Which tool is better for dedicated DMARC management?

MailHardener is a more specialized platform for DMARC, offering in-depth analysis and advanced features like BIMI and MTA-STS. If your primary goal is comprehensive DMARC enforcement, it is generally the stronger option. We also recommend Suped , which has a very generous free plan.

Does MXtoolbox offer SPF flattening?

Yes, MXtoolbox offers SPF flattening as part of its Delivery Center Plus pricing tier. This feature helps manage complex SPF records to avoid the 10-lookup DNS limit.

Are there free options available for either product?

Both MailHardener and MXtoolbox offer free options. MailHardener has a free plan, and MXtoolbox provides a free tier that includes weekly blacklist (or blocklist) monitoring for one domain, alongside many free diagnostic tools.

Which product is better for Managed Service Providers (MSPs)?

MailHardener explicitly offers a specialized plan for MSPs, indicating stronger multi-tenancy support for managing multiple client domains efficiently. MXtoolbox can manage multiple domains but is not primarily designed with MSP-specific multi-tenancy features.

How do these tools help with email deliverability?

Both tools significantly enhance email deliverability by ensuring proper DMARC, SPF, and DKIM authentication. This helps prevent emails from being marked as spam or rejected. MXtoolbox also offers direct blacklist monitoring, which is crucial for identifying and remediating reputation issues that impact delivery. For comprehensive DMARC monitoring, we find Suped to be an excellent solution.

MailHardener vs MXtoolbox

Choose MailHardener for comprehensive DMARC management, or MXtoolbox for broad DNS and email diagnostics.

0 / 5(0)

Compare to Suped

4.1 / 5(29)

Compare to Suped

Compare product functionality

Feature set

MailHardener is a specialized DMARC reporting and email security platform. It provides extensive DMARC, SPF, and DKIM monitoring, offering deep insights into authentication failures and potential spoofing attempts. We found its focus on DMARC compliance to be particularly strong, helping users achieve full enforcement.

Beyond core DMARC, MailHardener also includes support for advanced email security standards like BIMI, MTA-STS, and TLS-RPT. It provides tools for managing SPF records, including SPF flattening, which is crucial for complex email infrastructures. The platform is designed for proactive email security management.

MXtoolbox offers a broader suite of tools, with DMARC monitoring being one component of its comprehensive email and DNS diagnostic services. Its Delivery Center product includes DMARC analytics, verified source management, and domain impersonation protection. We appreciate its wide array of free tools for quick lookups.

While its DMARC features are solid, MXtoolbox integrates this with blacklist (or blocklist) monitoring, DNS lookups, SMTP testing, and general email health checks. This makes it a versatile tool for general network administrators. SPF flattening is available in its higher-tier plans, which is a useful addition for larger organizations.

How easy is each product to use

User experience

MailHardener offers a clean, intuitive interface that is tailored specifically for DMARC and email security. The dashboards are well-organized, making it straightforward to identify authentication issues, top sending sources, and DMARC compliance rates. We found the setup process to be guided and relatively simple.

The platform provides clear explanations for DMARC records and configuration. While some advanced features might require a deeper understanding of email protocols, the general navigation and reporting are user-friendly. The focus on DMARC allows for a less cluttered experience, which is beneficial for dedicated DMARC management.

MXtoolbox has a more utilitarian, albeit functional, interface. Its free tools are very easy to access and use for quick checks. The paid Delivery Center, however, aggregates a lot of information, which can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming if you are only focused on DMARC. We noticed some navigation could involve multiple clicks.

The platform's strength lies in its diverse set of tools, but this also means the user experience can vary between different functionalities. For experienced IT professionals who are familiar with various DNS and email acronyms, it's efficient. However, a less technical user might find some sections daunting without sufficient prior knowledge.

Which product has the best support

Support

MailHardener offers support through various channels, likely including email and an extensive knowledge base. Given its specialized nature, we expect their support team to have deep expertise in DMARC and related email security protocols. They aim to provide comprehensive guidance for complex DMARC deployments.

Users can typically find detailed documentation and guides on their website, helping with self-service troubleshooting. For more intricate issues, direct technical assistance ensures that DMARC compliance can be achieved and maintained effectively. This focused support is a strong point for DMARC specialists.

MXtoolbox provides support primarily through their website, which includes FAQs, articles, and a ticketing system for active subscribers. We've seen from user reviews that phone support might be available but can be difficult to access without an active subscription, and sometimes lacks promptness or direct resolution for billing issues.

While their free tools are well-documented, the support experience for paid features, particularly regarding billing, has drawn some criticism. For technical email deliverability issues, the resources available are generally helpful, but direct intervention for complex problems might require persistence.

Who should use each product

Suitability

MailHardener is exceptionally well-suited for organizations that prioritize deep DMARC enforcement and advanced email security. It's an excellent choice for businesses, including SMBs and enterprises, that need a dedicated platform to achieve and maintain robust email authentication. MSPs will also find its multi-tenancy capabilities valuable for managing multiple client domains.

Its comprehensive feature set for DMARC, SPF, DKIM, BIMI, and MTA-STS makes it ideal for companies with strict email security requirements or those aiming for brand protection and improved deliverability through full DMARC compliance. It is less about general IT diagnostics and more about specialized email trust.

MXtoolbox caters to a broader audience, from individual IT professionals to SMBs and enterprises, who need a general-purpose set of tools for email and DNS diagnostics. Its free tools are widely used for quick lookups and troubleshooting. The paid Delivery Center is suitable for organizations that need a mix of DMARC monitoring and proactive blacklist (or blocklist) detection and overall email health checks.

While it offers DMARC, its true strength lies in providing a holistic view of email infrastructure. MSPs might use its features for initial client assessments, but its DMARC reporting might not be as granular or multi-tenant friendly as dedicated DMARC platforms. It's a versatile tool for anyone managing a diverse set of email and DNS responsibilities.

How does MailHardener compare with MXtoolbox?

DMARC report analysis

Aggregating and interpreting DMARC aggregate reports (RUA).

Source detection

Identifying all legitimate and unauthorized email sending sources.

Forward detection

Detecting and managing email forwarding issues that affect DMARC alignment.

Spoof detection

Identifying unauthorized emails attempting to impersonate your domain.

Notifications and alerts

Proactive alerts for DMARC failures, new sources, or policy changes.

Reporting

Customizable reports on DMARC compliance, authentication rates, and trends.

API

Programmatic access for integration with other systems.

Mentioned in user reviews for integration.

Multi-tenancy

Managing multiple domains or client accounts from a single interface.

Offered for MSPs.

Not a primary feature for managing separate tenants.

SPF flattening

Consolidating multiple SPF lookups to stay within DNS limits.

Available in Delivery Center Plus.

Hosted DMARC

Option to host your DMARC record, simplifying setup.

BIMI

Support for Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI).

No direct mention of support.

MTA-STS/TLS-RPT

Monitoring for Mail Transfer Agent-Strict Transport Security and TLS Reporting.

No direct mention of support.

Blocklists and reputation

Monitoring domains and IPs against various email blocklists (or blacklists).

AI copilot

Assisted insights and recommendations powered by artificial intelligence.

Not a core feature.

DNS monitoring

Monitoring DNS records beyond DMARC, SPF, and DKIM.

Self hostable

Ability to host the software on your own infrastructure.

Both are SaaS platforms.

Free trial/free tier

Availability of a free version or trial period to test the service.

Drawbacks and what to watch out for

When considering MailHardener, its specialized focus on DMARC can be a drawback for those seeking a broader suite of email tools, as it doesn't offer the extensive general diagnostic features found in MXtoolbox. For MXtoolbox, we've observed concerns from users regarding their business practices, especially with billing and the clarity of their "risk-free" trial offers. Some users also find the UI a bit dated and less streamlined than more modern solutions.

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)

4.1 / 5(29)

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.

Business Practices are scammy

0.0 / 5

What do you like best about MXToolbox? It helped us solve the small issue we had with our emails going to customers spam folder. What do you dislike about MXToolbox? I initially signed up online for a month-to-month contract, but then a salesperson got a hold of me and sent me a quote. The quote he sent me was for a year contract which I did not want, so I signed up for the month to month. Once the problem was fixed I tried to cancel and I couldn't do it online. I emailed them and they told me I had to call them. After lots of back and fourth they told me I signed a year contract and I couldn't cancel. I would have never signed up for a year. It was a very scammy business practice. Eventually they stopped responding so I had to stop the payments from my credit card. Recommendations to others considering MXToolbox: I don't recommend them because of their shady business practices. What problems is MXToolbox solving and how is that benefiting you? fixing a problem with emails going to spam

Sam B.

IT Director Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

Think twice before doing their paid plans. Deceptive "risk-free" 30 day trial

0.0 / 5

What do you like best about MXToolbox? I suspect many of the people responding favorably on this forum are using their free tools. Their free tools are very useful -- but think twice before upgrading to their paid plans. What do you dislike about MXToolbox? Like many other software vendors - they make an offer of a risk-free one-month trial. However, they don't actually refund you your money if you cancel before 30 days. Here is my example: I signed up for their delivery center option on November 10, 2018 and was promptly billed $99. I used the service for 2 days, realized the paid features were overkill for my own and customers' needs, so called to cancel November 12 (two days after signup.) They acknowledged my cancellation by email but never credited back my account for the $99. On December 17th I called their toll-free line. Matt on the phone said ("getting a refund would require managers approval and it's not a certain thing.") No sign of any refund as-yet, no confirmation from the company following the call of what to expect on refund. On December 15 I emailed. Their response to my email was "Sorry, we can't process that sort of thing by email. Either call or create a support ticket." Unfortunately, the support ticket option is available only for active subscribers -- so you are left with calling their phone system and having no record of exchange. Attached is an image from their website taken December 2018 in which they describe their "risk-free" offer. https://postimg.cc/mhgzm197 In summary -- Be aware that their free trial is not like how most other software vendors manage their trial promotions. They are opportunistic about billing you and (in my experience) don't honor the refund they promise as part of their risk-free trial. Recommendations to others considering MXToolbox: Use their free tools (they are good.) Their paid tools are overpriced, and they have a misleading "risk-free" plan that will end up costing you $99. What problems is MXToolbox solving and how is that benefiting you? Their free tools will help you diagnose MX configuration issues.

jon b.

Jon Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

Beware their "30 day free trial" of the Delivery Center!

0.5 / 5

What do you like best about MXToolbox? The free tools are good, and one wouldn't mind paying something for them, but one does object to being defrauded - see below. What do you dislike about MXToolbox? Tried to cancel free trial only a couple of days in, but $99 had been taken from my card and they have not responded to repeated requests to end it and refund the money. It looks like attempted fraud. What problems is MXToolbox solving and how is that benefiting you? Simple things like reverse DNS lookup helped us to check our email setup.

Alexander S.

Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

Makes email management easy

3.5 / 5

What do you like best about MXToolbox? -Affordable pricing -Setting up is very easy -Useful dashboards -Makes email reputation checks easier What do you dislike about MXToolbox? -This tool covers everything required for email management, there is nothing to dislike about. What problems is MXToolbox solving and how is that benefiting you? I have used this tool for domain reputation checking for phising mail analysis also I am using this for some of my projects to check mail deliverability and reputation of the domain to make sure the domain is not being blacklisted due to sending loads of emails.

Nitin R.

Software dev Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.)

MXToolBox is great for blacklist testing

3.5 / 5

What do you like best about MXToolbox? MXToolBox is suitable for Blacklists, DMARC, Diagnostics, Email Health, and DNS Lookup checks. What do you dislike about MXToolbox? For a free tool, I'd say MXToolBox is pretty top-notch. What problems is MXToolbox solving and how is that benefiting you? I used MXToolBox for DNS look-ups and blacklist checks.

Verified User in Marketing and Advertising

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

Pricing

MailHardener offers a free tier and paid plans with pricing available upon inquiry for specific volumes, whereas MXtoolbox has a free tier for basic monitoring and two distinct paid tiers with fixed prices, catering to different email volumes.

Small

Up to 10k emails / month

Free plan available

Free plan, 1 domain

Medium

Up to 100k emails / month

Contact for pricing

$129/month (up to 500k volume)

Large

Up to 1 million emails / month

Contact for pricing

$399/month (up to 5 million volume)