Is your email actually reaching the inbox?
MailScore runs a full DNS health check on your domain — SPF, DKIM, DMARC, MX records, and 10+ blacklists — and gives you an A-F score with plain-English fixes in under 10 seconds.
Free. No signup required. Results in seconds.
What email deliverability actually means
Most email tools report on open rates and click rates — but those metrics only count emails that reached the inbox. Email deliverability measures what happens before the open: does your email reach the recipient's inbox, land in spam, or get rejected by the server before it even arrives?
The difference matters enormously. A campaign with a true 15% open rate looks completely different depending on whether 95% of emails were delivered (strong deliverability) or only 60% reached the inbox (poor deliverability). You can have brilliant subject lines and compelling content and still fail if the underlying DNS authentication is broken.
DNS authentication records — SPF, DKIM, and DMARC — are the foundation. They tell receiving servers that your email is legitimate, properly signed, and comes from an authorized source. Without them, even a perfectly crafted email is treated with suspicion. With them configured correctly, you give your email the best possible chance of reaching the inbox.
The 5 checks MailScore runs on your domain
Every scan checks all five areas simultaneously. Results appear in under 10 seconds — no waiting, no browser required.
SPF Record
Verifies a v=spf1 TXT record exists at your domain root, validates its syntax, checks for too many DNS lookups (RFC 7208 limits you to 10), and ensures your sending IPs are authorized.
DKIM Signature
Looks up DKIM public keys at common selectors (default, google, selector1, selector2, k1, and more). Validates the record format and key strength. DKIM ensures emails cannot be tampered with in transit.
DMARC Policy
Checks for a DMARC record at _dmarc.yourdomain.com, identifies your policy level (none/quarantine/reject), detects missing rua= reporting addresses, and flags p=none as a risk if no enforcement is in place.
MX Records
Confirms your domain has MX records pointing to mail servers, which is required to receive email. Missing or misconfigured MX records mean replies and inbound messages may bounce.
Blacklist Status
Performs reverse-IP DNS lookups against 10+ major DNSBL (DNS Blackhole List) databases including Spamhaus ZEN, SORBS, and Barracuda. A single blacklist listing can cause major inbox providers to reject or filter your mail.
How deliverability problems hurt your business
Poor email deliverability is a silent revenue killer. Unlike a server outage, it rarely triggers an alarm — emails just quietly stop reaching people.
Google and Yahoo's 2024 bulk sender requirements
Email deliverability got harder in 2024. Google and Yahoo jointly announced new authentication requirements that took effect in February 2024. These were not suggestions — domains that failed to comply saw their emails rejected or heavily filtered.
The requirements apply to bulk senders (5,000+ emails per day to Gmail or Yahoo addresses), but Google has stated they will apply the same standards more broadly over time. The mandated checklist:
Valid SPF record
Authorizes your sending servers
DKIM with 2048-bit key
Cryptographic signature on every email
DMARC record present
At minimum p=none — any policy qualifies
One-click unsubscribe
List-Unsubscribe header in marketing emails
Spam rate below 0.10%
Measured in Google Postmaster Tools
Valid From: domain
Matches your sending infrastructure
MailScore checks all of the DNS-related requirements above in a single scan. Run a check now to see exactly where your domain stands.
Email deliverability frequently asked questions
What is email deliverability?
Email deliverability is the ability of an email to successfully reach a recipient's inbox rather than landing in the spam folder or being rejected entirely. It is determined by a combination of factors: your domain's DNS authentication records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), your sending IP reputation, your domain reputation, whether your IP is on any blacklists, your email content, and your engagement metrics (open rates, click rates, spam complaints). High deliverability means the people you email actually see your messages. Low deliverability means your campaigns, invoices, and notifications may be going unread.
Why are my emails going to spam?
Emails end up in spam for several reasons. The most common technical causes are: missing or misconfigured SPF record (the receiving server cannot verify your sending IP is authorized), missing DKIM signature (no cryptographic proof the email came from you), missing or too-permissive DMARC record (no policy for handling authentication failures), a sending IP that appears on blacklists, and high spam complaint rates. Beyond technical configuration, content triggers — lots of images, few words, spammy phrases, and mismatched From addresses — also increase spam scoring. Our checker diagnoses the DNS configuration issues, which are the most common root cause.
What do Google and Yahoo require for email senders?
In February 2024, Google and Yahoo introduced mandatory requirements for bulk email senders (domains sending 5,000+ emails per day). All bulk senders must have: a valid SPF record, DKIM signatures with at least 2048-bit keys, a DMARC policy record (even p=none qualifies), a one-click List-Unsubscribe header in marketing emails, and a spam complaint rate below 0.1% as measured in Google Postmaster Tools. Failing to meet these requirements means your emails will be rejected or aggressively spam-filtered at Gmail and Yahoo Mail — two of the largest email providers in the world. Even non-bulk senders benefit from meeting these standards, as they influence spam scoring for all senders.
How often should I check my email deliverability?
For most businesses, checking deliverability monthly is a good baseline. However, you should check immediately after: adding a new email service provider (Mailchimp, Klaviyo, SendGrid, etc.), migrating email hosting, changing your domain registrar or DNS provider, onboarding a new CRM or helpdesk that sends email, noticing a sudden drop in open rates or email replies, or receiving a complaint that your emails are going to spam. Paid plans on MailScore monitor your domains daily and alert you within 24 hours if anything changes — so you find out before your customers do.
Run your free deliverability check now
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