Newly registered domain names are generally not placed on a direct, universal blacklist simply for being new. Instead, they begin with a 'cold,' 'zero,' or 'neutral' reputation, meaning they lack any established sending history or trust with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and anti-spam systems. This absence of history often causes ISPs to treat new domains with caution and suspicion, frequently resulting in emails being filtered to spam folders or heavily throttled until a positive sending reputation is carefully established. This cautious approach is partly driven by professional spammers who frequently leverage thousands of new, short-lived domains for illicit campaigns, prompting ISPs to view new domains with heightened scrutiny, effectively putting them into a 'probationary period' until legitimate sending behavior is consistently demonstrated.
10 marketer opinions
Instead of being immediately blacklisted, a newly registered domain name begins its journey with a neutral or 'cold' reputation, lacking any established trust with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and anti-spam systems. This absence of prior history means ISPs often view new domains with inherent suspicion, a necessary caution given spammers' frequent exploitation of fresh domains. Consequently, emails from new domains are prone to initial filtering into spam folders or significant throttling, not due to an explicit blacklist entry, but rather a lack of positive reputation. Overcoming this 'zero trust' state requires a deliberate strategy to demonstrate legitimate sending behavior and gradually build a positive sending history.
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks suggests that SURBL fresh might be a list for freshly registered domain names, although its public usability is uncertain.
23 Jan 2024 - Email Geeks
Marketer view
Email marketer from Email Geeks recalls 'Day old bread' as a main third-party list that addresses freshly registered domains.
28 Apr 2025 - Email Geeks
3 expert opinions
Newly registered domain names are not automatically added to blacklists, but they do start with a neutral reputation, meaning they lack any established history or trust with Internet Service Providers (ISPs). This absence of a positive track record leads ISPs and mailbox providers to treat new domains with considerable caution, often placing them under intense scrutiny. This heightened vigilance is a direct response to professional spammers who frequently cycle through thousands of new domains for brief periods to evade filters, requiring a new domain to actively build and demonstrate a legitimate sending reputation.
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks explains that major ISPs likely maintain their own easy-to-manage lists for new domains and track if they've seen mail from a domain before and when. She notes that professional spammers frequently use thousands of domains activated for short periods (7-10 days) for spam runs before retiring them, a pattern that ISPs observe and use as a reputation factor.
1 Sep 2021 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Spam Resource explains that newly registered domains are not automatically blacklisted. Instead, they face scrutiny due to a lack of sending history and reputation. Some services, like Spamhaus DBL, might list domains associated with suspicious registration patterns or prior abuse by their registrants, but this isn't a direct "new domain" blacklist. Mailbox providers often treat new domains with caution, putting them into a probationary period.
23 May 2022 - Spam Resource
5 technical articles
A newly registered domain isn't directly added to a blacklist, yet its newness signifies a lack of established sending history and reputation. This absence of a track record prompts Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and anti-spam systems to treat emails from these domains with extreme caution. This cautious stance is primarily a defense mechanism against spammers who frequently cycle through new domains to bypass filters. Therefore, while not explicitly blacklisted, new domains are effectively in a probationary period, demanding a deliberate and gradual approach to build trust and ensure deliverability.
Technical article
Documentation from Mailgun Documentation explains that newly registered domains lack a sending history and reputation, making them susceptible to filtering. While not explicitly blacklisted, they are treated cautiously by ISPs. Mailgun strongly recommends a gradual warm-up process to build a positive reputation and ensure optimal deliverability.
1 Jun 2024 - Mailgun Documentation
Technical article
Documentation from Spamhaus FAQ explains that while Spamhaus does not maintain a blacklist specifically for newly registered domains, their systems, and those of ISPs, assign reputation based on observed sending behavior. New domains lack this history, making them vulnerable to default filtering if sending patterns resemble spam, highlighting the importance of building a positive reputation.
12 Sep 2022 - Spamhaus FAQ
5 resources
Is the Invaluement blacklist still relevant for email deliverability?
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Why avoid sending email from a newly registered domain?