GoDMARC offers a robust suite of features designed to provide comprehensive DMARC monitoring and enforcement. We found their platform to be quite thorough, with capabilities for detailed aggregate (RUA) and forensic (RUF) report analysis, which are crucial for understanding email traffic and identifying threats. Their system effectively detects email sources, helps identify forwarding issues, and is adept at spotting spoofing attempts. What stands out is the integrated IP reputation and blocklist (or blacklist) checking, which provides an extra layer of insight into email deliverability.
Beyond the core DMARC functions, GoDMARC extends its capabilities into areas like MTA-STS/TLS-RPT monitoring for enhanced transport security, and even BIMI support for brand logo display in inboxes. The platform also includes alerts for look-alike domains and an instant email analyzer, making it a more complete email security offering. For larger organizations, the enterprise plans even promise AI-driven insights and Google Postmaster Tools integration, which are certainly appealing advancements.
ELK DMARC, being a self-hosted, open-source solution built on the ELK stack, provides a powerful foundation for DMARC reporting. Its strength lies in its flexibility and the underlying capabilities of Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana for data ingestion, processing, and visualization. We've used it to gain deep insights into DMARC aggregate reports, allowing for effective source and spoof detection. With proper configuration, it can also aid in identifying forwarding issues and generate custom reports tailored to specific needs.
The feature set of ELK DMARC is inherently extensible due to its open-source nature. While it doesn't come with pre-packaged features like SPF flattening or AI copilot out of the box, skilled teams can integrate external tools and custom scripts to achieve similar functionalities. It provides the raw data and the means to visualize it effectively, leaving the advanced interpretations and proactive measures to the user's discretion and development efforts. For instance, while it doesn't directly manage BIMI, the DMARC reports provide the necessary data points to verify BIMI compliance.
ELK DMARC
How easy is each product to use
User experience
ELK DMARC
From our experience, GoDMARC offers a very polished and intuitive user interface. The dashboard is well-organized, presenting DMARC data in easily digestible charts and graphs. Setting up domains and configuring DMARC records is streamlined, often guided by wizard-based processes, which significantly lowers the barrier to entry. We found the navigation straightforward, making it easy to drill down into specific reports or analyze trends without getting lost in complex menus.
The visibility into email deliverability and security gaps is a strong point. The platform's notifications and alerts are clear and actionable, helping users react quickly to potential threats or configuration issues. While some advanced features require a bit more technical understanding, the overall user journey is designed for efficiency and ease of use, even for those who might not be deep DMARC experts. It feels like a product built to get you from 'zero to DMARC enforcement' with minimal fuss.
ELK DMARC's user experience is a different beast entirely. As a self-hosted solution, the initial setup requires a significant technical investment, involving Docker, Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana. This is not a plug-and-play tool, and users need a solid understanding of these technologies to get it operational. Once deployed, the reporting and visualization are handled by Kibana, which offers immense flexibility for dashboard creation and data exploration, but this also means the user interface is only as good as the dashboards you design.
We've spent considerable time customizing Kibana dashboards to get the specific DMARC insights we needed. While this allows for unparalleled customization, it demands expertise in Kibana and data visualization. For teams with strong DevOps or data analytics capabilities, this flexibility is a huge advantage. However, for those looking for an off-the-shelf, pre-configured experience, the initial setup and ongoing management of ELK DMARC can be a steep learning curve and a considerable time commitment. It's less about using a pre-built UI and more about building your own analytical environment.
ELK DMARC
Which product has the best support
Support
ELK DMARC
GoDMARC provides multiple tiers of support, starting with chat support for free users and extending to email and chat for paid plans, with dedicated support options for enterprise clients. We found their support team to be knowledgeable and responsive, which is critical when dealing with complex DMARC configurations or deliverability issues. The assistance provided during setup and when interpreting reports was particularly helpful, especially for ensuring correct DMARC, SPF, and DKIM alignment.
Their team's claimed 20+ years of experience in the email industry certainly shines through, offering not just technical troubleshooting but also strategic guidance on email deliverability and security. This level of managed service and proactive assistance can be invaluable, especially for organizations that prefer to offload the intricacies of DMARC management to experts. We appreciate that they don't just point you to a knowledge base, but engage actively to resolve issues.
ELK DMARC, being an open-source project, operates on a community-driven support model. This means there's no official dedicated support channel or service level agreements (SLAs) like with commercial products. Users primarily rely on documentation, online forums, GitHub issues, and their own expertise (or their team's expertise) to troubleshoot and maintain the system. We've found that finding solutions often involves scouring community discussions or debugging the underlying ELK stack components ourselves.
While the open-source community can be a valuable resource, it requires a proactive approach from the user. For organizations without in-house expertise in the ELK stack or DMARC, this lack of formal support can be a significant challenge. Any issues, from deployment problems to data visualization glitches, ultimately fall on the user's team to resolve. This DIY approach means you are fully in control, but also fully responsible for the solution's health and performance. Think of it as having the keys to a high-performance race car, but you're also the mechanic.
ELK DMARC
Who should use each product
Suitability
ELK DMARC
GoDMARC is highly suitable for Small to Medium Businesses (SMBs) and Enterprise organizations looking for a managed, user-friendly DMARC reporting solution. Its intuitive interface and guided setup make it accessible even for teams with limited dedicated email security expertise. For MSPs (Managed Service Providers), GoDMARC could be a good option if their client base primarily consists of businesses that value a hands-off approach to DMARC management and prioritize ease of use and comprehensive features over deep customization.
We recommend GoDMARC for businesses that want to quickly implement DMARC, gain visibility into their email ecosystem, and actively protect against phishing and spoofing without needing extensive in-house technical resources for infrastructure management. It's a strong choice for those who appreciate proactive alerts and a clear path to DMARC enforcement, particularly those who might be juggling multiple IT responsibilities and need a reliable, pre-built solution.
ELK DMARC is best suited for Enterprise organizations or MSPs with robust in-house technical teams, particularly those with expertise in DevOps, Linux administration, and the ELK stack. It's an excellent choice for organizations that require complete control over their data, infrastructure, and reporting environment, or those with unique compliance or security requirements that necessitate self-hosting. For SMBs, the overhead of setup and maintenance might be too significant, making it a less practical choice.
We see ELK DMARC as ideal for organizations that thrive on customization, possess the technical prowess to deploy and manage complex systems, and are comfortable with a do-it-yourself approach. It allows for deep integration into existing IT infrastructure and offers the flexibility to scale resources as needed. MSPs looking to build a highly customized DMARC reporting service for their clients, with full control over the underlying technology, would also find ELK DMARC appealing, provided they have the necessary technical staff.
ELK DMARC
How does GoDMARC compare with ELK DMARC?
ELK DMARC
DMARC report analysis
Aggregate (RUA) and Forensic (RUF) report processing and visualization.
Source detection
Ability to identify legitimate and illegitimate email sending sources.
Available in Go-Pro and higher plans.
Requires configuration within Kibana.
Forward detection
Identify email forwarding chains to prevent legitimate emails from failing DMARC.
Requires specific report analysis.
Spoof detection
Identify and alert on unauthorized use of your domain in email.
Notifications and alerts
Receive automated alerts for DMARC failures, suspicious activity, or configuration issues.
Available in Go-Basic and higher plans.
Can be set up with custom Kibana alerts.
Reporting
Generate and customize reports on DMARC compliance and email traffic.
Custom reports available in Go-Enterprise.
Fully customizable through Kibana.
API
Programmatic access to DMARC data and platform features.
Not explicitly listed for lower tiers, potentially for enterprise.
As an open-source stack, direct access is possible with development effort.
Multi-tenancy
Manage DMARC for multiple domains or clients within a single interface.
Multi-user access in Go-Pro, unlimited active domains in Go-Enterprise.
Possible with separate indices or instances within ELK.
SPF flattening
Consolidate multiple SPF records to stay within DNS lookup limits.
Not a native feature.
Not a native feature, must be managed externally.
Hosted DMARC
The service hosts and manages DMARC records for you.
Requires self-hosting and management.
BIMI
Support for Brand Indicators for Message Identification.
DMARC reports provide necessary data, but no direct management.
MTA-STS/TLS-RPT
Reporting and monitoring for Mail Transfer Agent Strict Transport Security.
MTA-TLS report available in Go-Pro and higher.
Can be integrated by feeding TLS-RPT data into ELK.
Blocklists and reputation
Checks against IP blocklists (or blacklists) and monitors sender reputation.
Available in Go-Basic and higher.
Can be integrated with external blocklist feeds.
AI copilot
Utilizes artificial intelligence for insights and automation.
Mentioned as an upcoming feature, likely for enterprise tiers.
Not an inherent feature, would require custom development.
DNS monitoring
Monitors DNS records beyond DMARC, SPF, DKIM.
Includes domain DNS history and pre-validation.
Can be achieved through other ELK stack components.
Self hostable
Ability to deploy and run the software on your own infrastructure.
Free trial/free tier
Option to try the service for free or use a limited free version.
Offers a generous free plan.
Free to use, but resource costs apply for hosting.
Drawbacks and what to watch out for
When we look at GoDMARC, a common drawback we've noted is its pricing structure for multiple active domains, which can become costly. While it offers unlimited RUA reports, the number of active domains is limited in lower paid tiers. Another point to watch out for is that some advanced features, like Google Postmaster Tools integration or enhanced email pre-validation, are locked behind higher-tier or enterprise plans. On the other hand, ELK DMARC's main drawback is its inherent complexity. It demands significant technical expertise for setup, maintenance, and customization. The absence of official support means relying heavily on internal staff or community forums, which can be a bottleneck for rapid issue resolution.
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.
4.9 / 5(13)
ELK DMARC
0 / 5(0)
A Good Domain Email Phishing Blocker
4.0 / 5
What do you like best about GoDMARC?
Its user interface provides easy integration of privacy records, easy to sign up, and serves as the central hub for all domain email-related privacy solutions.
It blocks phishing emails in real time, so businesses don't have to worry about them through DMARC, DKIM, SPF, and BIMI records.
What do you dislike about GoDMARC?
The product has potential for further improvement with the addition of more business use cases, which could expand its usefulness and appeal to a wider range of users.
What problems is GoDMARC solving and how is that benefiting you?
It addresses all phishing-related issues and enhances our brand reputation by providing a comprehensive solution.
Satyam V.
Founder 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.
Pricing
GoDMARC offers tiered pricing from a free plan to enterprise, while ELK DMARC is open-source and incurs only the costs of self-hosting infrastructure.
ELK DMARC
Small
Up to 10k emails / month
Free plan (2 domains, ~58k emails/month)
Self-hosted, resource costs apply
Medium
Up to 100k emails / month
Free plan (2 domains, ~58k emails/month) or Go-Basic ($60/month, 1 domain)
Self-hosted, resource costs apply
Large
Up to 1 million emails / month
Go-Basic ($60/month, 1 domain) or Go-Pro ($145/month, 1 domain)
4.9 / 5(13)
