What DNS blacklists (DNSBL) are
DNSBL are databases of IP addresses from which spam, hacking or other abuse has been observed. Before accepting an email, mail servers query such databases through DNS: if the sender's address is on a list, the email goes to spam or is rejected. So a single "dirty" IP can ruin the delivery of an entire mailing.
Why an IP lands on a blacklist
What to do if your IP is on a list
- Find the cause: check the mail server log, hacked accounts, forms on the site, an open relay.
- Eliminate it and change passwords, update your CMS and plugins.
- Submit a removal request on the website of the specific list (the "Delist" button next to the list in the result). Some lists remove the address themselves after a few days without new abuse.
- Set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC: this will not remove the listing, but it increases trust in your emails. You can check them on the DNS Lookup page.
Which lists we check
16 free lists that respond from our server: SpamCop, PSBL, UCEPROTECT (levels 1 and 2), DroneBL, S5H, InterServer, Mailspike, GBUdb Truncate, SPFBL, Blocklist.de, Backscatterer, SWINOG, Kempt, ZapBL and Anonmails. Before adding each list, we test it on test addresses, and responses that look like a failure or resolver blocking are shown as "no response", not as "clean".
What this check will not show
Spamhaus (ZEN) is not included: its free access is allowed only for non-commercial organizations with their own resolver, not for public web services. So "clean" means "clean on the lists above", not across the whole internet. If emails still go to spam, also check the domain's reputation, SPF/DKIM/DMARC and the content of the emails.
What else StayIndexed can do
This page is a free tool from the StayIndexed service. In your account you can save a list of your IPs, refresh the check in one click and see when an address landed on a blacklist or got removed from it (also free), while the main job of the service is to track how your pages are doing in Google.
How much it costs
The check is free, both on this page and in your account. Tokens are used to pay for the other services: indexing, speed and backlinks cost 3 tokens per check. 30 tokens are credited at sign-up, no card required.
Frequently asked questions
What is an IP blacklist (DNSBL)?
It is a database of addresses from which spam or abuse has been observed. Mail servers check such databases through DNS and reject emails from listed addresses or send them to spam.
Why do emails go to spam even though the IP is clean?
The cause may be the domain's reputation, missing or incorrect SPF, DKIM and DMARC, the content of the email or the behavior of recipients. Check the domain's records on the DNS Lookup page.
How do I get off a blacklist?
Eliminate the cause of the listing, then submit a removal request on the list's website. Some lists remove the address automatically after a few days without new abuse.
Why don't you check Spamhaus?
Spamhaus's free mirrors are allowed only for non-commercial organizations with their own resolver and are prohibited for public web services. So we check 16 other free lists.
Can I check a domain instead of an IP?
Yes: enter a domain, and we will check its IPv4 address. A domain's mail server may have a different address, so for mailings enter the IP of the mail server itself.
How much does an IP blacklist check cost?
Nothing: the check is free both on this page and in your StayIndexed account. In your account you can save a list of your IPs, refresh the check in one click and see the change history.