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By Trevor Sinclair

Looking for an email list scrubber? You’re in the right place!

Email marketers often agree that your list is your goldmine.

Now, here’s the part you don’t often hear: up to 25% of that goldmine could be fool’s gold!

“Bad emails? No big deal,” you might think.

But turn a blind eye to list hygiene; and these bad addresses send bounce rates soaring!

When that happens, your bottom line takes a hit (since you can’t land in the inbox).

That’s why I’m bringing you a review of six email list scrubbers that are worth your time and investment:

  • Emailable
  • Clearout
  • Hunter
  • ZeroBounce
  • Bounceless
  • Bouncer

Let’s dive in!

No time to waste?

Check out our favourite tool Emailable!

Emailable (Best Email Scrubber)

Email deliverability can make or break a campaign. As marketers, we’ve all felt the sting of meticulously crafted emails landing in the spam folder or worse, bouncing back entirely.

Emailable is an email list cleaner that eliminates irrelevant, spammy, and invalid emails from your database.

It offers:

  • Bulk email checking
  • Email list cleaning automation
  • Real-time email verification
  • A comprehensive deliverability tool suite

But here’s where Emailable really shines: its speed. In a world where every minute counts, Emailable gets it.

It’s fast, efficient, and doesn’t keep you waiting.

Many users report switching over because their old tools took hours or days to complete email verification. In my experience, scrubbing my data only takes a few seconds. For a large list, it will be slightly longer.

The simplicity of Emailable’s email cleaning process is noteworthy. It provides clear descriptions of each type of result, making it easy to act on.

Emailable is no slouch when it comes to security, either. Emailable safeguards data with GDPR compliance and 256-bit TLS encryption.

Also, the platform integrates with the email service provider, customer relationship manager, and marketing platforms you already use.

The pricing is competitive, and most importantly, it works even better than advertised.

You can be confident that your email marketing efforts are built on a solid foundation of reliable, verified email addresses.

Pros vs Cons 

Pros

  • Improves email delivery
  • Reduces bounce rates
  • Enhances campaign performance
  • Automated list cleaning
  • API for integrations

Cons

  • False positives possible

Pricing 

Credits Pay-as-you-go ($/email) Monthly ($/email)
5,000 $30 ($0.00600) $25.50 ($0.00510)
10,000 $50 ($0.00500) $42.50 ($0.00425)
25,000 $125 ($0.00500) $106.25 ($0.00425)
50,000 $225 ($0.00450) $191.25 ($0.00383)
100,000 $420 ($0.00420) $357 ($0.00357)
250,000 $725 ($0.00290) $617.50 ($0.00247)
500,000 $1300 ($0.00260) $1105 ($0.00221)
1,000,000 $1800 ($0.00180) $1530 ($0.00153)
2,500,000 $3375 ($0.00135) $2875 ($0.00115)

Clearout (#2 Email Scrubber)

Clearout offers a suite of tools designed to streamline and enhance email marketing efforts.

From verifying emails at the point of capture to maintaining data hygiene, Clearout excels.

What sets Clearout apart as an email scrubber is its accuracy. It not only removes invalid emails but also ensures that the emails that do make it through are high quality.

We can avoid spam traps, which keeps my open rates high (and overall ROI positive).

Clearout’s speed is another standout feature. Whether I’m verifying a handful of emails or a list of thousands, Clearout easily handles it.

This efficiency is crucial – no more waiting days for results.

Data security is a top priority, and Clearout doesn’t disappoint. Data is well-protected with 256-bit SSL encryption and adherence to GDPR, SOC 2 Type 2, and ISO norms.

The flexibility of Clearout’s integration capabilities is also a big plus. The rest API is adaptable and can integrate with any programming language.

Looking at other user reviews, it’s clear that my positive experience with Clearout is not unique. Users have praised its accuracy, affordability, and user-friendly interface.

This kind of feedback reinforces my confidence in the platform.

Pros vs Cons

Pros

  • Ensures email list accuracy.
  • Helps maintain sender reputation
  • Prevents accidental data loss
  • Great for large email lists
  • User-friendly interface

 

Cons

  • Setup can be challenging for certain systems.

Pricing

Credits Pay As You Go ($/Email) Monthly Cost (Price per Email)
3,000 credits $21 ($0.007) $16.80 ($0.0056)
10,000 credits $58 ($0.0058) $46.40 ($0.00464)
100,000 credits $350 ($0.0035) $280 ($0.0028)
250,000 credits $625 ($0.0025) $500 ($0.002)
500,000 credits $850 ($0.0017) $680 ($0.00136)
1 million credits $1,100 ($0.0011) $880 ($0.00088)

Hunter.io, at its core, is a tool designed to streamline the process of cold outreach by finding and verifying professional email addresses. (By the way, here’s our full Hunter.io review)

Compared to tools like Emailable and ZeroBounce, which focus more on bulk email verification, Hunter.io focuses more on outbound lead generation.

Yes – bulk email verification is a part of that, so there is also some overlap.

Hunter.io’s features include:

  • Domain Search
  • Email Finder
  • Email Verifier
  • Email Campaigns

The process begins with the Domain Search feature. Instead of spending hours trawling through LinkedIn or company websites, I enter the domain name into Hunter.io.

In an instant, I have a list of professional email addresses from that domain.

Once I have these potential leads, the next step is to ensure the emails are valid. At this point, I’ll use the verifier, which ensures 95% accuracy.

However, where Hunter.io truly stands out is its Email Campaigns feature.

Unlike other tools that stop at email verification, Hunter.io takes it a step further by allowing me to compose, schedule, and track email campaigns directly from the platform.

In terms of use cases, Hunter.io excels in roles where outbound lead generation is key.

For example:

  • Salespeople targeting decision-makers
  • Bloggers performing backlink outreach

If you want to further explore solutions for this outbound use-case, you can check out our best Hunter.io alternatives.

Pros vs Cons

Pros

  • Reliable data for outreach.
  • Confirms the validity of emails.
  • Improves email deliverability.
  • Lead qualification
  • Transparency on data origin
  • Follow up automation

Cons

  • Some verified emails may be non-existent

Pricing

Plan Monthly Cost Monthly Searches Monthly Verifications
Free $0/month 25 50
Starter $49/month 500 1,000
Growth $149/month 5,000 10,000
Business $499/month 50,000 100,000

Note: Annual pricing plans offer a 30% discount.

ZeroBounce

ZeroBounce is a comprehensive email validation service that offers:

  • Email list validation
  • Email list cleaning service
  • Additional data appending
  • Improved deliverability

The accuracy is impressive, with a 99% accuracy claim that holds up in practice.

This was evident in the case of MediaShares, where their bounce rate dropped from 12% almost to 0% after using ZeroBounce.

It’s GDPR, SOC 2 Type 2, and PCI compliant and uses military-grade data encryption to protect data.

ZeroBounce integrates with existing email marketing platforms and CRMs, enabling smooth data transfer. The real-time verification feature is also a bonus, validating emails as they are collected.

The Activity Data service is a unique feature that provides insights into subscriber engagement, allowing for improved email list performance.

The AI-driven email scoring system is another plus, predicting subscriber interaction with your emails.

ZeroBounce’s reputation is strong, with numerous positive customer reviews and testimonials. They also have a free trial for Niche Pursuits readers, allowing you to test the tool’s capabilities before purchasing.

Pros vs Cons

Pros

  • Fast email verification process
  • Reliable email verification results
  • Improves list hygiene
  • Identifies invalid email address, inactive subscribers, disposable emails
  • Excellent value

Cons

  • Some issues reported with API and credit balance

Pricing

They offer both pay-as-you-go and monthly options. For smaller lists or infrequent use, I recommend the pay-as-you-go plan. The monthly pricing may offer better value for regular use.

Emails Pay-as-you-go ($/email) Monthly ($/email)
Up to 2,000 Free $0.0075
From 2,000 $0.008 $0.0075
From 5,000 $0.0078 $0.007
From 10,000 $0.0065 $0.0064
From 25,000 n/a n/a
From 50,000 n/a n/a
From 100,000 $0.0039 $0.0035
From 250,000 $0.003 $0.00255
From 1,000,000 $0.00225 $0.00191

Bouceless

Whether you’re verifying a list of email addresses or searching for new ones, Bounceless delivers results quickly without compromising on accuracy.

It offers:

  • Email verification
  • Email finder
  • Deliverability
  • Blacklist monitoring

Under the hood, Bounceless employs advanced techniques to ensure top-notch email management.

It intelligently cleans spam trap records, removing any potential risks. Duplicate email addresses are swiftly eliminated. Risk validation scans for and eliminates high-risk keywords and domains in email addresses.

To improve deliverability, Bounceless validates the Mail-Transfer-Agent (MTA) and ensures the syntax of email addresses is valid.

It also removes emails with invalid, inactive, or parked domains and identifies catch-all domains.

Not only is Bounceless powerful, but it’s also incredibly easy to use. Most users report completing their first email clean-up within just 20 minutes.

In the 57 email test that I ran, it performed slightly slower than Emailable.

And when it comes to bounce rates, Bounceless delivers impressive results. Users have experienced a remarkable 234% improvement.

The pay-as-you-go pricing model offers flexibility that’s hard to find.

Compared to tools like Hunter, Bounceless does offer more options. It’s also nice that you have flexibility to choose a package without being tied to a monthly subscription.

In addition to its technical prowess, Bounceless offers detailed reporting so you can always keep track of your email list’s health.

Pros vs Cons

Pros

  • User-friendly with affordable pricing
  • Provides insightful analytics
  • Highly accurate in validating emails
  • Rapid validation results

Cons

  • Customer support response can be delayed.

Pricing

Credits Pay as you go Monthly ($/email)
5,000 $29 ($0.0058) $15 ($0.003)
10,000 $49 ($0.0049) $24 ($0.0024)
25,000 $99 ($0.00396) $49 ($0.00196)
50,000 $169 ($0.00338) $89 ($0.00178)
100,000 $299 ($0.00299) $169 ($0.00169)
300,000 $599 ($0.0019) $349 ($0.00116)
500,000 $799 ($0.00159) $449 ($0.0008)
1M $999 ($0.0099) $599 ($0.00059)
2.5M $1649 ($0.00065) $1199 ($0.0004796)
5M $2299 ($0.00045) $1799 ($0.0003598)

The monthly package includes an email finder, inbox placement, and blacklist monitoring.

Bouncer

Bouncer is an email list scrubber laser-focused on email verification and deliverability.

It’s a no-nonsense solution that gets the job done, and it does it well.

First, let’s talk about email verification. Bouncer identifies undeliverable emails before you send your campaign, ensuring you get far fewer bounced emails.

The API is another strong point. It’s robust, reliable, and easy to use.

Users have praised its straightforwardness and the quick response from the support team. The API offers both batch and real-time verification options, making it a versatile tool for any business.

Bouncer’s Toxicity Check feature is another standout. It’s an extra layer of protection, removing potentially harmful email addresses, such as breached ones, complainers, and potential spam traps.

The Deliverability Kit is a proactive feature that monitors your inbox placement and blacklists, alerting you when things go awry.

Bouncer’s ability to verify email addresses hosted by different email service providers, including deep catch-all Google Workspace and Office365 verification, is impressive.

It does this with few unknown results (0.3-3%), which is phenomenal.

In terms of speed, Bouncer can check over 200,000 emails per hour, and the results speak for themselves. Users have reported a significant drop in bounce rates, from 25% to a mere 1-1.5%.

It does all this with a fair pricing model.

The fact that Bouncer allows you to test your list’s quality completely free is a big plus. It will pull a sample from your list, check it, and will tell you if it needs cleaning. That way, you don’t burn unnecessary credits.

Pros vs Cons

Pros

  • Easy to use and connect to other tools
  • High accuracy email checker
  • Keeps email list clean at great price point
  • Exceptional support
  • Reduced spam complaints

Cons

  • Onboarding could be better

Pricing

Credits Pay-as-You-Go Price ($/email) Monthly Price ($/email)
5,000 $29.00 ($0.0058) $29.00 ($0.0058)
10,000 $49.00 ($0.0049) $49.00 ($0.0049)
25,000 $99.00 ($0.0049) $99.00 ($0.0049)
50,000 $169.00 ($0.00338) $169.00 ($0.00338)
100,000 $299.00 ($0.00299) $299.00 ($0.00299)
300,000 $599.00 ($0.0019) $599.00 ($0.0019)
500,000 $799.00 ($0.0016) $799.00 ($0.0016)
1,000,000 $999.00 ($0.0099) $999.00 ($0.0099)
2,500,000 $1649.00 ($0.00065) $1649.00 ($0.00065)
5,000,000 $2299.00 ($0.00045) $2299.00 ($0.00045)

Email scrubber – Final Thoughts

Remember, maintaining a clean email list is just as important as growing it. A clean email list can improve your deliverability rate, reduce your bounce rate, and ultimately increase your ROI.

So, invest in a good email scrubber like Emailable. It’s one that will pay for itself in the long run.

P.S. List cleaning and maintaining sender reputation are necessities for landing in the inbox, but so are avoiding spam trigger words. So make sure to pay attention to those as you craft your emails!

By Trevor Sinclair

Trevor Sinclair is an entrepreneur and online business expert. He’s seen first-hand how the internet can empower people to create businesses and lifestyles they love. Now, he’s passionate about helping others do the same.

When he’s not working, you may find him hacking up a golf course or savouring the bold flavours of Thai cuisine.

Sourced from NICHE PURSUITS

Personalization is one area of optimization that’s continuously addressed on blogs or at conferences. Each year, marketers gather more data, and have more tools and opportunities to ensure their emails allow the subscriber to feel more connected to the brand. Some brands have been able to leverage the data and the tools to become more relevant to the subscriber, having done so with diligence, testing, resilience and taking risks.

However, many brands have overlooked a key component to relevancy bliss at some point in time: the pre-send experience. This refers to anything that could impact the email program before the email is sent to the subscriber.

It’s not about a beautiful piece of creative, captivating copy and irresistible calls to action with hyper-personalization sent at the right time to subscribers. The optimization of the pre-send experience is sometimes put last on the list of things to do because it’s not sexy, takes time and requires patience.

Inception and administration

There are two equally weighted areas of the pre-send experience that marketers need to focus on: inception and administration.

Inception is tied to what a person goes through to sign up for the email program on a site or on another channel. In many organizations, the website and UX are owned by different groups, which often means that the email department is left out of the optimization discussion even though the objective of list growth is technically shared.

For example, brands like to play hide and seek with the email sign up and place it toward the footer of the site in a small font, because the notion of making it more prominent is often frowned upon by designers. The idea of making a pop-up banner to capture email addresses is too intrusive to the experience. Yet if done right and tested, it can be a stable and sustainable source of email list growth.

A critical part of inception is the experience you provide on getting data, preferences or choices that people have around your email program. If you have 15 newsletters and capture 11 pieces of geographic and psychographic data points, is that too much for the subscriber to handle the first time they interact with your email program? While the goal is to provide choice, too much choice can overwhelm and turn people off.

As an email marketer for more than 21 years, I encourage clients to go through the sign-up experience at least twice a year with an unbiased group of people to see how easy or painful it was to get on the email list. As marketers, we understand our brand’s process on the site, but often overlook the things that could annoy or frustrate the typical site visitor who wants to sign up for your email program.

A great test to execute this is watching people navigate the front page and looking at the process they go through. After, you should ask the following questions:

  • Did you find the process to sign up for email easy or challenging?
  • Do you understand what our email program is about and what to expect?
  • Do you feel special or do you feel like a number?

The goal is to create an experience your customer can benefit from, rather than what your marketing department wants.

Administration is the ongoing experience your subscriber has during specific points of their email lifecycle with your brand. These things include a preference or subscription centre, cadence or frequency caps, opt-out or opt-down options, and the use or misuse of the data you have on each one of them.

If you have data, use it. But use it sparingly as not to raise the red flag of creepiness.

For example, if you have invested resources and budget into a preference or subscription centre and only leverage or promote it for the inception experience, you could be missing out on critical lifecycle points from the subscriber because things change in their lives.

A preference or subscription centre shouldn’t just capture data points at one point in time and be promoted at the bottom of every email next to the unsubscribe link. It should be publicized at various time stages for each subscriber to update as their life and preference changes.

Finally, if you have data, use it. But use it sparingly as not to raise the red flag of creepiness. Today’s sensitivity of subscribers is at an all-time high and, as brands, you need to be a good steward of privacy.

The optimization of the pre-send experience should be an ongoing project for any organization. It’s time for email marketers to help influence and take ownership of things that have long been assigned to other departments. The email program has long influenced attribution, and marketers today need to un-silo themselves from single-channel expertise.

Feature Image Credit: iStock

By ANDREW KORDEK

Andrew Kordek is vp of customer engagement at iPost, an email marketing and automation platform.

Sourced from ADWEEK