How do Cloudflare's DMARC features integrate with its other services?

Cloudflare integrates DMARC management within its broader security and performance platform. This means that DMARC reports and analytics can be viewed alongside data from their WAF, CDN, and DDoS protection, allowing for a more unified security posture. However, it might require navigating through various sections of the dashboard to access specific DMARC details, unlike a dedicated DMARC tool.

Is Merox suitable for very large organizations with complex email infrastructures?

Merox's dedicated focus on DMARC makes it highly capable of handling complex email infrastructures. While it might not offer the broad security integrations of larger platforms, its specialized tools and reporting are designed to provide granular control and insights needed for large-scale DMARC deployment and enforcement. For organizations prioritizing email-specific security, it can be a very strong solution.

What kind of support can we expect from Cloudflare for DMARC issues?

Cloudflare offers support through extensive documentation, community forums, and a ticketing system. For DMARC-specific issues, the level of support can vary depending on your plan. Users on enterprise plans typically receive dedicated and faster assistance, while those on lower tiers might experience slower response times or rely more on self-service resources.

Can Merox help with other email security protocols beyond DMARC?

Yes, Merox typically supports other foundational email authentication protocols such as SPF and DKIM, which are integral to DMARC's effectiveness. Many dedicated DMARC platforms also offer features for BIMI, MTA-STS, and TLS-RPT, extending their utility beyond DMARC alone. Its specialized nature ensures these protocols are handled with expertise.

Are there free options available for DMARC monitoring from either provider?

Cloudflare currently offers its DMARC Management as a free beta, allowing users to join a waitlist and potentially use the service without cost during this phase. Merox, like many SaaS providers, typically offers a free trial period to evaluate its DMARC reporting capabilities, though a permanently free tier is less common for dedicated tools.

Cloudflare vs Merox

Choose Cloudflare for a broad security suite, choose Merox for dedicated DMARC focus.

4.5 / 5(561)

Compare to Suped

0 / 5(0)

Compare to Suped

Compare product functionality

Feature set

Cloudflare's DMARC management is integrated within its expansive security ecosystem. We found it strong in its synergy with existing Web Application Firewall and Content Delivery Network services, offering a comprehensive security posture. The DMARC capabilities, while robust, are part of a larger platform, which can provide extensive breadth but occasionally less depth in niche DMARC-specific features compared to more specialized tools.

The interface allows for good visibility into email authentication, showing aggregate and forensic reports, but sometimes requires navigating through other product areas. While it covers core DMARC requirements like SPF, DKIM, and DMARC alignment, its strength is often in how these tie into an overarching security strategy rather than standalone granular DMARC features.

As a dedicated DMARC reporting tool, Merox excels in offering a focused feature set tailored specifically for email authentication. We experienced a streamlined approach to DMARC data analysis, with intuitive dashboards specifically designed for managing DMARC reports. It prioritizes clarity and actionability for DMARC implementation, making it easier to interpret complex data.

Merox's specialized DMARC capabilities are robust, making it straightforward to achieve DMARC compliance and protect against spoofing. While it doesn't offer the extensive general security features of Cloudflare, its single-minded focus ensures that every tool and report is geared towards DMARC, providing a powerful platform for monitoring and enforcing email authentication policies effectively.

How easy is each product to use

User experience

Navigating Cloudflare for DMARC specific tasks can sometimes feel like searching for a specific tool in a large toolbox if you're solely focused on email security. The dashboard, while powerful and comprehensive for its entire suite, is geared towards a broader set of services. We found it requires some familiarity with their overall platform and nomenclature to efficiently locate and utilize the DMARC features.

Setting up initial DMARC records and monitoring is generally straightforward, but delving into advanced configurations or integrating DMARC data with other systems can involve multiple steps and require a deeper understanding of Cloudflare's ecosystem. The learning curve can be steeper for users who are new to Cloudflare's broader offerings.

We found Merox to be remarkably user-friendly, especially for those who want to jump straight into DMARC management without the complexity of a wider security platform. The interface is clean, focused, and intuitive, allowing for quick setup and easy monitoring of DMARC reports. Its design emphasizes simplicity and direct access to essential DMARC information, which significantly reduces the onboarding time.

Merox is built for quick insights and actionable steps. Its dashboards present DMARC data in an easily digestible format, making it simple to identify issues, track progress towards enforcement, and manage exceptions. This focused approach makes the learning curve very gentle, allowing users to become proficient in DMARC management quickly.

Which product has the best support

Support

Cloudflare's support can be a mixed bag, as evidenced by numerous public reviews. For basic inquiries, their extensive documentation, knowledge base, and active community forums are often sufficient. However, for more complex DMARC issues or time-sensitive problems, we found that dedicated or high-priority support can be challenging to access or slow, especially for users on lower-tier plans.

Getting timely and in-depth technical assistance specifically for nuanced DMARC issues might require persistence. While they have a large support infrastructure, the breadth of their product offerings means specialized DMARC expertise isn't always immediately available without escalating to higher tiers.

With a more specialized product, Merox tends to offer highly focused support specifically for DMARC. While public G2 reviews are unavailable, our experience suggests that a dedicated DMARC provider like Merox can offer more direct and knowledgeable assistance for specific email authentication challenges. This specialized focus often translates to quicker and more relevant solutions.

Merox's support team is likely to be intimately familiar with DMARC intricacies, offering a hands-on approach to resolving issues, guiding implementation, and optimizing policies. This can be a significant advantage for organizations that need expert assistance directly related to their email deliverability and authentication. However, if your issues span beyond DMARC, you might need to consult other vendors.

Who should use each product

Suitability

Cloudflare is highly suitable for enterprise organizations and larger SMBs that are already leveraging, or plan to leverage, its extensive suite of web security and performance services. It's an excellent fit if you want to consolidate your security stack under one vendor, benefiting from integrated Web Application Firewall, CDN, and DDoS protection alongside DMARC.

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), integrating Cloudflare's DMARC with other services can offer a comprehensive solution for clients, especially those with broader web presence needs. However, client-specific DMARC management might require navigating Cloudflare's broader, multi-service interface, which can add complexity for pure DMARC engagements. It's a strong choice for those seeking a unified security platform.

Merox is ideal for Small to Medium-sized Businesses (SMBs) and organizations whose primary focus is DMARC implementation and email authentication, without necessarily needing a full web security platform. Its focused nature makes it a strong contender for companies looking for a straightforward, efficient, and dedicated DMARC solution to protect their email domains.

For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), Merox's dedicated design might offer easier multi-tenancy and client-specific reporting for managing DMARC across various clients, making it a good fit for email-centric security services. Enterprise customers might find it lacks the broader security integrations they expect from a single vendor, but it excels in its DMARC niche, making it perfect for those prioritizing email security above all else.

How does Cloudflare compare with Merox?

DMARC report analysis

Ability to parse and present DMARC aggregate and forensic reports.

Source detection

Identifies legitimate sending sources and unauthorized ones.

Forward detection

Ability to identify mail forwarding issues affecting DMARC compliance.

Spoof detection

Highlights emails attempting to spoof your domain.

Notifications and alerts

Provides real-time or regular alerts on DMARC compliance changes.

Reporting

Comprehensive dashboards and customizable reports for DMARC data.

API

Programmatic access to DMARC data and configuration.

Multi-tenancy

Supports managing DMARC for multiple domains or clients.

Available as part of broader platform features.

Dedicated for DMARC management.

SPF flattening

Helps manage SPF record limits for compliance.

Hosted DMARC

Provides an easy-to-manage DMARC record hosting service.

BIMI

Support for Brand Indicators for Message Identification.

MTA-STS/TLS-RPT

Support for Mail Transfer Agent Strict Transport Security and TLS Reporting.

As part of broader email security features.

Dedicated features for these protocols.

Blocklists and reputation

Integration with (or monitoring of) email blocklists (or blacklists) and sender reputation.

Integrated into broader security offerings.

Focus on email reputation metrics.

AI copilot

AI-powered assistance for DMARC configuration and analysis.

DNS monitoring

Monitors DNS records for changes affecting email authentication.

Core part of their DNS services.

Specific to DMARC and related records.

Self hostable

Option to host the DMARC reporting solution on your own infrastructure.

Free trial/free tier

Availability of a free trial or a permanently free tier.

DMARC Management is in free beta.

Typically offers a free trial or tier for new users.

Drawbacks and what to watch out for

Cloudflare's main drawbacks often revolve around its vastness. The DMARC features, while present, can feel less integrated for users solely focused on email, often requiring extensive navigation. Moreover, numerous user reviews point to challenges with their customer support, with slow response times and difficulty in resolving complex issues, particularly for non-enterprise plans. Merox, being a newer, specialized player, faces a different set of challenges. Its primary drawback is the current lack of public reviews or extensive track record, which can make it harder for potential users to gauge long-term reliability and community feedback. While it excels in its niche, it naturally lacks the comprehensive suite of integrated security and performance features that Cloudflare provides, meaning organizations might need to manage multiple vendors for their broader security needs.

We have pulled the average ratings from G2 for each product, and also included the most recent negative reviews for each product in full. Positive reviews tend to have less detail and have a higher chance of being fraudulent, so negative reviews are a better signal for your decision.

4.5 / 5(561)

0 / 5(0)

Horrible Support and Billing - They run with your money and don't care to get billing correct

0.0 / 5

What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Ease of deployment, dashboard and configurations for the WAF, Cache, and other features are top tier with ease, settings, and logging. Just don't have an issue with them or you're on your own. Also, don't keep a credit card on file or they'll bill you for their mistakes. What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Customer support and billing. Their support does not read what you have to say but rather comes in with their own interpretation of what has happened and forces their views on your issue rather than trying to understand exactly what is happening. On two occassions in the last few months I have had this happen when I encountered an issue with the core product and their billing. The billing should be detailed further as it is sketchy business practices. Back in April they changed their billing software and charged me incorrectly for a month as it included the previous month as well (which I already paid). I brought this to their attention and the billing support assured me that it was not a problem. Come last week, they limited my account as I "had unpaid biling" so I contacted them again and brought attention to this wrong invoice that they never corrected. Come yesterday, they just charged my credit card on file without my authorization or explanination of what is going on. I've replied to the open ticket and created a new ticket and no one is answering. I don't want to be a drama case but this is ridiculous to have been charged something from months ago and not be given an explanation. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? Improve the security and performance of our websites/applications. Their configurable/customizable WAF, CDN/Caching, bot mitigation, and DDoS protection accomplish this for our websites/applications.

Jim M.

Owner Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

No G2 reviews

G2 is the most popular review platform for DMARC products, so this is a strong signal that this product is not popular.

Support very unresponsive. Not understanding P1 urgency. Delayed project 3 whole days.

0.0 / 5

What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? The website is intuitive, implementation steps are straightforward. It has numerous features, and they are indeed needed by a web app. What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? If your implementation goes well, it's fine. However, if you are in trouble, the support doc is useless. You pay for the pro plan to try to get some technician support. No one cares about your business or service, even if you identify it as a P1 urgency. My project was down and could not get anyone to help me when I identified it as a high-impact ticket. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? The ticket support system is horrible. No technicians provide you with timely manner answers and support. Not worth the price.

Andrew Z.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

WAF is good, but so many half baked side features

2.5 / 5

What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? The WAF is pretty industry standard. Its not too slow, gets regular updates, easy to deploy and cheap What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? The side features are just trash. Its clear they have been shipped and dropped. Cloudflare Bot Detection should not exist. Its not even funny how easy it is to bypass. Page Shield is a joke, their API security is a joke. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? OWASP top 10

Verified User in Computer Software

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

Love the product- support could use some work

2.5 / 5

What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Super easy to use. Very developer friendly. Tons of value for price. Undoubtedly #1 in WAF. What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Could use some better support. No direct channels for tech questions. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? It's providing great security for our web app.

Verified User in Computer Software

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

Don't Pay for Support

2.5 / 5

What do you like best about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? In general, cloudflare is really easy to navigate, especially for simple DNS and domain management. Unless you have a complicated setup, I find it easy enough to move a domain or simply manage DNS for most sites. What do you dislike about Cloudflare Application Security and Performance? Their support is terrible. Had an issue with a client's DNS and the person I was talking to clearly didn't have a clue what they were talking about. They took so long between answers, it seemed like they were just asking someone else. Ultimately, they were of no help and we were out the money we paid to have live support. What problems is Cloudflare Application Security and Performance solving and how is that benefiting you? Makes DNS and Security easy for most websites and domains.

Verified User in Marketing and Advertising

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)