MailHardener offers a robust and focused suite of tools specifically designed for DMARC reporting and enforcement. We find its strength lies in providing detailed insights into DMARC, SPF, and DKIM, alongside advanced features like BIMI and MTA-STS. It is clearly built for those who prioritize granular control and comprehensive reporting in the DMARC space.
Beyond core DMARC aggregation, MailHardener also includes a useful SPF flattening tool, which helps domains stay within the 10-lookup limit. This dedicated approach means that while it excels at DMARC, it does not venture into broader email security like anti-spam or malware protection, remaining a specialized solution.
Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection (DFP) is not a standalone product but is integrated into the larger Barracuda Email Protection suite. This means its DMARC capabilities are part of a broader security offering that includes spam filtering, advanced threat protection, and data loss prevention.
The DFP component focuses on stopping domain impersonation and leveraging DMARC for brand protection. While it handles essential DMARC reporting and enforcement, it might not offer the same depth of specialized DMARC-centric features, such as MTA-STS or extensive DNS monitoring, that a dedicated DMARC platform provides. Its strength is in its synergy with other Barracuda security layers.
How easy is each product to use
User experience
We found MailHardener's user interface to be clean, intuitive, and easy to navigate, particularly for users focused solely on DMARC management. The dashboard provides a clear overview of DMARC compliance, and reports are well-structured, making it straightforward to identify authentication issues and potential threats.
Setting up new domains and configuring DMARC policies is a streamlined process. Its dedicated focus means less clutter from unrelated features, allowing users to quickly get to grips with DMARC specific tasks without a steep learning curve. This makes it quite accessible even for those relatively new to DMARC.
Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection's user experience is inherently tied to the broader Barracuda Email Protection platform. For existing Barracuda users, this integration offers a seamless experience, as DFP management is handled within a familiar console alongside other security features.
However, for new users not already invested in the Barracuda ecosystem, the interface might feel more complex due to the breadth of features in the overall suite. While the DFP components themselves are functional, navigating the entire platform to access DMARC specific controls could take more time to master.
Which product has the best support
Support
MailHardener offers direct support channels, typically including email and sometimes live chat, depending on the plan. Our experience suggests a responsive and knowledgeable team that is well-versed in the intricacies of DMARC and related protocols. Being a specialist provider, their support is highly focused on these specific areas.
Documentation is generally clear and comprehensive, assisting users in self-service troubleshooting. The direct nature of their support is a plus for users who prefer expert assistance tailored to DMARC challenges rather than navigating a general IT support system.
Barracuda, as a larger enterprise solution provider, typically offers various support tiers, including phone, email, and a comprehensive knowledge base. Their support structure is designed to handle a wide array of products and issues across their entire security portfolio. This can mean robust support resources, but potentially longer wait times for highly specific DMARC queries if the initial contact point is generalized.
The single review we have seen highlights customer service as 'extremely responsive', which is a strong indicator of quality. However, the support experience can vary based on the specific Barracuda Email Protection bundle purchased and the size of your organization.
Who should use each product
Suitability
MailHardener is exceptionally well-suited for organizations that need a dedicated, deep-dive DMARC solution. SMBs and mid-market companies that want full control and visibility over their email authentication will find its comprehensive feature set beneficial. For enterprises, it offers the robust reporting and management capabilities needed to handle complex email environments.
For MSPs (Managed Service Providers), MailHardener provides multi-tenancy features and a clear pricing structure that supports managing DMARC for multiple clients efficiently. If DMARC is your primary concern and you desire a specialized tool, MailHardener is an excellent fit.
Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection is ideal for organizations already using or planning to adopt the Barracuda Email Protection suite. SMBs, mid-market, and enterprise clients looking for a unified email security platform, where DMARC enforcement is one component among many, will find this product suitable. It offers significant value when integrated into a broader security strategy.
MSPs and resellers who are part of Barracuda's partner programs will also find this a suitable offering to include in their managed security services, leveraging the full Barracuda ecosystem. It's less ideal as a standalone DMARC solution but excels when combined with Barracuda's other offerings, simplifying vendor management.
How does MailHardener compare with Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection?
DMARC report analysis
Ability to parse and present DMARC aggregate and forensic reports.
Source detection
Identify legitimate and illegitimate email sending sources.
Forward detection
Identify email forwarding chains.
Spoof detection
Detect instances of email spoofing and brand impersonation.
Notifications and alerts
Receive automated alerts for DMARC policy changes, threats, or issues.
Reporting
Comprehensive dashboards and customizable reports.
API
Programmatic access to DMARC data and management functions.
Dedicated API available.
Not a primary feature of DFP, may be limited via Barracuda's broader API.
Multi-tenancy
Support for managing multiple clients or domains from a single account.
Built for MSPs with multi-client management.
Supported for MSPs/resellers within partner programs.
SPF flattening
Automated system to simplify complex SPF records.
Not a core feature of Barracuda DFP.
Hosted DMARC
Provider hosts and manages DMARC DNS records.
Barracuda DFP provides protection but does not host DMARC records.
BIMI
Support for Brand Indicators for Message Identification.
Not a core feature of Barracuda DFP.
MTA-STS/TLS-RPT
Support for Mail Transfer Agent Strict Transport Security and TLS Reporting.
Not a core feature of Barracuda DFP.
Blocklists and reputation
Monitoring and integration with email blocklists (or blacklists) and reputation services.
Monitors blocklist status for domains.
Strong integration within the broader Barracuda Email Protection suite.
AI copilot
AI-powered assistant for DMARC policy recommendations or analysis.
DNS monitoring
Continuous monitoring of critical DNS records (beyond DMARC).
Specific DNS health checks relevant to email deliverability.
Not a primary feature of Barracuda DFP, focus is email traffic.
Self hostable
Option to deploy the software on your own infrastructure.
Free trial/free tier
Availability of a free version or trial period.
Offers a generous free tier.
Free trial available as part of Barracuda Email Protection.
Drawbacks and what to watch out for
MailHardener, while a strong DMARC specialist, has fewer public reviews, which can make it harder for new users to gauge community sentiment. Its focused nature also means that for organizations seeking an all-in-one email security solution, it would need to be paired with other tools. Barracuda DFP's main drawback is its lack of standalone availability, requiring investment in the broader Barracuda Email Protection suite, which may be more than some users need. The mentioned 'slight network lag' in a review also warrants consideration.
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.
0 / 5(0)
5 / 5(1)
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.
Excellent protection for a mid-sized non-profit.
5.0 / 5
What do you like best about Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection?
Our school for autistic adults has benefited immensely from the Barracuda products we use for cybersecurity, and their Domain Fraud Protection is an excellent addition to the essentials suite. It is relatively inexpensive compared to competitors and provides comprehensive DMARC services which protect our brand from being digitally impersonated and used to launch attacks. This was a real problem for us prior to purchasing Barracuda DFP, but has not been a worry in the 7+ years since we installed the software. Our IT specialist reports that their customer service is extremely responsive and that the software itself is simple to manage. Highly recommended.
What do you dislike about Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection?
The only downside we've experienced to Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection is a slight network lag. This has not been too noticeable, however, and the extra protection has been well worth the additional system load.
What problems is Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection solving and how is that benefiting you?
We used to suffer domain spoofing attacks multiple times a year, but Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection has successfully stopped virtually all of these kinds of attacks since we began using it on our network in 2015.
Jared S.
Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)
Pricing
MailHardener offers a free tier for smaller needs, with paid plans based on usage, while Barracuda DFP is exclusively bundled within the Barracuda Email Protection suite, requiring a broader investment.
Small
Up to 10k emails / month
Free tier
Included in Barracuda Email Protection (Contact for pricing)
Medium
Up to 100k emails / month
Contact for pricing
Included in Barracuda Email Protection (Contact for pricing)
Large
Up to 1 million emails / month
Contact for pricing
Included in Barracuda Email Protection (Contact for pricing)
Enterprise
Over 1 million emails / month
Contact for pricing
Included in Barracuda Email Protection (Contact for pricing)
Suped hard sell incoming!
Still not satisfied with MailHardener or Barracuda Domain Fraud Protection?