MXtoolbox provides a broad suite of email and DNS-related tools. While it offers DMARC reporting and monitoring, it's part of a larger ecosystem that includes blacklist (or blocklist) checking, DNS lookups, SMTP diagnostics, and general email health monitoring. Their DMARC functionality focuses on deploying and monitoring DMARC records, identifying verified sources, and protecting against domain impersonation.
For DMARC, we found its reporting to be clear, showing aggregate data that helps understand email authentication results. The platform also includes SPF flattening, a valuable feature for domains with many senders, helping to avoid the 10-lookup limit. The integration with their other diagnostic tools means you can investigate related issues, like blocklist status, all within one platform.
DMARC Manager, as its name suggests, is purpose-built for DMARC. We expect a streamlined focus on DMARC reporting, analytics, and policy enforcement. Such a specialized tool typically excels at granular data visualization, breaking down DMARC aggregate reports (RUA) and forensic reports (RUF) to pinpoint issues.
While detailed feature specifics were not publicly available from our review of the homepage, a dedicated DMARC service would generally offer in-depth analysis of DMARC alignment, identification of legitimate and fraudulent sending sources, and tools to help transition from a monitoring policy (p=none) to enforcement (p=quarantine or p=reject). We anticipate features like guided DMARC setup and ongoing policy management assistance.
How easy is each product to use
User experience
MXtoolbox's user experience can feel a bit like a collection of powerful tools rather than a unified dashboard, especially for their free offerings. While each tool is effective, navigating between different reports for DMARC, DNS, and blocklist checks can require several clicks. The interface is functional and straightforward, catering to users who know exactly what they're looking for.
For the paid Delivery Center, the DMARC analytics are more integrated. We found the setup process to be relatively easy, with dashboards providing useful insights into email deliverability and reputation. However, some users might find the overall aesthetic a bit dated compared to newer platforms, and the navigation could be more fluid for a seamless workflow.
Given its specialized nature, we anticipate DMARC Manager would offer a highly focused and intuitive user experience for DMARC monitoring. A dedicated DMARC platform typically prioritizes ease of understanding complex DMARC data, presenting it through clear visualizations and actionable insights.
Without direct access to the full platform, we can infer that the user interface would guide users through the DMARC implementation journey, from initial record setup to policy enforcement. Such a design philosophy usually aims to simplify the often-complex world of DMARC, making it accessible even for those who are not deep email security experts.
Which product has the best support
Support
MXtoolbox offers support through various channels, including email and phone for paid subscribers. Many users appreciate the comprehensive documentation and guides available. However, based on user reviews, there have been concerns regarding customer service, particularly concerning billing, refunds, and contract cancellations.
We noticed reports of difficulties in processing refunds or cancellations online, often requiring phone calls or support tickets that sometimes led to further issues. While the technical assistance for diagnosing email problems is generally well-regarded, the administrative support experience appears to be a significant point of friction for some users.
DMARC Manager's approach to support is not detailed on their public-facing pages, but a free trial suggests an onboarding process that would likely include some level of guidance. For a specialized product, we would expect support to be highly knowledgeable about DMARC intricacies and capable of assisting with policy implementation and troubleshooting specific DMARC issues.
Generally, newer, specialized platforms often rely on responsive online support, including live chat, email, and comprehensive knowledge bases. We would anticipate that their support is geared towards helping users understand their DMARC reports and fine-tune their DMARC policies for optimal email security and deliverability.
Who should use each product
Suitability
MXtoolbox is best suited for IT administrators, webmasters, and small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) who need a comprehensive set of tools for various email and DNS diagnostics. Its broad functionality, including DMARC, SPF, DKIM, blocklist checking, and general email health, makes it a go-to resource for those managing diverse email infrastructure.
For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), its monitoring capabilities for multiple domains and IPs can be beneficial, though the domain limits on paid plans might become a factor. Enterprise-level organizations might find it useful for specific diagnostic tasks but may seek more specialized or scalable DMARC solutions for broader deployments. It caters well to those who value an all-in-one diagnostic toolkit.
DMARC Manager appears ideal for organizations, from SMBs to larger enterprises, that primarily need a dedicated and focused solution for DMARC implementation and monitoring. If your main objective is to achieve and maintain DMARC compliance, prevent email spoofing, and improve email deliverability through authentication, this platform would be a strong contender.
It would also be suitable for MSPs who manage DMARC for their clients, assuming its feature set includes multi-tenancy or easy domain management. Enterprise clients seeking deep DMARC insights and robust reporting would likely appreciate its specialization. For those who want to cut through the noise and concentrate solely on DMARC, this focused approach could be very appealing.
DMARC report analysis
Both offer reporting on DMARC data.
Source detection
Ability to identify email sending sources.
Forward detection
Identify when emails are forwarded and lose DMARC alignment.
Spoof detection
Identify unauthorized use of your domain.
Notifications and alerts
Receive alerts for DMARC non-compliance or issues.
Reporting
Comprehensive dashboards and data exports.
API
Programmatic access to data and features.
Implied by SIEM integration mentions.
No public information available.
Multi-tenancy
Manage multiple client domains from a single account.
Implied by client monitoring features.
No public information available.
SPF flattening
Helps manage SPF records to avoid lookup limits.
Available in Delivery Center Plus.
No public information available.
Hosted DMARC
Services for managing your DMARC record.
BIMI
Brand Indicators for Message Identification support.
Not explicitly mentioned.
Not explicitly mentioned.
MTA-STS/TLS-RPT
Reporting and monitoring for secure email transport.
Not explicitly mentioned.
Not explicitly mentioned.
Blocklists and reputation
Monitor IP/domain reputation and blacklist status.
Core feature, even in free tier.
Not explicitly a DMARC Manager feature.
AI copilot
AI-powered assistance for DMARC management.
Not mentioned.
Not mentioned.
DNS monitoring
Monitor DNS records for changes and health.
A foundational part of their toolkit.
Not explicitly a DMARC Manager feature.
Self hostable
Option to host the service on your own infrastructure.
Cloud-based service.
Cloud-based service.
Free trial/free tier
Availability of a free option to try the service.
Offers a free tier with limited features.
Offers a free trial period.
When considering MXtoolbox, we've noted significant concerns regarding their business practices, particularly around billing and cancellations. Several user reviews highlight issues with their "risk-free" trials and difficulties in obtaining refunds or canceling subscriptions, often leading to frustration. For DMARC Manager, the main drawback at this stage is the limited public information available on its pricing, features, and user feedback, which makes a comprehensive assessment challenging.
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/mhgzm197In 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 easierWhat 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.)
MXtoolbox offers a free tier with limited features, then scales up with two paid plans based on domain and email volume, whereas DMARC Manager provides a free trial but requires direct contact for detailed pricing information.
Small
Up to 10k emails / month
Free tier (1 domain) or $129/month (5 domains, 500k volume)
Contact for pricing
Medium
Up to 100k emails / month
$129/month (5 domains, 500k volume)
Contact for pricing
Large
Up to 1 million emails / month
$399/month (5 domains, 5M volume)
Contact for pricing
Enterprise
Over 1 million emails / month
$399/month (5 domains, up to 5M volume, then custom)
Contact for pricing
Suped hard sell incoming!
Still not satisfied with MXtoolbox or DMARC Manager?
4.1 / 5(29)
