6 best free tools for DMARC checking and analysis in 2025

DMARC monitoring has shifted from optional to essential, with adoption more than doubling thanks to bulk sender requirements from Google and Yahoo. Monthly DMARC record additions jumped significantly between 2023 to 2025, with 400,000 more domains joining the party after Microsoft followed high-volume sender requirements in May 2025 [1]. Yet despite rapid implementation, effective monitoring remains a significant challenge.

Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks cost organizations $6.7 billion worldwide, with companies lacking proper DMARC monitoring being particularly vulnerable to domain spoofing [2]. This guide examines seven leading free tools for DMARC check and analysis to help organizations select appropriate monitoring solutions for their specific needs.

Why Red Sift stands out: Red Sift’s free DMARC check, Investigate, provides the most comprehensive analysis without requiring registration, making it ideal for organizations serious about email security. Unlike basic lookup tools, it delivers actionable remediation guidance and serves as a gateway to the #1-rated OnDMARC platform for reporting and monitoring. Red Sift is trusted by over 1,200 organizations to achieve full DMARC enforcement in just 6-8 weeks.

1. Understanding DMARC monitoring: Critical requirements for modern organizations
2. Comprehensive analysis: Leading Free DMARC checking tools

• Red Sift Investigate & OnDMARC
• MXToolbox DMARC Analyzer
• Postmark Free Reporting
• EasyDMARC Free Plan
• Valimail Monitor
• Dmarcian Free Plan

1. How to choose the right DMARC tool for your needs
2. When comprehensive DMARC solutions become essential
3. Securing organizational email infrastructure: Next steps

DMARC (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting & Conformance) coordinates SPF (Sender Policy Framework), DKIM (DomainKeys Identified Mail), and DMARC policies to create unified email authentication strategies. When properly configured, DMARC instructs email receivers on handling messages that fail authentication checks, providing essential protection against domain spoofing and phishing attacks.

Effective DMARC monitoring delivers measurable security and operational benefits:

• Threat detection and prevention: Identifies unauthorized senders attempting to use organizational domains, enabling rapid response to spoofing attacks
• Configuration validation: Detects authentication issues before they impact email deliverability or business operations
• Authentication visibility: Provides comprehensive tracking of email authentication rates across complex sending infrastructures
• Compliance support: Delivers documentation and reporting capabilities that support regulatory requirements and security audits

DMARC aggregate reports arrive as technical XML files requiring specialized knowledge to interpret. Organizations without proper monitoring tools face significant challenges in extracting actionable insights from these reports. Professional DMARC monitoring solutions transform raw XML data into visual dashboards and automated alerts that enable security teams to respond quickly to authentication issues.

Current industry data reveals concerning gaps in email authentication adoption: 87% of domains lack adequate DMARC protection as of December 2024, while BEC attacks have doubled in frequency to reach 10.77 attacks per 1,000 mailboxes monthly. These statistics underscore the urgent need for comprehensive DMARC monitoring capabilities.

Optimal use case: Comprehensive email authentication assessment and implementation planning

Red Sift Investigate, a free DMARC assessment tool, provides enterprise-grade analysis of email authentication configurations, serving as an introduction to the company's award-winning OnDMARC platform. To date, Red Sift is trusted by over 1,200 organizations.

Core capabilities:

• Comprehensive analysis of DMARC, SPF, and DKIM record configurations
• Visual security posture assessment with clear status indicators
• Detailed identification of configuration issues with specific remediation guidance
• DMARC policy alignment verification across authentication protocols
• Zero-registration access for initial security assessments

Red Sift Investigate distinguishes itself through depth of analysis with detailed explanations of policy settings (monitoring versus enforcement), identification of potential SPF configuration issues, specific recommendations for security improvements, and an educational approach that helps organizations understand how effectively configurations protect against domain spoofing.

Paired with Red Sift OnDMARC, users benefit from in-depth DMARC reporting and monitoring, guided support to reaching DMARC enforcement within 6-8 weeks and award-winning customer success service. OnDMARFC consistently maintains a 4.9/5 rating on G2 and holds the #1 position for DMARC solutions in EMEA and Europe. 

Starting with Red Sift Investigate, organizations can evaluate email security posture and plan comprehensive DMARC implementation. Security teams preparing for full DMARC monitoring deployments benefit from detailed insights into current configurations and clear paths to enforcement. Red Sift also provides a 14-day trial of the complete OnDMARC platform, which includes aggregate report analysis, guided policy enforcement, Dynamic SPF capabilities, and DNS Guardian for comprehensive brand protection beyond basic DMARC monitoring.

Optimal use case: Immediate DNS record validation and technical diagnostics

MXToolbox provides established DNS diagnostic capabilities with a proven track record in email infrastructure testing. The platform delivers rapid DMARC record validation without requiring user registration or account creation.

Core capabilities:

• Instant DMARC record lookup and syntax validation
• Configuration error identification and reporting
• Integrated DNS diagnostic tools and reference materials
• Zero-friction access without registration requirements
• Command-based testing supporting SPF, DKIM, and related protocols

MXToolbox serves organizations requiring immediate DMARC record verification and troubleshooting capabilities. The platform excels for IT administrators conducting spot checks, development teams implementing initial DMARC configurations, and security professionals validating DNS changes without dashboard overhead.

Limitations: The service provides lookup functionality without ongoing monitoring, historical data retention, or aggregate report processing. Organizations requiring continuous DMARC monitoring or trend analysis need supplementary tools or comprehensive platforms.

Optimal use case: Simple, email-based weekly reports

Postmark provides straightforward DMARC monitoring through weekly email digests. Organizations add the provided DMARC record and receive translated XML reports without requiring dashboard access.

Core capabilities:

• Free with unlimited email volume
• Clean, attractive email reports delivered weekly
• No dashboard interface (which is both a pro and a con)
• Easy setup, just add the provided DMARC record
• Available to anyone, not just Postmark customers

Postmark's DMARC monitor suits small businesses seeking automated monitoring without dashboard management. The weekly email summaries deliver sufficient information for problem detection while maintaining simplicity. It's particularly suited for small businesses with straightforward email setups, website owners who want basic monitoring, and anyone who prefers email notifications over dashboard interfaces.

Limitations: No web dashboard means no real-time visibility between weekly reports. Setup requires careful attention if you already have a DMARC record in place, as it doesn't automatically detect existing records.

Optimal use case: Beginners who want guided DMARC implementation

EasyDMARC offers user-friendly DMARC monitoring interfaces with a free plan for small-volume senders. The platform features Cloudflare integration for simplified DMARC setup.

Core capabilities:

• Free plan includes monitoring for up to 1,000 emails per month
• Attractive, intuitive dashboard
• One-click DMARC setup for Cloudflare users
• Smart DNS scanning that detects existing records
• 14-day data retention

EasyDMARC balances simplicity with functional capabilities. The clean interface, guided setup process, and Cloudflare integration benefit organizations managing DNS through that platform. It's particularly suited for small businesses or individuals with low email volume, Cloudflare users, and anyone new to DMARC who wants an easy-to-understand dashboard.

Limitations: The 1,000 monthly email limit restricts usage for organizations sending newsletters, operating e-commerce stores, or maintaining regular customer communication. The free tier excludes forensic reporting and support.

Optimal use case: High-volume senders who need unlimited monitoring

Valimail's free monitoring service provides unlimited email volume analysis. The platform supports high-volume senders without the message caps imposed by alternative free tools.

Core capabilities:

• Unlimited email volume on the free plan
• Clear dashboard showing SPF, DKIM, and DMARC status
• Custom alerts for suspicious sending activity
• Test email authentication with their validation tool
• Integration with popular email platforms including Mailchimp

Mailchimp recommends Valimail for compliance monitoring following Google and Yahoo's 2024 authentication requirements. The unlimited email volume particularly benefits growing businesses and email marketing operations. It's particularly suited for email marketing teams, online stores with high transaction volumes, and any organization that sends more than a few thousand emails monthly.

Limitations: The dashboard can feel unintuitive at times, with a roughly 24-hour delay between report availability and data visualization. Documentation is somewhat technical, which might challenge less experienced users.

Optimal use case: Personal projects and learning DMARC implementation

Founded by one of DMARC's original authors, Dmarcian is one of the most respected names in email authentication. Their free plan offers sophisticated features for non-commercial use, making it ideal for learning or protecting personal domains.

Core capabilities:

• Monitor up to 2 domains for free (personal use only)
• 1,250 monthly email limit
• One month of data retention
• Excellent documentation written for beginners
• Clean, spacious dashboard interface

Dmarcian's free tier provides access to a mature DMARC platform with comprehensive onboarding and plain-language documentation. The platform delivers enterprise-grade capabilities for personal and learning applications. It's particularly suited for personal websites, hobby projects, developers learning DMARC implementation, and anyone wanting to understand email authentication without commercial pressure.

Limitations: Personal/non-commercial use only, no forensic reports on the free plan, and the 1,250 email monthly limit means this won't work for business use.

Organizations can use this decision framework to select appropriate DMARC monitoring tools:

Email volume considerations: Organizations sending more than 1,000 emails monthly should eliminate EasyDMARC and Dmarcian's free plans from consideration. Red Sift or Valimail provides the best option for unlimited monitoring at this scale.

Technical expertise alignment: Organizations new to DMARC benefit from Red Sift's comprehensive guidance and detailed analysis. Security teams requiring quick validation without extensive context can utilize MXToolbox's rapid lookup capabilities.

Implementation timeline: Organizations planning strategic DMARC implementations should begin with Red Sift's comprehensive assessment. Teams requiring immediate record validation benefit from MXToolbox's instant lookup functionality, while those seeking continuous monitoring should consider Postmark or Valimail.

Free DMARC monitoring tools provide valuable capabilities for initial implementations and small-scale operations. However, organizational growth and evolving threat landscapes often necessitate enterprise-grade features that free platforms cannot deliver.

Advanced functionality requiring professional solutions:

• Forensic reporting providing detailed message-level analysis for security investigations
• API access enabling custom integrations with existing security infrastructure
• Multi-user access controls and role-based permissions for security team collaboration
• Extended data retention supporting trend analysis and compliance documentation
• Priority technical support and professional implementation services
• Guided DMARC enforcement strategies ensuring safe transition to reject policies
• SPF optimization and flattening services preventing DNS lookup limit issues

Current threat intelligence reveals increasingly sophisticated email-based attacks requiring advanced defenses. With 40% of BEC emails now generated using AI and conversation hijacking attacks increasing 70% in 2024, organizations face threats that exploit subtle vulnerabilities in email authentication. These sophisticated attack vectors demand equally sophisticated monitoring and response capabilities.

For organizations managing complex email infrastructures, handling sensitive data, or operating in regulated industries, comprehensive DMARC solutions like Red Sift OnDMARC provide essential protection beyond basic monitoring capabilities.

DMARC adoption has accelerated significantly over the past year, driven by inbox provider requirements and heightened awareness of email-based threats. Current data reveals that only 16% of domains globally have implemented any DMARC policy, with merely 6% enforcing the strongest "reject" policy [3]. This substantial gap represents both a significant vulnerability and an opportunity for organizations to establish competitive advantages through proactive email security.

Organizations beginning DMARC monitoring should select tools aligned with their operational scale, technical resources, and security requirements. Consider these key principles:

• Start with free solutions: Free monitoring tools provide appropriate starting points for initial implementations, allowing security teams to understand baseline authentication patterns before committing to comprehensive platforms
• Match tools to objectives: Organizations focused on rapid record validation benefit from immediate lookup capabilities (MXToolbox), while those planning strategic DMARC implementations require detailed analysis and remediation guidance (Red Sift)
• Scale appropriately: Select tools that match your email volume and technical expertise level

In email security, inaction presents greater risk than imperfect initial choices. Organizations delaying DMARC implementation face increasing vulnerability to domain spoofing, brand impersonation, and Business Email Compromise attacks. The free tools examined in this guide provide accessible entry points for organizations at any stage of email authentication maturity.

Security teams should prioritize initiating DMARC monitoring over achieving perfect initial configurations. Iterative improvement based on monitoring insights delivers superior outcomes compared to delayed implementations awaiting ideal conditions.

[1] "400,000 DMARC boost after Microsoft’s high-volume sender update," Red SIft, May 1, 2025. https://blog.redsift.com/email/dmarc/400000-domains-adopt-dmarc-after-microsofts-bulk-sender-update/ 

[2] "Business Email Compromise Statistics: 2024-2025 BEC Trends," eFTsure. https://www.eftsure.com/statistics/business-email-compromise-statistics

[3] "BIMI Radar," Red Sift. https://bimiradar.com/glob