Which email marketing platform offers the best email deliverability?

Summary

The responses indicate that while choosing an email marketing platform is important, deliverability is predominantly influenced by the sender's practices rather than the platform itself. Factors like sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene, content quality, and subscriber engagement are repeatedly highlighted as crucial for achieving optimal deliverability. A good ESP provides the tools and resources to manage these aspects effectively, including feedback loops, dedicated IPs (with specific configuration requirements like /24), and robust reporting. Mailjet and Sendinblue are mentioned as examples of platforms offering good deliverability when best practices are followed. Overall, the key is to focus on building and maintaining a strong sender reputation through responsible sending practices.

Key findings

  • Sender Practices Reign Supreme: Deliverability is primarily determined by sender practices (list hygiene, authentication, content quality) rather than the ESP.
  • Authentication is Non-Negotiable: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for establishing sender identity and improving deliverability.
  • Good Infrastructure Tools Matter: The ESP provides tools and infrastructure (feedback loops, dedicated IPs, bounce processing) for managing and improving deliverability.
  • Reputation is Key: Maintaining a positive sender reputation is critical for consistent email deliverability.
  • Shared IP Risks: Shared IPs and domains can negatively impact deliverability; dedicated IPs and aligned domains offer greater control.

Key considerations

  • Implement Authentication: Configure SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records correctly to authenticate your sending domain.
  • Practice List Hygiene: Regularly clean your email list by removing inactive subscribers and managing unsubscribes.
  • Craft High-Quality Content: Create engaging, relevant content to improve subscriber engagement and reduce spam complaints.
  • Monitor Deliverability Metrics: Use tools like Google Postmaster Tools to monitor your sender reputation and identify deliverability issues.
  • Choose the Right ESP: Select an ESP that provides the necessary tools, support, and infrastructure to help you achieve your deliverability goals.

What email marketers say
10Marketer opinions

While many email marketing platforms claim to offer the best deliverability, the consensus is that deliverability depends heavily on the sender's practices, not solely on the platform itself. Factors such as sender reputation, content quality, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list management, subscriber engagement, and avoiding spam trigger words are crucial. A good platform provides the tools and support to manage these factors effectively, including dedicated IPs, feedback loops, and bounce processing mechanisms. Platforms like Mailjet and Sendinblue are noted for their deliverability when best practices are followed. Focusing on data quality, marketing strategy, and adherence to industry standards is paramount for achieving optimal email deliverability, regardless of the platform.

Key opinions

  • Sender Practices Matter: Deliverability is more dependent on the sender's practices (list hygiene, content, authentication) than the platform itself.
  • Authentication is Crucial: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is essential for improving sender reputation and preventing emails from being marked as spam.
  • Engagement Impacts Delivery: Subscriber engagement (opens, clicks) significantly affects deliverability; higher engagement leads to better deliverability.
  • Shared Reputation Risks: Shared IPs and domains can impact deliverability, so minimizing their influence by using dedicated IPs and aligned domains is beneficial.
  • Tools and Resources: The best platforms offer resources, knowledgebases, and support to help marketers improve their sending practices.

Key considerations

  • Sender Reputation: Maintain a positive sender reputation through consistent sending practices and by avoiding spam traps and high bounce rates.
  • List Management: Practice diligent list hygiene by removing inactive subscribers and managing unsubscribes promptly.
  • Content Quality: Create engaging, relevant content and avoid using spam trigger words to improve engagement and reduce spam complaints.
  • Authentication Setup: Ensure proper setup and maintenance of email authentication protocols (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to verify your identity and improve deliverability.
  • Platform Features: Evaluate platforms based on features like dedicated IPs, feedback loops, bounce processing, and deliverability support.
Marketer view

Email marketer from EmailToolTester responds that deliverability depends more on the sender's practices than the specific ESP, provided the ESP has good infrastructure. Focus on list management, content, and authentication.

December 2021 - EmailToolTester
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email on Acid explains that email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for deliverability. Proper authentication helps improve sender reputation and prevent emails from being marked as spam.

February 2024 - Email on Acid
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks explains that the only way deliverability can be impacted by the service provider is if the service provider does not abide by the industry standards (there are very few of them) or if they host a lot of spammers on their network. Other than that, it is your data quality and marketing strategy that impacts email deliverability the most.

May 2023 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Litmus explains that deliverability is affected by sender reputation, authentication, email content, and subscriber engagement. Platforms provide tools, but sender practices are crucial.

November 2023 - Litmus
Marketer view

Email marketer from Stack Overflow shares that features like dedicated IPs, feedback loops, and bounce processing mechanisms affect deliverability. Choose an ESP that provides these features.

April 2023 - Stack Overflow
Marketer view

Email marketer from Reddit explains that Mailjet offers good deliverability rates due to its focus on email deliverability best practices and compliance with industry standards.

April 2021 - Reddit
Marketer view

Email marketer from Email Geeks shares that shared IPs are not the only shared source of reputation; shared domains in DKIMs and tracking links also play a role. Minimizing the impact of a platform involves having your own aligned domains in envelopes, DKIM, and tracking, and potentially using PTRs on dedicated IPs. No platform has a guaranteed way to deliver well, so choose one with resources like tech tools, knowledgebases, service agents, marketing consultants, and deliverability experts who can react quickly to issues and help you improve as a marketer.

April 2021 - Email Geeks
Marketer view

Email marketer from Quora explains that Sendinblue focuses on marketing automation, they have seen good deliverability, especially when following best practices.

January 2023 - Quora
Marketer view

Email marketer from HubSpot shares that deliverability best practices include segmenting your list, personalizing emails, and avoiding spam trigger words. Implementing these practices improves engagement and deliverability.

November 2022 - HubSpot
Marketer view

Email marketer from G2 explains that deliverability depends on factors like sender reputation, content quality, and authentication, not just the platform itself. A good platform provides the tools and support to manage these factors effectively.

January 2022 - G2

What the experts say
8Expert opinions

Experts agree that while email marketing platforms play a role in deliverability, the sender's practices are paramount. An ESP can't compensate for poor sender habits, and may even worsen deliverability if minimum standards aren't met. Factors like sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene, and engagement significantly impact deliverability. Using a dedicated IP can shield you from the negative impact of other users on a shared ESP. Feedback loops are also crucial for identifying and addressing spam complaints. Some platforms may require a specific IP range (/24) for those bringing their own IPs.

Key opinions

  • Sender Practices are Key: Sender practices are more crucial than the ESP itself for achieving good email deliverability.
  • ESP Sets Minimum Standard: A sending platform primarily ensures a minimum deliverability standard; your practices determine whether you meet it and exceed it.
  • Dedicated IPs Offer Isolation: Using a dedicated IP isolates you from the negative impact of other senders on the same ESP.
  • Authentication is Essential: Proper email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is crucial for establishing sender identity and improving deliverability.
  • Feedback Loops Improve Deliverability: Feedback loops allow senders to address spam complaints and improve their overall deliverability.

Key considerations

  • List Hygiene: Maintain a clean and engaged subscriber list to minimize bounce rates and spam complaints.
  • Sender Reputation: Protect and improve sender reputation by adhering to best practices and monitoring deliverability metrics.
  • Authentication Implementation: Properly implement SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records to authenticate your sending domain.
  • ESP Selection: Choose an ESP that aligns with your technical needs, deliverability goals, and offers resources for continuous improvement.
  • IP Requirements: If bringing your own IP, verify that the ESP's requirements match the size and configuration of your IP range.
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise explains that the ESP is only a small part of deliverability. Sender practices regarding list hygiene, authentication and engagement are significantly more important.

October 2021 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that a sending platform sets a minimum standard; as long as they meet it, the platform's main impact is delivering the deliverability you've earned.

July 2023 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise shares that feedback loops help senders identify and address issues related to spam complaints, improving overall deliverability.

May 2023 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that an ESP can't improve your delivery beyond what your practices deserve, but it can worsen it.

June 2024 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Word to the Wise responds that email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) helps improve sender reputation and prevent emails from being marked as spam.

February 2024 - Word to the Wise
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks shares that if you're using a dedicated IP address, even an ESP with problematic customers is unlikely to negatively impact your deliverability.

February 2022 - Email Geeks
Expert view

Expert from Spam Resource explains that factors such as sender reputation, authentication, list hygiene, and content quality affect email deliverability. They emphasize the importance of following best practices to maintain a positive sender reputation.

December 2021 - Spam Resource
Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks explains that many platforms that allow you to bring your own IP address require a /24 for routing purposes. Amazon, for example, doesn't support a single IP for this.

May 2021 - Email Geeks

What the documentation says
5Technical articles

Email marketing platform documentation consistently emphasizes that deliverability is multifaceted, with sender reputation, authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), content quality, list hygiene, and subscriber engagement being key factors. Leading platforms like Mailchimp, SendGrid, Amazon SES, and SparkPost offer tools and resources to help users manage these aspects and improve their deliverability. Google Postmaster Tools provides data on your sending reputation specifically for Gmail users, enabling you to monitor and address deliverability issues proactively. Adhering to anti-spam laws and monitoring bounce and complaint rates are also critical for maintaining a positive sender reputation and ensuring optimal deliverability.

Key findings

  • Holistic Approach: Deliverability requires a comprehensive approach encompassing sender reputation, authentication, content, and subscriber engagement.
  • Authentication Importance: Proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) is critical for verifying sender identity and improving deliverability rates.
  • List Management Matters: Maintaining good list hygiene and segmenting your audience can improve subscriber engagement and, subsequently, deliverability.
  • Platform Tools: Email platforms offer tools to monitor and manage various aspects of deliverability, including sender reputation, bounce rates, and complaint rates.
  • Reputation Monitoring: Tools like Google Postmaster Tools allow senders to monitor their reputation specifically for Gmail users.

Key considerations

  • Sender Reputation Maintenance: Regularly monitor and actively manage your sender reputation to ensure positive deliverability outcomes.
  • Compliance with Anti-Spam Laws: Ensure your email practices comply with anti-spam laws and regulations to avoid penalties and improve deliverability.
  • Email Content: Carefully craft engaging, relevant content, avoiding spam triggers to maximize subscriber engagement and improve deliverability.
  • List Segmentation: Segment your email list to send targeted and personalized messages, improving engagement and deliverability.
  • Utilize Platform Tools: Leverage the tools and resources provided by your email platform to monitor and improve your deliverability.
Technical article

Documentation from Mailchimp explains that deliverability is affected by sender reputation, authentication, content, and subscriber engagement. They provide tools and resources to help users improve these areas.

December 2022 - Mailchimp
Technical article

Documentation from Amazon SES shares that best practices for email sending include authenticating your sending identity, complying with anti-spam laws, and monitoring bounce and complaint rates. They provide detailed guidelines on these practices.

July 2024 - Amazon Web Services
Technical article

Documentation from Google Postmaster Tools explains that they provide data on your sending reputation, spam rate, and other deliverability metrics for Gmail users. This helps you identify and address deliverability issues.

May 2023 - Google
Technical article

Documentation from SparkPost explains that sender reputation is a critical factor in deliverability. It depends on factors like IP address reputation, domain reputation, and engagement metrics. They provide tools to monitor and manage sender reputation.

December 2024 - SparkPost
Technical article

Documentation from SendGrid shares that improving deliverability involves proper authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), list hygiene, and monitoring sender reputation. They offer tools for managing these aspects.

November 2021 - Twilio SendGrid