbox), email health checks (Sendinblue), robust APIs and analytics (Mailgun), and seed testing (GlockApps). Analyzing open rates by domain, monitoring blocklists, and tracking recipient engagement are also crucial. Built-in tools within ESPs like SendGrid, Mailjet, and SparkPost also offer solutions. Recipient engagement provides the most accurate data when considering segmentation.

Key findings

  • Platform Variety: A wide range of deliverability monitoring platforms are available, catering to different needs and budgets.
  • Tiered Pricing: Platforms are often grouped into high-end and mid-tier options.
  • Specific Use Cases: Postmark is recommended for transactional emails; Kickbox for list verification.
  • Integrated Tools: Leading ESPs (SendGrid, Mailjet, SparkPost) offer built-in deliverability tools.
  • Data Limitations: All reporting has limitations, recipient engagement provides the most accurate data.
  • Seed Testing: Services such as GlockApps use seed testing to see the results of email campaigns.
  • Monitoring Essentials: Blocklist monitoring and analysing the recipient interaction are important.

Key considerations

  • Budget: Choose a platform that aligns with your startup's budget.
  • Feature Requirements: Identify the specific features you need (e.g., list verification, health checks, APIs).
  • Ease of Use: Select a platform that's user-friendly and easy to integrate into your existing workflow.
  • Data Accuracy: Be aware of the limitations of different data sources and supplement them with engagement tracking.
  • Actionable Insights: Ensure the platform provides actionable insights that enable you to improve deliverability.
  • Recipient Monitoring: Track recipient activity for segmentation to help with customer engagement.

What email marketers say
11Marketer opinions

Several deliverability monitoring platforms are recommended for startups, each offering different features and focusing on various aspects of email deliverability. Some platforms, like Validity Everest and Inbox Monster, are considered high-end options, while others, such as GlockApps, Kickbox, and SendForensics, are mid-tier. Mailjet provides a user-friendly option for startups seeking to consolidate their email marketing efforts. For transactional emails, Postmark is recommended due to its emphasis on deliverability and speed. Kickbox is particularly useful for verifying email list validity. Sendinblue offers a built-in email health check feature, and Mailgun provides a robust API and detailed analytics. Validity Everest assists with data analysis and reports to improve deliverability. Litmus emphasizes using data and email analytics to identify deliverability issues. Sendinblue provides heatmaps and A/B testing for optimization. Omnisend offers email marketing analytics, while others recommend analyzing open rates by domain and monitoring blocklists.

Key opinions

  • Platform Tiers: Deliverability platforms range from high-end (Validity Everest, Inbox Monster) to mid-tier (GlockApps, Kickbox, SendForensics) to more consolidated options (Mailjet).
  • Transactional Focus: Postmark is highly recommended for transactional emails due to its speed and deliverability focus.
  • List Verification: Kickbox stands out for its email list verification capabilities, ensuring valid and safe sending lists.
  • Analytics and Diagnostics: Sendinblue offers a built-in email health check, Mailgun provides robust APIs and detailed analytics, and Litmus emphasizes data-driven analytics for issue identification.
  • Alternative Data Sources: Analyzing open rates by domain and monitoring blocklists are crucial for deliverability insights.

Key considerations

  • Budget: Consider the pricing tiers of different platforms (high-end vs. mid-tier) to align with your startup's budget.
  • Specific Needs: Determine whether your primary need is for transactional emails, list verification, comprehensive analytics, or consolidated marketing efforts.
  • Data Analysis: Evaluate the data analysis and reporting features of each platform to ensure they align with your ability to interpret and act upon the data.
  • Integration: Ensure the platform integrates seamlessly with your existing email marketing tools and infrastructure.
  • Holistic Approach: Paid tools do not guarantee perfect deliverability, so always supplement with customer data to ensure best practice.
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus highlights the use of data and email analytics to highlight any deliverability issues by tracking overall performance. The analytics can identify possible problems such as low engagement, spam complaints, and deliverability issues, which can ultimately save you money.

December 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit recommends Mailgun for its robust API and deliverability tools, stating it offers good control over email sending and provides detailed analytics on deliverability metrics.

September 2024 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that several tools are available, with Everest from Validity and Inbox Monster being on the higher end, and GlockApps, Kickbox, and SendForensics being mid-tier options. Mentions that these tools are indicators, and just because messages land in the inbox according to these tools does not mean that it will for all subscribers.

November 2022 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester shares that Sendinblue provides useful features such as email heatmaps, and A/B testing which is useful for startups looking to optimize their strategy. These tests help to target any deliverability problems.

October 2021 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Email marketer from TrustRadius says that Omnisend provides email marketing analytics that allows you to see metrics such as deliverability rates, open rates, etc. for email marketing efforts, SMS, and even push notifications.

December 2021 - TrustRadius
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Vendor Selection shares that Kickbox is a great tool to improve deliverability. It is extremely useful in verifying email lists to check if they are valid and safe for sending.

October 2021 - Email Vendor Selection
Marketer view

Email marketer from G2 mentions that Mailjet provides email tracking and deliverability features within its platform, making it a user-friendly option for startups that want to consolidate their email marketing efforts.

October 2021 - G2
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow suggests Sendinblue because it offers a built-in email health check feature, which helps startups diagnose and resolve common deliverability problems before launching campaigns.

January 2025 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks recommends looking at open rates by domain using your own data. Any open rates that are much lower than the rest is typically a sign of potential spam folder placement, that's how to validate what you're seeing with any paid tools you're using.

October 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit suggests Postmark for transactional emails due to its focus on deliverability and speed, essential for startups relying on order confirmations and password resets.

September 2023 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora suggests that Validity Everest is a great platform to assist with your email marketing strategy by using its data analysis and reports to improve deliverability.

January 2022 - Quora

What the experts say
6Expert opinions

Experts recommend a multifaceted approach to deliverability monitoring. Free tools like Postmaster Tools and SNDS offer limited insights, focusing primarily on Gmail and Microsoft-owned domains. While other platforms broaden the scope, they are constrained by tracking non-human addresses. Many services share underlying functionalities, making reporting preferences and price sensitivity key decision factors. Kickbox offers a free tool, KBXSCORE, for technical checks. Monitoring blocklists is crucial, and tracking recipient engagement is essential for understanding deliverability. Complete visibility remains unattainable as mailbox control resides with recipients.

Key opinions

  • Limited Scope of Free Tools: Postmaster Tools and SNDS provide insights primarily for Gmail and Microsoft domains.
  • Platform Limitations: Deliverability platforms are limited by their inability to track email opens based on the individual customer level.
  • Functionality Overlap: Many deliverability services share similar core functionalities.
  • Free Technical Tool: Kickbox offers a free tool (KBXSCORE) for technical deliverability checks.
  • Importance of Monitoring Blocklists: Tools providing blocklist alerts are vital for early detection of deliverability problems.
  • Recipient Engagement: Analyzing recipient engagement data (opens, clicks, purchases) is critical for a comprehensive view.

Key considerations

  • Cost vs. Features: Balance price sensitivity with preferred reporting features when choosing a platform.
  • Data Limitations: Understand that no single tool provides complete visibility due to mailbox control residing with recipients.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Implement tools that alert you to blocklist appearances.
  • Segmentation: Use recipient engagement to guide segmentation strategies.
  • Third-Party Tools: Third party tools give you limited insight into customer activity, always segment based on engagement activity.
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that platforms like Validity and Sparkpost are limited because they primarily track mail sent to addresses not associated with real humans and lack the per-user filtering found in actual subscriber inboxes. Complete visibility of email delivery is unattainable because the recipient owns the mailbox.

October 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says that the services have similar underlying functionality, so the choice depends on preferred reporting and price sensitivity. Mentions that Kickbox and eDataSource have members in the community.

July 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks mentions that Kickbox offers a free tool called KBXSCORE that helps with technical deliverability checks.

November 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource highlights the importance of monitoring blocklists to identify potential deliverability issues, suggesting that startups should use tools that provide alerts for blocklist appearances.

June 2022 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise details that monitoring data collected from the recipient is a huge factor. Email marketers should review user engagement (opens, clicks, purchases) and segment accordingly.

May 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that Postmaster Tools and SNDS only provide data for Gmail and Outlook/Hotmail/Microsoft's free domains, and don't offer insights into inbox placement across other domains. Other tools provide a wider picture of mail delivery at consumer mailboxes but it's a limited view.

December 2023 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
4Technical articles

Email service providers (ESPs) like SendGrid, Mailjet, GlockApps, and SparkPost offer built-in deliverability monitoring tools. SendGrid focuses on metrics such as bounce rates, spam reports, and blocklists. Mailjet emphasizes the importance of sender reputation and provides tools to measure it. GlockApps uses seed testing to evaluate inbox placement across different providers. SparkPost offers advanced data and analytics, including bounce rates, failed deliveries, delays, and spam complaints. These tools enable startups to proactively identify and address deliverability issues.

Key findings

  • Integrated Tools: Major ESPs provide integrated deliverability monitoring tools within their platforms.
  • Core Metrics: Key metrics include bounce rates, spam reports, blocklists, and sender reputation.
  • Seed Testing: GlockApps utilizes seed testing to assess inbox placement across different providers.
  • Advanced Analytics: SparkPost offers advanced data analytics, including delivery delays and failures.

Key considerations

  • Platform Choice: Consider the specific features and reporting capabilities of each ESP when selecting a platform.
  • Proactive Monitoring: Use these tools to proactively identify and address deliverability issues before they impact campaigns.
  • Holistic View: Use the data to improve customer engagement to ensure deliverability best practice.
  • Testing Strategy: Incorporate seed testing in campaign strategy to evaluate inbox placement.
Technical article

Documentation from Mailjet describes deliverability as a key element in any email marketing strategy, and highlights the importance of monitoring sender reputation metrics to help understand your customers and inbox providers. They provide tools in the platform to measure your sender reputation

December 2023 - Mailjet
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost provides advanced deliverability data and analytics. The reports are able to tell you your bounce rates, failed deliveries, delays in delivery, and spam complaints.

November 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from SendGrid explains that SendGrid offers tools within its platform to monitor deliverability metrics, such as bounce rates, spam reports, and block lists, which helps startups identify and address deliverability issues proactively.

September 2021 - SendGrid
Technical article

Documentation from GlockApps describes seed testing in their platform to help companies monitor deliverability for marketing emails. Seed testing is testing of your email campaigns to evaluate inbox placement with many different mailbox providers before live deployment.

June 2024 - GlockApps