Hunter's free Email Spam Checker tells you how a real email performs once it has actually been delivered. You send a test message, and Hunter gives you a deliverability score out of 10 along with the issues behind it. Use it before you launch a campaign, or when you're trying to work out why your emails are landing in spam.
What the Email Spam Checker does
Most authentication tools only read your DNS records. This one analyses the email as it arrives, so it also catches problems in your content, your links and your sending reputation.
The tool is free and anonymous, and you don't need a Hunter account to use it.
Because the Email Spam Checker tests authentication, content, and sending reputation together on a real delivered email, it covers what a third-party authentication-only tool like mail-tester.com checks — there's no need to use a separate tool for this.
Run a test
Go to the Email Spam Checker.
Click "Copy address" to copy the private test address. It's valid for one hour and accepts one email.
Send your email to that address from your usual sending tool, using the same settings you plan to use for the campaign.
Wait for the report to appear on the page.
👉 Send from the same account and tool you'll use for the real campaign. Testing from a different mailbox gives you a score for that mailbox, not the one you're about to send from.
💡 Your message is analysed by third-party services, so only send content you're comfortable sharing.
If you don't get a test address
The page shows the state of the test where the address normally sits.
"Preparing your test address…" — it isn't ready yet. The address, the Copy address button and the expiry hint appear once it is.
"We couldn't prepare a test address. Please try again." — setup failed. Click Try again to request a new one.
Each address lasts one hour and accepts one email. If the hour runs out, or you've already sent to it, reload the page for a fresh one.
Once a report is on screen, Test another email gives you a new address for another test.
What your score covers
Three things, which the report lists as five named groups — Content, Authentication, Sending reputation, Links and Formatting — each with its own pass mark.
Authentication
Whether SPF, DKIM, DMARC and reverse DNS pass on the email that was actually delivered. A record can look correct in your DNS and still fail in practice, which is why this check runs on the delivered message.
Content and formatting
Risky wording, broken formatting, and links to domains that spam filters may flag. The report scores wording, formatting and links as three separate groups.
Sending reputation
The age of the sending domain and whether its MX records are set up — two signals inbox providers use to judge a sender.
Blocklists aren't part of this report. On a paid plan, the health check in the Email Accounts Center covers Spamhaus listings for your connected domains. Otherwise, look your domain or IP up directly on Spamhaus.
Reading your score
Higher is better. A score of 8 out of 10 or above usually means the email is well set up. A lower score points to issues worth fixing before you send.
The report opens with your score in a gauge, a short headline such as "Everything looks good", and a sentence or two on what the checker saw in your particular message. Underneath is the time the email was received and analysed.
Below that, each group of checks carries its own pass mark, and some list their individual checks underneath. A group can pass and still show a note inside it — something worth knowing that didn't cost you points.
💡 A good score means the email itself is set up correctly. It isn't a guarantee of inbox placement. A new domain or mailbox can score well and still land in spam, because placement also depends on sender reputation built up over time.
Fixing what the report finds
Failed SPF, DKIM or DMARC — Verify SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records (and fix common DNS mistakes)
No records published yet — Generate your SPF and DMARC records with Hunter's free tools
Reputation problems on a new domain or mailbox — How to warm up an email account before sending cold emails
Warnings on a domain connected to Sequences — Fix issues detected by Hunter (Domain Health Check)
How does this differ from Hunter's other checks?
The Email Deliverability Checker reads your sending domain's DNS records before you send anything. The Email Spam Checker tests a real delivered email.
The Domain Health Check reads your domain's DNS records. The Email Spam Checker tests a delivered email.
The "Spam score" shown in the Sequences editor rates the wording of a draft before it's sent. The Email Spam Checker scores a real email and also covers authentication and reputation.