MXtoolbox offers a broad suite of email-related tools beyond just DMARC. Its Delivery Center provides DMARC deployment assistance, verified source management, and email configuration analysis. We found it useful for diagnosing a wide array of email deliverability issues, covering SPF, DKIM, and general email health.
Beyond DMARC, it includes adaptive sender blacklist (or blocklist) monitoring and inbound/outbound mailflow monitoring. This comprehensive approach makes it a strong contender for those who need an all-in-one diagnostic platform for their email infrastructure.
Centera DMARC Compliance focuses specifically on DMARC, aiming for full compliance. While we don't have direct experience with its interface, its name suggests a dedicated solution for DMARC reporting, enforcement, and related protocols like SPF and DKIM.
The emphasis is likely on providing clear visibility into DMARC authentication results, helping users identify unauthorized senders, and guiding them towards a strict DMARC policy. Its feature set would typically include aggregate and forensic reports, and tools to move towards p=quarantine or p=reject.
How easy is each product to use
User experience
Our experience with MXtoolbox shows that its free tools are incredibly straightforward, often just requiring a domain or IP lookup. The paid Delivery Center is also designed for ease of setup, with dashboards that make reputation checks and deliverability diagnostics accessible.
However, some users have noted that the tools are separated across the site, which can make navigation a bit cumbersome for a unified dashboard view. While powerful, getting to specific report pages might require a few extra clicks.
Based on the typical DMARC compliance tool, we anticipate Centera DMARC Compliance would offer a focused, streamlined experience. DMARC platforms generally prioritize clear visualization of DMARC data, making it easy to understand email authentication trends and identify issues.
We would expect an intuitive dashboard displaying aggregate reports, with drill-down capabilities for forensic data. The user interface would likely guide users through the process of adjusting their DMARC policy from p=none to p=quarantine or p=reject effectively.
Which product has the best support
Support
MXtoolbox offers support primarily through a ticket system and phone for paid users. We've observed mixed feedback on their support responsiveness, particularly concerning cancellations and refunds for trials. Some users report difficulties canceling online and getting prompt resolution via email.
Their website also provides extensive guides and tooltips, which can be very helpful for self-service troubleshooting. For technical questions regarding email setup and diagnostics, their documentation is quite thorough, lessening the need for direct support for common issues.
Without specific details on Centera DMARC Compliance's support structure, we can infer that a specialized DMARC provider would offer knowledgeable support for complex DMARC-related queries. This often includes assistance with DNS record configuration, DMARC policy adjustments, and understanding reporting data.
Typically, such platforms provide dedicated support channels, possibly including email, phone, and an online knowledge base. For a DMARC compliance tool, effective support is critical given the technical nature of DMARC implementation and troubleshooting.
Who should use each product
Suitability
MXtoolbox is well-suited for a broad audience, from small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) to enterprise users, and Managed Service Providers (MSPs). Its comprehensive suite of tools for DNS, MX records, blocklist checks, and DMARC diagnostics makes it valuable for anyone managing email infrastructure.
For MSPs and enterprises, its monitoring and alerting capabilities provide proactive insights into email health and reputation. SMBs can leverage its free tools for quick checks and its paid plans for more in-depth monitoring and problem solving.
Centera DMARC Compliance, with its focused approach, would likely be best for organizations primarily concerned with achieving and maintaining DMARC compliance. This could include SMBs and enterprises that have identified DMARC as a critical security priority.
For MSPs, a dedicated DMARC solution could offer the necessary tools to manage DMARC policies across multiple client domains efficiently, ensuring consistent email security and brand protection. It targets users who need a specialized tool rather than a general email diagnostic platform.
DMARC report analysis
Analysis and visualization of DMARC aggregate reports.
Provides DMARC analytics as part of its Delivery Center.
Core functionality for DMARC compliance, expected to include detailed analysis.
Source detection
Identifies legitimate and illegitimate email sending sources.
Includes verified source management and domain impersonation protection.
Essential for DMARC, as it helps identify all sending sources for a domain.
Forward detection
Ability to identify and account for email forwarding scenarios.
Not explicitly listed as a core feature.
Crucial for DMARC report interpretation, likely integrated into analysis.
Spoof detection
Detects attempts to impersonate your domain.
Offers domain impersonation protection.
A primary benefit of DMARC, fully supported by compliance tools.
Notifications and alerts
Automatic alerts for DMARC issues or domain reputation changes.
Provides alerts for blacklist status and email delivery issues.
Standard for DMARC monitoring to promptly address policy violations or failures.
Reporting
Offers various types of reports on email deliverability and security.
Email delivery performance reports, DMARC analytics, and blacklist reports.
Comprehensive DMARC reports (aggregate and forensic) are its main output.
API
Application Programming Interface for integration with other systems.
Can be integrated with SIEM tools via API for contextual lookups.
No public information available on API access.
Multi-tenancy
Manages multiple domains or client accounts from a single interface.
Free accounts have limitations, suggesting multi-account management can be complex.
Common for dedicated DMARC providers, especially for MSPs and larger organizations.
SPF flattening
Reduces the number of DNS lookups for SPF records.
Included in the Delivery Center Plus tier.
A common feature in advanced DMARC tools to manage SPF lookup limits.
Hosted DMARC
Manages DMARC DNS records on behalf of the user.
Assists with DMARC deployment and record configuration.
Integral to DMARC solutions, often including hosted record management.
BIMI
Brand Indicators for Message Identification support.
Not explicitly mentioned in feature lists.
Modern DMARC platforms often include BIMI support for brand visibility.
MTA-STS/TLS-RPT
Support for Mail Transfer Agent Strict Transport Security and TLS Reporting.
No information on support for these protocols.
Advanced DMARC solutions are increasingly integrating these email security standards.
Blocklists and reputation
Monitors IP and domain reputation on various blocklists.
Provides adaptive sender blacklist (or blocklist) monitoring and alerts.
Primary focus is DMARC, not general blocklist monitoring.
AI copilot
AI-powered assistance for DMARC management and insights.
No mention of AI features.
No information suggesting AI integration.
DNS monitoring
Monitors DNS records for changes or misconfigurations.
Offers DNS lookup checks and general email configuration analysis.
Focus is on DMARC-related DNS records, not broad DNS monitoring.
Self hostable
Option to host the solution on your own infrastructure.
Cloud-based service, not offered for self-hosting.
Typically cloud-based, unlikely to be self-hostable.
Free trial/free tier
Availability of a free version or trial period.
Offers a free tier with weekly blacklist monitoring and 1 domain.
No public information on a free trial or tier.
Drawbacks and what to watch out for
MXtoolbox faces criticism mainly concerning its billing practices for paid plans, with some users reporting difficulties with cancellations and refunds despite advertised risk-free trials. Centera DMARC Compliance lacks publicly available reviews, making it difficult to pinpoint specific drawbacks from user experiences.
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.
4.1 / 5(29)
0 / 5(0)
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.)
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.
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.)
Pricing
MXtoolbox offers tiered pricing with a generous free plan and two paid tiers, while Centera DMARC Compliance's pricing information is not publicly available.
Small
Up to 10k emails / month
Free tier available for 1 domain
Contact for pricing
Medium
Up to 100k emails / month
Delivery Center: $129/month for 500k emails
Contact for pricing
Large
Up to 1 million emails / month
Delivery Center: $129/month for 500k emails, Delivery Center Plus: $399/month for 5M emails
Contact for pricing
Enterprise
Over 1 million emails / month
Delivery Center Plus: $399/month for 5M emails
Contact for pricing
Suped hard sell incoming!
Still not satisfied with MXtoolbox or Centera DMARC Compliance?