Does Google Postmaster Tools provide a 0-100 sender reputation score?

While Google Postmaster Tools (GPT) provides reputation categories (Bad, Low, Medium, High) for IP and domain, it does not offer a public 0-100 numerical score like SenderScore. These categories serve a similar purpose by indicating reputation levels to Google systems.

Do Microsoft's tools provide a 0-100 sender reputation score?

Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) offers data on factors like spam complaints and trap hits, but it does not assign a single 0-100 reputation score. It provides insights into how Microsoft views your sending practices.

What other services might provide numerical email scores, even if not strictly sender reputation?

Other services that might provide a numerical score include some email validation tools (like Kickbox, which gives a deliverability score), or older/less common content analysis tools (like Mail-Tester.com), though their scores often measure different aspects of email quality or spam likelihood rather than overall sender reputation.

If my sender score is low on one tool, does that mean my deliverability is bad everywhere?

A low score from a specific tool might not indicate a universal problem. It could be due to the tool's unique methodology, the specific data it uses, or a particular issue (like a temporary spike in complaints) that isn't affecting your overall reputation with all providers. It's crucial to interpret scores effectively .

What services provide a 0-100 sender reputation score besides SenderScore? - Sender reputation - Email deliverability - Knowledge base

When discussing email sender reputation, SenderScore by Validity often comes to mind as the de facto standard for a 0-100 numerical rating. It's widely recognized and frequently referenced across the industry. This score offers a quick snapshot of an IP address's (and by extension, a domain's) trustworthiness, influencing whether emails land in the inbox or the spam folder.

However, the landscape of email deliverability is complex, and relying on a single score can sometimes be misleading. Different mailbox providers (MBPs) and anti-spam services employ their own internal algorithms to assess sender reputation, often factoring in hundreds of variables that aren't publicly disclosed or encapsulated in a single, universal number. This means that while SenderScore is valuable, it's not the only indicator out there, nor is it the only source of reputation intelligence.

Many senders, particularly those who are newer or dealing with specific deliverability challenges, might encounter other 'scores' or ratings from various tools. These could be based on different metrics, weighted differently, or simply use a non-standard scale, leading to confusion. It's crucial to understand that while SenderScore provides a widely accepted benchmark, several other services provide insights into your email reputation, sometimes even on a similar 0-100 scale, although their methodologies and data sources can vary significantly.

My goal is to shed light on some of these other services that claim to provide a 0-100 sender reputation score or offer comparable insights, helping you navigate the varied world of email reputation monitoring beyond SenderScore.

Beyond SenderScore: mail provider insights

While SenderScore.org is perhaps the most well-known for its 0-100 IP reputation score, it's essential to remember that major mailbox providers (MBPs) like

Google and

Microsoft (Outlook/Hotmail) have their own proprietary internal systems for assessing sender reputation. These systems don't provide a public 0-100 score that directly competes with SenderScore, but they do offer dashboards and data that can be interpreted to gauge your standing.

For instance, Google Postmaster Tools provides reputation categories (Bad, Low, Medium, High) for both IP and domain. While not a numerical score, this categorical rating serves a similar purpose, indicating how Google perceives your sending practices. Similarly, Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) offers data on spam complaints, trap hits, and reputation status, albeit without a simple 0-100 numerical score. You can learn more about the accuracy of these tools in our guides.

Beyond these giants, there are other services that focus on different aspects of email quality but might present their findings as a score. Some email validation services, for example, might offer a 'quality score' for an email list, reflecting the proportion of valid addresses versus invalid or risky ones. This score, while not a sender reputation score, directly impacts your deliverability and is often presented on a comparable scale, affecting how your messages are received.

Reputation services and security intelligence

Several security and threat intelligence companies maintain extensive databases of IP and domain reputations. While their primary focus isn't often a consumer-facing 0-100 sender score, some do provide reputation data that can be interpreted numerically or categorize reputation in tiers that align with a similar concept.

One prominent example is Talos Intelligence, powered by Cisco. Talos provides a comprehensive reputation lookup for IP addresses and domains, categorizing them as 'Good,' 'Neutral,' or 'Poor.' While not a direct 0-100 score, these categories indicate a similar gradient of trustworthiness. Similarly, IBM X-Force Exchange offers threat intelligence, including IP and URL reputation, which can be seen as a form of scoring based on threat levels. You can use an email deliverability tester to get a broader perspective on your email health.

While these tools might not explicitly show a '0-100 sender reputation score,' their reputation classifications and threat levels serve a similar function in guiding sending practices. Understanding how various services measure and display reputation is part of grasping what influences deliverability.

IP reputation scores

Talos IP and Domain Reputation: Categorizes reputation as good, neutral, or poor, indicating reliability.
IBM X-Force Exchange: Provides threat intelligence for IPs and URLs, showing risk levels.

Specialized and less common scores

While less common for a general 'sender reputation' score, some specialized email services provide their own metrics that can resemble a 0-100 score, often focusing on email quality or programmatic sending health. These are generally not as holistic as SenderScore, but might be what a specific sender is referring to.

One example is SparkPost's Delivery Index. Although the public-facing tool might not present a simple 0-100 score on a per-IP basis, their internal analytics and platform features often provide granular insights into email performance, which can be rolled up into health metrics. Similarly, services focused on email validation, like Kickbox, provide a deliverability score (often from 0.000 to 1.000, easily convertible to 0-100) for individual email addresses, indicating their likelihood of being deliverable. While not a sender reputation, it directly impacts your overall sending success.

Other less conventional or older tools that might pop up in discussions could include Mail-Tester.com or Grademyemail.co. These services typically analyze specific email content and configurations, assigning a score based on compliance with best practices and potential spam triggers. While useful for diagnosing specific email issues, they are not comprehensive sender reputation services like SenderScore or Postmaster Tools, and their scores should be interpreted within their specific context.

Service	Score type	Details
Mail-Tester	Content/configuration score	Analyzes email content, authentication for spam likelihood. Often 0-10 scale.
Kickbox	Email deliverability score	Provides a quality score for individual email addresses, 0-1.000.
SparkPost Delivery Index	Programmatic sending health	Monitors email program health through various metrics, not a simple IP score.

Interpreting varied reputation scores

When a sender presents a 'score' that doesn't align with common tools, it's essential to dig deeper. First, ascertain the specific source of the score. Is it from an internal reporting system of an ESP (Email Service Provider), a niche email verification tool, or perhaps a security scanner? The context is key, as each tool measures different aspects of email health.

It's also important to remember that a single score, even a reputable one like SenderScore, doesn't tell the whole story. Your overall email reputation is a composite of many factors, including your sending volume, recipient engagement, spam complaint rates, bounce rates, and whether your IP or domain is listed on any blocklists (or blacklists). A low score from one service might be an anomaly or reflect a specific issue that isn't captured by others.

I often advise a multi-pronged approach to reputation monitoring. While a 0-100 score can be a useful quick check, it should be complemented by insights from various reputation tools, direct feedback loops (FBLs) from mailbox providers, and careful analysis of your email campaign metrics. This comprehensive view gives a much more accurate picture of your deliverability health than any single number. To understand how relevant a sender score is to your deliverability, consider all factors.

A holistic view of sender reputation

While SenderScore is widely referenced for a 0-100 reputation score, it's clear that the email ecosystem uses a variety of metrics and scoring systems to evaluate senders. No single score provides a complete picture, as each tool or service focuses on different aspects of email health or uses distinct data inputs.

For email deliverability, understanding your reputation requires looking beyond one number. It means leveraging insights from major mailbox providers like Google and Microsoft, consulting threat intelligence sources, and even examining more specialized tools that grade email content or list quality. A comprehensive approach, using multiple data points, is always the most effective strategy for maintaining and improving your email sending reputation.

Ultimately, the goal is to send emails that consistently reach the inbox. This is achieved not by chasing a perfect score on any single platform, but by adhering to email best practices, actively monitoring your performance across various indicators, and promptly addressing any issues that arise. Consistency and good sending hygiene will always be the best path to a strong sender reputation.

Views from the trenches

Best practices

Actively use Google Postmaster Tools and Microsoft SNDS to monitor deliverability from the perspective of major mailbox providers.

Combine insights from multiple reputation sources to form a holistic view, not just relying on one score.

Regularly check your IP and domain against public blocklists (blacklists) to preemptively address potential issues.

Common pitfalls

Solely relying on a single third-party score like SenderScore without cross-referencing other reputation data.

Misinterpreting scores from content analysis tools as comprehensive sender reputation scores.

Ignoring categorical reputation feedback from mailbox providers because it's not a precise number.

Expert tips

Different reputation services might pull from different data sets and use varying calculation methods.

Some reputation scores are more about the email content and format than the sender's overall behavior.

Focus on the fundamental factors of good sending: low bounces, low complaints, and consistent volume.

Expert view

Expert from Email Geeks says that Mailtester.com or Mail-tester.com are common sources for misleading scores that some senders might reference.

2022-04-06 - Email Geeks

Marketer view

Marketer from Email Geeks notes that Grademyemail.co is another site that provides a score, but it typically measures different aspects than SenderScore.

2022-04-06 - Email Geeks