This guide covers popular third-party tools that help you monitor sender reputation, inbox placement, and overall email deliverability performance.
Why Use Deliverability Monitoring Tools?
While your platform provides core metrics like opens, clicks, and bounces, third-party tools offer deeper insights into:
Sender reputation
Inbox placement (inbox vs spam)
Authentication and domain health
List quality and risks
These tools help you identify issues early and improve long-term performance.
Native vs Third-Party Monitoring
Your platform analytics help you track:
Open rates
Click rates
Bounce rates
Spam complaints
Third-party tools go further by analyzing:
Inbox provider-specific performance
Domain and IP reputation
Pre-send testing and spam risks
Learn more: Email Deliverability FAQs
Common Deliverability Monitoring Tools
Google Postmaster Tools
A free tool from Google that provides insights into how Gmail views your emails.
Key capabilities:
Domain and IP reputation tracking
Spam rate monitoring
Authentication status
Best for:
Businesses sending high volumes to Gmail users
Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services)
A Microsoft tool that provides insights into your reputation with Outlook and Hotmail.
Key capabilities:
IP reputation monitoring
Spam complaint insights
Traffic data visibility
Best for:
Senders using dedicated IPs
Everest (by Validity)
An advanced deliverability platform that offers comprehensive monitoring.
Key capabilities:
Inbox placement tracking
List validation
DMARC and authentication monitoring
Detailed analytics
Litmus
A popular tool for email testing and previewing.
Key capabilities:
Preview emails across clients and devices
Pre-send spam testing
Engagement insights
Email on Acid
Focused on email testing and quality assurance.
Key capabilities:
Email previews
Spam testing
Campaign validation before sending
Kickbox
A list verification tool that helps improve list quality.
Key capabilities:
Email validation
Risk detection
List hygiene improvement
Outlook Postmaster
A Microsoft resource for understanding deliverability with Outlook.com.
Key capabilities:
Troubleshooting guidance
Best practices for Outlook deliverability
SparkPost Inbox Tracker
A tool that provides inbox placement and engagement insights.
Key capabilities:
ISP-level analytics
Spam complaint monitoring
Inbox vs spam visibility
Inbox Monster
A deliverability monitoring platform focused on campaign performance.
Key capabilities:
Inbox placement tracking
Blocklist monitoring
Email rendering testing
How to Choose the Right Tool
The right tool depends on your needs:
For reputation monitoring → Google Postmaster, Microsoft SNDS
For testing and previews → Litmus, Email on Acid
For list validation → Kickbox
For advanced analytics → Everest, Inbox Monster
When Should You Use These Tools?
You should consider using third-party tools if:
You send high volumes of emails
You want deeper insights into inbox placement
You’re troubleshooting deliverability issues
You’re scaling your email program
Key Takeaway
Third-party deliverability tools complement your platform analytics by providing deeper visibility into reputation, inbox placement, and potential risks. Using the right combination of tools helps you proactively monitor performance and maintain strong deliverability.