Key points at a glance
- Blacklists collect server addresses and domains that spam has come from; many recipients reject emails from them.
- Usually a hacked account, an infected device or an abused contact form is behind it.
- Fix the cause first, then request removal – otherwise you’ll land right back on the list.
What is a blacklist?
A blacklist (also called a blocklist or DNSBL) is a public directory of addresses that spam has been sent from. Mail servers query such lists for incoming emails. If the sender is on one, the email lands in spam or is rejected.
- IP blacklists list the addresses of mail servers. Everything sent through that server is affected.
- Domain blacklists list domains that appear in spam or phishing emails, for example as the sender or in links.
- Well-known operators include Spamhaus, SpamCop and Barracuda, for example. Each list has its own rules for when an entry is created and how it disappears again.
How to tell you’ve been listed
- Several non-delivery notices containing words like “blocked”, “listed”, “blacklisted” or the name of a list.
- Several customers say at the same time that your emails landed in spam.
- Your email provider reports unusually high sending volume or has temporarily suspended your account.
Free domain check
Is your company address protected?
Enter your domain or your email address. You see the result right here, with a traffic light and a grade from A to F.
You opened a link to a result. The check only starts when you click, always with the current state.
Privacy: if you enter an email address, we transmit only the domain; the part before the @ never leaves your browser. We use the domain only for this check of public DNS records and do not store it in plain text; we do not store the result. We store your IP address only as a checksum and for at most one day to curb abuse.
The quick check is based on public DNS data at the time of the query and does not replace a full review; no warranty.
Keep an eye on it continuously instead of checking once:
Book a free initial callMonitor your domain – 14 days freePrefer some help? Ask us to set it up- No commitment
- No credit card
- Ends on its own after 14 days
No-obligation request by email · price on request
What happens next
- Your email program opens a prepared request with your domain. Add your name and send it.
- We get back to you and discuss with you or your IT partner which records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) are needed and what the setup costs.
- The setup needs access to the DNS management of your domain. We agree the handover with you – please never send us passwords by email.
- If you wish, DomainRadar then monitors your domain continuously and alerts you when something changes.
No email program opens? Write to us with your domain at info@domainradar.ch.
Good to know: this protection stops anyone forging exactly your domain. Against look-alike addresses, always confirm payment changes by phone.
All checks
Quick check based on public DNS records. Continuous monitoring also checks certificates, blocklists and your DMARC reports.
Your result as a PDF
As a report to keep or to forward to your IT.
Free and without an account: you confirm your address by email and can unsubscribe at any time.
How to check your domain and server
The operators of the large lists offer a free lookup on their website: you enter your mail server’s IP address or your domain and see whether an entry exists. You’ll find the IP address in the headers of a sent email or with your email provider.
If you use Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or another large provider, you share mail servers with many customers. If one of these servers ends up on a list, the provider takes care of it. Your own domain can still be listed though, for example if spam was sent through your account.
What the free check covers
DomainRadar’s free check examines your domain’s public DNS records (SPF, DKIM, DMARC). Blocklists are only queried by the ongoing monitoring, daily and directly with the list operators.
Getting off the list again
The order matters: removal only helps once the reason for the listing has been fixed.
- Find the causeHacked account, infected device or abused form.
- Fix the causeChange passwords, enable two-factor authentication, clean the device.
- Request removalOn the respective list’s website.
- Keep watchingKeep an eye on entries and bounces going forward.
Be careful with paid fast-track removal
Some lists charge money for fast removal. For the large lists, removal is usually free, and many entries expire on their own after some time once no more spam comes from you.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out if my domain is on a blacklist?
The large list operators offer a free lookup on their website, for your mail server’s IP address and for your domain. Easier is ongoing monitoring that queries many lists for you every day.
How long does it take to get removed from a blacklist?
It depends on the list: some remove you within hours of a request, others only after a few days, and some entries expire on their own. The condition is almost always that no more spam is coming from you.
Does DMARC help against blacklist entries?
Only indirectly. DMARC ensures that forgeries of your domain are rejected. It doesn’t prevent an entry caused by a hacked account or an infected device. For that you need secure passwords, two-factor authentication and monitoring of blocklists.
How DomainRadar helps
DomainRadar queries public blocklists for your domain and your mail servers’ addresses daily, directly with the list operators, and reports a new entry by alert email. It also monitors SPF, DKIM and DMARC, the most common technical reasons emails land in spam. The free check shows you how these records look for your domain today.
The domain check stays free. Afterwards you test DomainRadar with all features for 14 days – no credit card, the trial ends on its own.