What are good alternatives to Kickbox deliverability tools that support SSO?
Michael Ko
Co-founder & CEO, Suped
Published 17 May 2025
Updated 17 Aug 2025
6 min read
The email deliverability landscape is constantly evolving, and the tools we rely on need to keep pace. With Kickbox making changes to its deliverability offerings, many teams are looking for robust alternatives, especially those requiring Single Sign-On (SSO) capabilities. SSO is no longer a luxury, but a critical security and convenience feature for organizations managing multiple software subscriptions.
Finding a new deliverability tool isn't just about replacing a service. It's an opportunity to assess your current needs, streamline workflows, and enhance security protocols. For larger organizations or those with strict compliance requirements, SSO integration is paramount, offering simplified access management and reducing password fatigue among users.
I've explored various options to identify deliverability tools that not only offer comprehensive features like inbox placement testing and email verification, but also prioritize enterprise-grade security through SSO. The goal is to ensure your emails reach the inbox effectively, while maintaining a secure and manageable tech stack.
The importance of SSO in deliverability tools
Single Sign-On (SSO) is more than just a convenience feature, particularly for companies that prioritize security and efficiency. It allows users to authenticate once and gain access to multiple independent software systems, reducing the number of passwords to manage and minimizing the risk of credential-related breaches.
From an administrative perspective, SSO centralizes user management, making it easier to onboard, offboard, and manage access permissions for employees. This is crucial for maintaining compliance and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive deliverability data and tools.
When evaluating deliverability alternatives, asking about their SSO capabilities is a primary concern. Many leading platforms, recognizing the importance of enterprise security, have adopted SSO protocols like SAML or OAuth, making them suitable for organizations with stringent security policies.
Key features to look for in alternatives
Beyond SSO, the effectiveness of a deliverability tool hinges on its core features. You need a solution that provides comprehensive insights into your email program's health. This includes accurate email verification, robust inbox placement testing, and detailed reporting on your sender reputation.
Another crucial aspect is monitoring for blacklists (or blocklists). Getting on a blacklist can severely impact your deliverability, so proactive monitoring is essential. Look for tools that offer real-time alerts and actionable advice to get delisted quickly. Understanding the different types of email blocklists and how they work is also important.
Features to prioritize
Comprehensive email verification: Accurate detection of invalid, disposable, and spam trap email addresses to keep your lists clean.
Inbox placement testing: Tools that provide insights into where your emails land across major mailbox providers.
Sender reputation monitoring: Tracking your domain and IP reputation across various metrics.
Blacklist monitoring: Real-time alerts if your IPs or domains appear on a blocklist (blacklist).
Authentication monitoring: Support for DMARC, SPF, and DKIM configuration and reporting. You can learn more about DMARC, SPF, and DKIM in our guide.
Top alternatives supporting SSO
Several prominent deliverability tools offer comprehensive features and SSO support, making them strong contenders to replace Kickbox. Based on feedback from the community and my own research, some stand out.
ZeroBounce is frequently mentioned as a top alternative for email verification and deliverability, and they confirm their support for SSO (specifically Okta, as mentioned by one user). Their focus on accuracy and a broad suite of tools makes them a reliable choice. You can find more information on ZeroBounce alternatives online if you're exploring that angle too.
Validity's Everest product is another strong contender. It offers comprehensive deliverability monitoring, including inbox placement, sender reputation, and email authentication data. Validity has a long-standing reputation in the email deliverability space, having acquired Return Path. Their enterprise-level solutions typically include SSO capabilities to meet corporate security standards. You can compare Kickbox alternatives on G2 to see other options.
Transitioning to a new email deliverability tool requires careful planning to ensure minimal disruption to your email program. The first step is to thoroughly evaluate potential alternatives beyond just their SSO capabilities. Consider their overall feature set, pricing models, and how well they integrate with your existing email service provider (ESP) or marketing automation platform.
During the evaluation phase, ask for demos and trial periods to get a hands-on feel for the user interface, reporting capabilities, and the accuracy of their data. This is also the time to clarify their SSO implementation process and confirm it aligns with your internal IT security policies. Ensure they support your specific identity provider, whether it's Okta, Azure Active Directory, or another system.
Once you've selected an alternative, develop a clear transition plan. This should include data migration strategies, user onboarding, and any necessary adjustments to your email sending practices. Communicate openly with your team about the changes and provide adequate training to ensure a smooth adoption. You can find general advice on the best email deliverability tools in various reviews.
Remember that a deliverability tool is just one part of a successful email program. Continuously monitor your sender reputation and adjust your strategies based on the insights provided by your new platform. This proactive approach will help ensure your emails consistently reach the inbox.
Views from the trenches
Best practices
Ensure your chosen tool offers robust email authentication reporting (DMARC, SPF, DKIM) alongside verification and inbox placement. This provides a holistic view of your email health and security.
Prioritize tools that offer dedicated account management or strong customer support, as successful migration and ongoing optimization often require expert guidance.
Leverage trial periods and conduct thorough proof-of-concept tests to validate the accuracy and utility of a new deliverability tool before full commitment, especially for SSO integration.
Integrate the new tool's insights into your existing email marketing workflows, using the data to refine your sending practices and content strategy for better inboxing.
Common pitfalls
Failing to confirm comprehensive SSO support (e.g., specific protocols like SAML 2.0 or OIDC) with your IT team before selecting a vendor can lead to deployment delays.
Overlooking the scope of 'deliverability tools' to only include email verification, ignoring crucial aspects like inbox placement, sender reputation, and blocklist monitoring.
Neglecting to test the tool's performance across various mailbox providers, which can result in inconsistent deliverability insights for your diverse recipient base.
Not considering the scalability and pricing model of the alternative tool as your email volume or team size grows, leading to unexpected costs or limitations.
Expert tips
When evaluating, ask about their data refresh rates for inbox placement and blacklist monitoring. More frequent updates mean faster insights.
Consider how easily the data can be exported or integrated with your internal BI tools for more customized reporting and analysis.
For SSO, inquire about their supported identity providers. Some tools might be more compatible with specific enterprise ecosystems.
Look for tools that offer clear, actionable recommendations based on their data, not just raw metrics. This helps your team quickly address issues.
Marketer view
Marketer from Email Geeks says many tools offer inbox placement testing and SSO options now, with Inbox Monster and Validity being good starting points for review.
2024-02-09 - Email Geeks
Expert view
Expert from Email Geeks says Validity's Everest product is a viable option for those who previously used Return Path, as they have a long history in the space.
2024-02-10 - Email Geeks
Moving forward with a new deliverability partner
The retirement of Kickbox's deliverability tools presents an opportunity to re-evaluate and upgrade your email deliverability strategy. The market offers several robust alternatives that not only match or exceed previous functionalities but also provide essential features like SSO, vital for modern enterprise environments.
By focusing on comprehensive features, secure access, and a smooth transition process, you can ensure your email program continues to thrive, delivering messages effectively and securely to your audience's inboxes. Prioritizing the right tools will contribute significantly to your overall email success.
ZeroBounce is frequently mentioned as a top alternative for email verification and deliverability, and they confirm their support for SSO (specifically Okta, as mentioned by one user). Their focus on accuracy and a broad suite of tools makes them a reliable choice. You can find more information on ZeroBounce alternatives online if you're exploring that angle too.
Validity's Everest product is another strong contender. It offers comprehensive deliverability monitoring, including inbox placement, sender reputation, and email authentication data. Validity has a long-standing reputation in the email deliverability space, having acquired Return Path. Their enterprise-level solutions typically include SSO capabilities to meet corporate security standards. You can compare Kickbox alternatives on G2 to see other options.
