Free · no sign-up
Email blacklist checker
Check whether an IP address or domain is on a major email block list such as Spamhaus, SpamCop or Barracuda — the lists that make mail bounce or land in spam.
Which block lists are checked
For an IP address we query the main IP block lists: Spamhaus ZEN, SpamCop, Barracuda, UCEPROTECT Level 1, PSBL, Mailspike and DroneBL. For a domain we check the domain lists Spamhaus DBL, SURBL and URIBL, and also the IP addresses of the domain's mail servers. To check the server that sends your email, enter its IP address — you can find it in the Received headers of a message you sent, or ask your email provider.
What to do if you are listed
- Find the cause. Look for a sudden rise in bounces or complaints, a campaign sent to an old list, a hacked mailbox or a website form being abused.
- Stop it. Pause bulk sending, secure compromised accounts and remove invalid, inactive and purchased addresses from your lists.
- Request removal on the list operator's website. Explain what you fixed. Some lists clear automatically after a few days without new spam.
- Prevent it happening again: verify lists before sending, use double opt-in and remove addresses that hard-bounce.
Most blacklistings trace back to bad addresses. Verify your list before each campaign and read our guides on hard and soft bounces and improving email deliverability. InboxRoads customers also get automatic block-list monitoring for their sending domains in the Deliverability Center.
Frequently asked questions
An email blacklist (also called a block list or DNSBL) is a public list of IP addresses or domains that have been seen sending spam. Many mail servers check these lists and reject or filter messages from listed senders.
Usually because of spam complaints, mail sent to spam traps (old or invalid addresses), a compromised account or website sending spam, or a shared IP used by someone else. Cleaning your list and fixing the cause comes before asking for removal.
Fix the cause first, then use the removal (delisting) form on the list operator's website. Some lists remove entries automatically after a period without new spam. Never pay a third party for "guaranteed delisting".
No. Spamhaus, Barracuda and SpamCop are widely used by mail servers; some smaller lists have little effect. Watch the major lists and your own bounce messages, which often name the list that blocked you.
Some lists refuse queries that arrive through large public DNS resolvers or limit free lookups. That result says nothing about whether you are listed — check that list on its own website.
Verify your whole list, not just one address
Upload a CSV and InboxRoads checks every address, removes duplicates for free and gives you clean files to download.