Does your email reach the inbox?
Send an email to a test address. In under a minute you'll see what spam filters dislike about it – and how to fix it.
- Hosted in Germany
- No tracking, no ads
- Results in seconds
- Free, no sign-up
Test your email in under a minute
From sending to report in five steps
-
Create test address
You get a random one-time address. It accepts exactly one email and can't be guessed.
-
Send your email as usual
From your newsletter tool, your shop or your mail client – exactly the way your recipients receive it.
-
Received like at Gmail
Our mail server records which server the email came from, how it introduced itself and whether the connection was encrypted.
-
20 checks in parallel
All checks run at the same time and take just a few seconds. The page updates by itself.
-
Report with fix plan
A score from 0 to 10 and a list of what to fix first – with ready-made DNS records.
10 points, five areas
Each finding costs points depending on its severity. An area can never lose more than it is worth.
Sender authentication
3.0 ptsIs this server allowed to send for your domain?
- SPF: Is the server on your list of permitted senders?
- DKIM: Is the email signed and unmodified?
- DMARC: Do both match the sender, and what happens to forgeries?
Reputation
2.5 ptsIs the sender known as a source of spam?
- Server IP on eight well-known blocklists
- Sender and link domains on domain blocklists
- Short links that hide their destination
Server
1.5 ptsIs the mail server set up properly?
- Reverse DNS: a matching name for the IP
- HELO: a real server name in the greeting
- Encryption (TLS), plus MTA-STS and BIMI
Content
1.5 ptsDoes the email look like spam to filters?
- Spam score from SpamAssassin and rspamd
- Text version, image ratio, size, alt texts
- Reachable links – we never open unsubscribe links
Mailbox provider rules
1.5 ptsDoes the email meet the requirements for bulk senders?
- Unsubscribe headers and one-click unsubscribe
- Required headers such as Date and Message-ID
- Requirements of Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook.com
And then?
For every finding you get a plain-language explanation and – where possible – the matching DNS record to copy, with instructions for IONOS, STRATO, Cloudflare and Hetzner.
Honest and privacy-friendly
Mailbox providers also look at your sending history. A 10 means everything is technically right – the best starting point for the inbox.
Test emails are stored encrypted on servers in Germany and deleted automatically – the original email after 7 days.
DNS changes take effect with us within five minutes. With a free account you'll see right away what has improved.
Understand what's behind the score
Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook sender rules
What Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook.com require from senders – from SPF, DKIM and DMARC to one-click unsubscribe. With a checklist for all senders and for newsletters.
7 min read Read moreSPF, DKIM and DMARC explained
What SPF, DKIM and DMARC do, what the DNS records look like and which mistakes most often send emails to spam. With example records and a step-by-step DMARC rollout.
9 min read Read moreWhy emails go to spam
The ten most common reasons why emails land in the spam folder – from missing authentication and blocklists to content and sending behavior. With concrete fixes.
8 min read Read moreReading DMARC reports
How to request DMARC aggregate reports (rua), what the XML contains and how to get to p=reject step by step. With a sample report and interpretation guide.
8 min read Read moreReverse DNS for mail servers
Why Gmail rejects emails without a PTR record, what a correct reverse DNS record looks like, who sets it and what to watch out for with IPv6.
6 min read Read moreGetting removed from blacklists
How to recognize a blocklist listing, what causes it and how removal works at Spamhaus, Barracuda, SpamCop and others.
7 min read Read moreSetting up MTA-STS and TLS-RPT
How MTA-STS prevents emails to your domain from being transmitted unencrypted: DNS record, policy, testing mode, TLS-RPT reports and common mistakes.
7 min read Read moreUsing Google Postmaster Tools
Setting up Google Postmaster Tools, the key metrics such as the spam rate and why data often doesn't appear.
6 min read Read moreAdding DNS records correctly
Name, type, value, TTL: what to watch out for when adding SPF, DKIM and DMARC records – doubled domain names, long keys, CNAME and waiting times.
6 min read Read moreGlad you asked
What exactly does an email test check?
Postwacht checks whether your mail server may send for your domain (SPF, DKIM, DMARC), whether the server IP or domains are on blocklists, whether reverse DNS and encryption are correct, how spam filters rate the content and whether newsletters meet the unsubscribe requirements of Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook.com.
Why does my email end up in spam?
The most common reasons are missing or wrong SPF, DKIM or DMARC records, a server IP on a blocklist, a missing reverse DNS record, content with lots of images and little text, and missing unsubscribe headers in newsletters. The test shows you which of these applies to you.
What are SPF, DKIM and DMARC?
SPF defines which servers may send email for your domain. DKIM signs every email digitally so that changes are noticed. DMARC ties both to the sender address and tells mailbox providers what to do with forged emails.
Is the test free?
Yes. Without an account you can run 3 tests per day. With a free account you get more tests and can compare results.
What happens to my test email?
It is stored encrypted on servers in Germany, analysed only automatically and deleted after 7 days. We never open unsubscribe or confirmation links in your email.
Do order or password emails need an unsubscribe link too?
No. Gmail, Yahoo and Outlook.com only require unsubscribe headers for newsletters and bulk email. Postwacht detects the type of email automatically and doesn't deduct points for this on individual and transactional emails.
Does a 10 out of 10 guarantee delivery?
No. Mailbox providers also consider your sending history and how your recipients react. A 10 means everything is set up correctly – the best starting point for the inbox.
Ready for your first test?
Takes a minute. No sign-up needed.