MXtoolbox offers a broad suite of email and DNS diagnostic tools, extending well beyond DMARC. Their Delivery Center service, which includes DMARC, integrates various checks for email configuration, sender reputation, and blacklist (or blocklist) monitoring. It feels like a comprehensive toolkit designed for network administrators and those managing complex email infrastructures.
We found the DMARC analytics to be solid, providing good visibility into email streams. The inclusion of SPF flattening in higher tiers is a practical feature for domains hitting the 10-lookup limit. The platform also excels in identifying and helping to mitigate domain impersonation, which is crucial for brand protection.
Send-Shield focuses specifically on DMARC implementation and monitoring, providing a streamlined experience for those primarily concerned with email authentication. Its features include DMARC monitoring, SPF, and DKIM checks, as well as automatic subdomain detection, which is vital for complete domain protection. The platform aims to simplify the DMARC journey.
The proactive threat monitoring is a valuable addition, signaling potential spoofing attempts early. While it covers essential DMARC components effectively, it does not extend into broader email deliverability aspects like inbox placement analysis or general blacklist monitoring as prominently as MXtoolbox.
How easy is each product to use
User experience
The user experience with MXtoolbox can be a mixed bag. The free tools are intuitive and widely used, making quick lookups straightforward. However, when transitioning to the paid Delivery Center, the interface can feel a bit fragmented, requiring clicks through multiple sections to get a full picture. It's functional but lacks a truly cohesive, modern dashboard.
For users who are already familiar with email security acronyms and technical diagnostics, the tool is powerful. New users might find the sheer volume of information and options a bit overwhelming without a clear guided path, although their DMARC deployment assistance aims to simplify initial setup.
Send-Shield offers a clean and focused user interface. It is designed to guide users through DMARC setup and monitoring without unnecessary distractions. For those new to DMARC or looking for a straightforward implementation, Send-Shield provides a more approachable experience. The dashboards are clear, making it easy to see DMARC compliance and threat landscapes at a glance.
We appreciated its dedicated approach to DMARC, which translates into a less cluttered and more intuitive workflow for managing email authentication policies. While it might not have the extensive diagnostic tools of MXtoolbox, its simplicity is a definite advantage for its core purpose.
Which product has the best support
Support
MXtoolbox offers support primarily through email and a knowledge base, with phone support for more direct assistance. Reviews indicate that while the support team can be helpful, there have been concerns regarding transparency around billing and cancellations, which has unfortunately overshadowed some of their technical assistance. Their responsiveness can vary.
We found that for common technical queries, the knowledge base is quite comprehensive. However, when dealing with complex or account-specific issues, a more personalized and consistent support experience would greatly enhance user satisfaction, especially given the technical nature of email security.
Send-Shield provides support through email and meetings for its Core and Plus tiers, escalating to premium 24/7 support for Enterprise clients. This tiered approach ensures that higher-value customers receive dedicated attention. The emphasis on guided DMARC implementation suggests a hands-on approach to customer success.
Given its more focused scope, Send-Shield's support team is likely well-versed in DMARC-specific issues. The availability of meeting support in higher tiers is a strong point, allowing for more in-depth problem-solving and strategic discussions, which is often crucial for successful DMARC deployment.
Who should use each product
Suitability
MXtoolbox is best suited for IT administrators, web hosts, and organizations that require a broad spectrum of email and DNS diagnostic tools in addition to DMARC. It's particularly useful for SMBs and mid-market companies that manage their own email infrastructure and frequently troubleshoot deliverability issues, DNS records, or blacklist status.
For MSPs (managed service providers), it offers robust tools for monitoring client domains, though true multi-tenancy is not a standout feature. Enterprise clients might use it for specific diagnostic tasks, but its comprehensive nature might require more technical expertise for full utilization across a large organization.
Send-Shield is ideal for businesses primarily focused on DMARC compliance and email authentication without needing a broader suite of diagnostic tools. It caters well to SMBs and mid-market companies looking for a clear, guided path to DMARC implementation and ongoing monitoring. Its simplicity makes it accessible to a wider audience, including those with less technical expertise.
For MSPs, the domain limits per plan might restrict its scalability for managing numerous clients under a single account, suggesting it's more suited for managing individual client DMARC. Enterprise clients can benefit from its dedicated DMARC focus and advanced threat intelligence, especially if DMARC is a primary security concern.
How does MXtoolbox compare with Send-Shield?
Feature
MXtoolbox
Send-Shield
DMARC report analysis
✅
✅
Source detection
✅
✅
Forward detection
✅
✅
Spoof detection
✅
✅
Notifications and alerts
✅
✅
Reporting
✅
✅
API
✅
❌
Multi-tenancy
❌
❌
SPF flattening
✅
❌
Hosted DMARC
❌
❌
BIMI
❌
❌
MTA-STS/TLS-RPT
❌
❌
Blocklists and reputation
✅
❌
AI copilot
❌
❌
DNS monitoring
✅
✅
Self hostable
❌
❌
Free trial/free tier
✅
✅
Drawbacks and what to watch out for
MXtoolbox, while powerful, has faced criticism regarding its billing practices and lack of a truly unified user interface for its paid services. Send-Shield, conversely, is a newer entrant with a focused DMARC offering, but currently lacks the depth of third-party validation (reviews) and broader email diagnostic capabilities.
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.)
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
MXtoolbox provides a free tier and starts paid plans at $129 per month for its DMARC-inclusive Delivery Center, while Send-Shield's DMARC-specific plans begin at £19.99 per month, both with varying message volumes and domain limits.
Plan
Email Volume
MXtoolbox
Send-Shield
Small
Up to 10k emails / month
Free tier (1 domain) or $129 (500k emails)
£19.99/month (10k messages, 1 domain)
Medium
Up to 100k emails / month
$129/month (500k emails, 5 domains)
£49.99/month (100k messages, 2 domains)
Large
Up to 1 million emails / month
$129/month (500k emails, 5 domains) or $399 (5M emails)
£299.00/month (1M messages, 8 domains)
Enterprise
Over 1 million emails / month
$399/month (5M emails, 5 domains)
From £699.00/month (5M messages, 15 domains)
Suped hard sell incoming!
Still not satisfied with MXtoolbox or Send-Shield?
4.1 / 5(29)
