Email Health Check
Test SPF, DMARC & MX Records Free
Check if your domain is properly configured for optimal email deliverability.
Get insights into possible reasons why your emails end up in spam or don't arrive.
As a hosting provider, we understand the importance of proper server configuration, that's why we offer this tool for free to give you insights into your setup!
Our tool tests whether your domain/email address meets modern email standards that are being enforced more strictly, providing you with a detailed email score with concrete improvement points.
Check how well your mail server is configured, enter your domain name or email address below:
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Why is proper email setup important?
A proper email configuration ensures your emails arrive and don't end up in spam, and protects your domain and mailboxes against spoofing and abuse.
🎯 Why do my emails end up in spam?
Emails end up in spam due to missing SPF or DMARC records. These authentication protocols tell Gmail, Outlook and other providers that you are really the sender. Without this security, they think the email may not have been sent by a verified sender. Major mail providers are enforcing these protocols more strictly.
🔒 How do I protect my domain against email fraud?
Criminals can send phishing emails on behalf of your domain if you don't have DMARC. This damages your reputation and can harm customers. With a strict DMARC policy (p=reject) you block all unauthorized emails. Our tool shows you exactly how to set this up.
📊 What changes in the near future for email?
Google and Yahoo have new rules: all bulk mailers must have SPF, DKIM and DMARC. No authentication = no email delivery. AI filters are also being implemented more. Make sure your email setup is in order before problems arise.
💡 Did you know?
Most cyber attacks start with a phishing email. Without DMARC, criminals can impersonate your email address. With the right configuration, you effectively block these attacks.
What exactly do we test?
Our tool analyzes the four most important components of your email configuration
MX Records
Mail Exchange records determine which servers receive your emails. Without proper MX records, emails cannot reach you. We check if they exist, are valid and properly configured.
SPF Record
Sender Policy Framework prevents others from sending emails on your behalf. It tells receiving servers which IP addresses are authorized to send mail from your domain.
DMARC Policy
Domain-based Message Authentication builds on SPF and DKIM. It gives you control over what happens to emails that fail authentication and provides reporting.
Blacklist Status
We check if your domain or IP address is on known spam blacklists. If you're blacklisted, your emails will be blocked or end up in spam folders.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about email configuration and deliverability
SPF (Sender Policy Framework) is an email authentication method that prevents spammers from sending emails on behalf of your domain. An SPF record tells receiving mail servers which IP addresses are allowed to send email for your domain.
- Protection against spoofing: Prevents unauthorized parties from sending emails with your domain
- Better deliverability: Emails with valid SPF have less chance of ending up in spam
- Trust: Recipients can verify that emails really come from you
- Requirement: Many email providers now require SPF for delivery
Example SPF record: v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all
DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) is an email authentication protocol that builds on SPF and DKIM. It gives domain owners control over how to handle emails that fail authentication.
- Policy enforcement: You decide what happens to unauthorized emails (reject, quarantine, or monitor)
- Reporting: Receive detailed reports about who sends email on behalf of your domain
- Visibility: Insight into email abuse and authentication failures
- Protection: Protects your brand against phishing and email fraud
Tip: Start with p=none for monitoring, then gradually increase to p=reject for full protection.
MX (Mail Exchange) records are DNS records that specify which mail servers are responsible for receiving email for your domain. They work with priorities to ensure reliability.
- Priority: Lower numbers have higher priority (10 before 20)
- Redundancy: Multiple MX records provide backup if a server is down
- Load balancing: Same priority distributes email traffic
- Essential: Without MX records, you cannot receive any emails
Note: MX records point to hostnames, not IP addresses. Always use a fully qualified domain name (FQDN).
Emails can end up in spam folders for various reasons. The most common causes are:
- Missing SPF/DMARC: Without proper authentication, your emails look suspicious
- Blacklisted IP: Your mail server may be on a spam blacklist
- Poor reputation: Previous spam complaints affect your sender reputation
Other factors that influence spam scoring:
- Content with many links or spam trigger words
- Sending to many invalid addresses (bounce rate)
- Sudden large volume of emails
- Using free email addresses for business communication
Solution: Implement SPF, DKIM and DMARC, maintain a clean mailing list, and send relevant content to engaged recipients.
SPF, DKIM and DMARC work together to secure email, but each has a different function:
- SPF: Verifies which servers may send email for your domain (WHO may send)
- DKIM: Adds a digital signature to verify the email hasn't been altered (AUTHENTICITY of content)
- DMARC: Tells receiving servers what to do with emails that fail SPF/DKIM (POLICY enforcement)
- Together: They form a complete defense against email spoofing and phishing
You can check all three for free with our Email Health Check tool and get specific recommendations for your domain.
Your email health score is calculated as follows:
- 90-100 (A): Excellent! Your email configuration is optimal
- 75-89 (B): Good, but small improvements are possible
- 60-74 (C): Fair, important components are missing
- 50-59 (D): Poor, high chance of deliverability problems
- 0-49 (F): Critical! Immediate action required
Score breakdown:
- MX Records: 25 points (basis for email receipt)
- SPF: 30 points (-all or ~all), 10 points (?all), 5 points (+all)
- DMARC: 35 points (reject), 25 points (quarantine), 10 points (none)
- Blacklist: 10 points if not blacklisted
- Privacy: -15 points for American providers (Patriot Act)
Regular checking of your email configuration is important for continuous deliverability:
- Monthly: Basic check for active domains
- After changes: Always test after DNS or email provider changes
- With problems: Immediately if emails end up in spam
- Quarterly: Comprehensive check including blacklist status
- Proactive: Before important email campaigns
Pro tip: Bookmark this tool and make it a habit to check regularly. Prevention is better than cure!
