When should I use dedicated IPs vs shared IPs for inconsistent, high-volume email sends?
Summary
What email marketers say10Marketer opinions
Email marketer from Glockapps explains that dedicated IPs require a strict send schedule to maintain a good sender reputation. As well as that, without that schedule, they should use shared.
Email marketer from Omnisend shares that dedicated IPs are for high volume senders, while shared IPs are best for senders who dont send often or very high volumes.
Email marketer from Reddit user u/EmailAdvice shares that dedicated IPs require consistent sending habits to build a positive reputation. If your sends are sporadic or infrequent, you are better off with a shared IP pool.
Email marketer from Hubspot explains that dedicated IP addresses are best for senders who send regularly and consistently. If you send infrequently or in very low volumes, it is better to use a shared IP address.
Email marketer from Mailjet shares that dedicated IPs are suitable for senders with a high and consistent sending volume (typically 100,000+ emails per month) and a good sender reputation. Shared IPs are recommended for lower volume or inconsistent sending, as the risk is distributed among multiple senders.
Email marketer from SendPulse explains that dedicated IPs are ideal if you send consistently and in high volumes, allowing you to build your own reputation. If your sending is infrequent, a shared IP might be better because you benefit from the collective reputation of all senders on that IP.
Email marketer from ActiveCampaign explains that dedicated IPs are best for senders who send consistently and in high volume (50,000+ emails per month), which helps to build and maintain a positive sending reputation. Shared IPs are better suited for smaller or less frequent senders.
Email marketer from EasySendy responds that if you're sending inconsistently, a shared IP is more suitable, as it is harder to build and maintain a good reputation with dedicated IPs without a regular sending schedule. They recommend a shared IP if sending below 50,000 emails per month.
Email marketer from Email Marketing Forum shares that if you only send out a few campaigns a year, stick with a shared IP as dedicated IPs require regular sending to maintain a good reputation.
Email marketer from Moosend shares that if you're not sending emails regularly, a shared IP is often the best option. They elaborate that dedicated IPs require a steady sending schedule to maintain a solid reputation.
What the experts say3Expert opinions
Expert from Spamresource explains that senders with inconsistent sending patterns are better off with shared IPs as dedicated IPs require consistent sending to build and maintain a positive reputation.
Expert from Word to the Wise explains that for a low sending volume such as under 50,000 messages/week, it is more difficult to build reputation on a dedicated IP. Therefore, it's often suggested to make use of a shared IP.
Expert from Email Geeks shares a strategy of using dedicated IPs for regular sends and shared pools at their ESP for quarterly mailings, even with volumes reaching tens of millions daily and nearly 100 million quarterly.
What the documentation says4Technical articles
Documentation from SparkPost shares that senders with dedicated IPs need to maintain a consistent volume to avoid reputation damage. For senders with irregular volumes, shared IP pools can offer better deliverability as sending patterns are more consistent overall.
Documentation from Microsoft shares that senders using shared IPs benefit from the collective reputation, and is less likely to be affected by inconsistent sending.
Documentation from Amazon Web Services explains that dedicated IP addresses are best for senders who maintain a consistent sending volume and a good sender reputation. Inconsistent sending can negatively impact IP reputation, making shared IPs a potentially better option.
Documentation from Google explains that senders using dedicated IPs must maintain a consistent sending volume and adhere to best practices to avoid damaging their IP reputation. Inconsistent or low-volume sends from a dedicated IP can be detrimental.