MXtoolbox provides a suite of tools primarily focused on DNS, email health, and blocklist monitoring. Their DMARC offering, part of the Delivery Center, helps with DMARC deployment assistance, verified source management, and SPF/DKIM configuration monitoring. We found its core strength lies in its diagnostic capabilities, allowing us to quickly identify issues that might impact email deliverability, such as being added to a blocklist (or blacklist).
Beyond DMARC, MXtoolbox also includes inbox placement analysis, recipient complaint reporting, and email delivery performance reports in its paid tiers. While it covers essential DMARC needs, it is more of a toolbox for email administrators to actively manage and troubleshoot issues rather than a fully automated, comprehensive email fraud defense system.
Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense (EFD) is a robust enterprise-grade solution designed to streamline DMARC deployment and protect organizational reputation from email fraud. It offers dedicated consultants, guided workflows, and identification of legitimate senders to ensure a smooth DMARC rollout, even for complex environments. We experienced its focus on preventing domain and lookalike domain spoofing, providing a 360-degree view of the email ecosystem.
Proofpoint EFD also includes advanced features like a Supplier Risk Explorer, which automatically identifies suppliers and assesses their risk, and comprehensive domain discovery to continuously detect lookalike domains. Its hosted authentication services for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC are particularly strong, helping to overcome DNS lookup limits and simplify record management, which we found invaluable for larger organizations.
How easy is each product to use
User experience
We found MXtoolbox's user interface to be functional and straightforward, especially for its free tools. The dashboards provide useful overviews, and setting up basic monitoring is relatively easy. However, some users might find themselves clicking through multiple links to access different reports or diagnostic tools, which can feel a bit fragmented when diving deep into specific issues.
While the tools are powerful, they often require a certain level of technical knowledge to interpret the results effectively. For experienced IT professionals or those familiar with email protocols, it is intuitive, but a less technical user might find the sheer amount of data and various checks overwhelming without a clear path for remediation.
Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense, as an enterprise solution, has a more complex initial setup that often involves dedicated consultants. Once configured, its day-to-day management aims to be streamlined through guided workflows, though the dashboard can still be perceived as less intuitive by some users. We noted that the system is powerful but requires investment in understanding its ecosystem.
Its strength lies in automating many complex DMARC and fraud defense tasks, reducing the manual overhead. However, the comprehensive nature means there is a learning curve, and accessing specific information or customizing reports might require navigating a more intricate interface compared to simpler tools. The system is designed for a security-focused team that can leverage its depth.
Which product has the best support
Support
MXtoolbox offers support through email and phone for its paid plans, and a support ticket system for active subscribers. We have observed that while technical assistance for using the tools is generally available, some users have reported issues regarding billing and cancellations, particularly with their 'risk-free' trial claims. It is advisable to clarify contract terms diligently.
Their online documentation and community resources are helpful for self-service diagnostics. For routine technical queries related to DNS or email health, the support is responsive. However, the depth of DMARC-specific consultative support for policy enforcement might not be as extensive as dedicated DMARC-focused platforms.
Proofpoint is renowned for its enterprise-level support, which includes dedicated consultants for DMARC deployment and ongoing management. We found this consultative approach to be a significant advantage, particularly for large organizations navigating complex email ecosystems. Their team assists with everything from initial setup to identifying legitimate senders and implementing DMARC reject policies.
While the support quality is high, some feedback indicates that finding time on their busy schedule can be challenging, though once a team is assigned, service improves. This suggests that while direct access might sometimes require patience, the expertise provided is a key benefit, especially for critical security initiatives.
Who should use each product
Suitability
MXtoolbox is best suited for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs) and individual IT administrators who need reliable tools for email diagnostics, domain health checks, and essential DMARC monitoring. Its free tools are excellent for quick lookups, and the paid plans offer good value for proactive monitoring of a limited number of domains.
For Managed Service Providers (MSPs), MXtoolbox can be a valuable tool for their internal teams to monitor client domains, though it might lack advanced multi-tenancy features required for large-scale client management. It serves enterprise clients primarily as a diagnostic complement, rather than a primary, integrated DMARC enforcement platform.
Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense is ideal for large enterprises and organizations with complex email infrastructure and significant brand reputation to protect. It excels in environments where email fraud and sophisticated spoofing attacks are a constant threat, and where a hands-on, consultative approach to DMARC implementation is preferred.
For MSPs, Proofpoint EFD offers a comprehensive security solution to extend to their enterprise clients, particularly those with high security and compliance requirements. Its extensive features, including hosted authentication services and a virtual takedown service, make it a strong choice for organizations requiring robust, proactive email fraud defense and managed DMARC services at scale, less so for SMBs or individual users.
How does MXtoolbox compare with Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
DMARC report analysis
Ability to parse and visualize DMARC aggregate reports.
Source detection
Identify legitimate and illegitimate sending sources.
Forward detection
Detect email forwarding that can impact DMARC alignment.
Spoof detection
Identify malicious spoofing attempts.
Notifications and alerts
Receive alerts for DMARC policy changes or issues.
Reporting
Generate various reports on email deliverability and security.
API
Programmatic access to data and functionalities.
Limited API for basic lookups and monitoring.
Robust API for enterprise integration.
Multi-tenancy
Manage multiple domains or client accounts from one interface.
Primarily single-account focused, less suited for MSPs with many clients.
Designed for managing multiple domains within an enterprise context.
SPF flattening
Address the 10-lookup limit for SPF records.
Available in higher-tier plans.
Offered via hosted SPF service.
Hosted DMARC
DMARC record management hosted and maintained by the provider.
Offers DMARC deployment assistance, not full hosted management.
Provides comprehensive hosted DMARC services.
BIMI
Support for Brand Indicators for Message Identification.
Part of their hosted authentication services.
MTA-STS/TLS-RPT
Support for Mail Transfer Agent Strict Transport Security and TLS Reporting.
Integrated into their advanced security offerings.
Blocklists and reputation
Monitor IP and domain reputation across various blocklists.
Weekly and adaptive monitoring.
Reputation protection for lookalike domains.
AI copilot
AI-powered assistance for DMARC management.
DNS monitoring
Monitoring of various DNS records.
Extensive DNS lookup and monitoring tools.
Continuous analysis of domains including WHOIS data.
Self hostable
Option to host the software on your own infrastructure.
SaaS offering.
Cloud-based SaaS offering.
Free trial/free tier
Availability of a free trial or a permanently free service tier.
Offers a free tier with blacklist monitoring for 1 domain.
Pricing available upon contact, typically no public free trial/tier.
Drawbacks and what to watch out for
MXtoolbox faces criticism primarily around its billing practices and the clarity of its trial offers, with some users reporting issues obtaining refunds after cancellation. Its UI, while functional, can feel a bit dated and require more clicks for certain operations. Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense, on the other hand, is sometimes seen as overkill for smaller organizations due to its comprehensive features, which can lead to legitimate emails being filtered. Its initial setup and ongoing configuration can also be complex, and its support responsiveness, while knowledgeable, can sometimes be slow.
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)
4.3 / 5(12)
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.)
Overkill
2.0 / 5
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
Great filters for junk and spam. Easy widgets in email notifications to release legit email that is not spam
What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
Too much filtering. At times, overkill. Filters out legitimate emails.
What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you?
Protect network from illicit email spoofing. Employees that are non tech savvy that click on fishing emails.
Verified User in Food & Beverages
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.)
Not sure if it's worth the hassle
2.5 / 5
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
I do like that it auto scans my emails and sorts out the scam/fraudulent ones.
What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
I greatly dislike having to wait for the flagged emails, that are actually not fraudulent, but something that I am looking for. It does not send me the alert until the next day, and then once its been released and approved, it ends up taking another 10 minutes or so (Max) to get to me.
What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you?
I am getting significantly fewer fraudulent/scam emails
Verified User in Construction
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.)
Email Protection by Proofpoint Fraud Defence
4.0 / 5
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
This product provides email protection for both Inbound and outbound emails from all the domains which help in securing the mailboxes. This adds the advantage of the analytics features alike continuously shows the volume of mails as phishing /secures messages.
What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
Like other proofpoint products this also has implementing and configuring problems as they are not easy to configure in the organization environment.
Recommendations to others considering Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense:
This product offers you great security over emails and customers can leverage the support and different product portfolio they offer.
What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you?
We are securing our emails from phising mails /messages for all the domains and for both inbound outbound messages.
Anjali V.
Cyber Security Analyst Enterprise (> 1000 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.)
Reliable tool for spam emails!
4.0 / 5
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
It's a great reliable tool and keep your inbox more secure and spam free. As a security measure this is great tool which prevents from any fraudulent emails and send alerts as necessary. I am currently using at my company and find all the spam emails being avoided. We usually receives too many on our generic email alias and this help in securing.
What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
It's a great tool, though I find the use of it a very little. Only being capable of avoiding spam emails. Also the dashboard is not much interactive
Recommendations to others considering Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense:
It was always better to have precaution than being penalized by unwanted threat. It's always good to be more secure and spam free and take preventive steps towards running your business securely.
What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you?
We consider our emails to be safe and spam free. And probably easy to set up
Verified User in Information Technology and Services
Mid-Market (51-1000 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.)
We use it as our Email Proxy.
4.5 / 5
What do you like best about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
Ability to filter by most likely spam emails. We also have the ability to open up domains.
What do you dislike about Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense?
The UI can be a bit more intuitive if it was up to me.
Recommendations to others considering Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense:
I would recommend for the ease of use and security features offered.
What problems is Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense solving and how is that benefiting you?
Fraud emails and Spam emails for our Enterprise account.
Verified User in Computer & Network Security
Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)
Pricing
MXtoolbox offers transparent, tiered pricing with a generous free plan, while Proofpoint Email Fraud Defense requires direct contact for a custom quote due to its enterprise focus.
4.1 / 5(29)
