If you’re sending B2B emails—sales, newsletters, product updates, whatever—you already know hitting the inbox is half the battle. Tools like Inboxally, GlockApps, Warmup Inbox, and Mailflow all promise to fix deliverability. But which ones actually help? And which are just fancy dashboards with little real-world impact?
This is for B2B teams who want to cut through the noise and pick a deliverability tool that works for their actual use case, not just one that looks good in a pitch deck.
Step 1: Get Clear on What You Actually Need
Before you get lost in feature lists, nail down why you’re even looking for a deliverability tool. Ask yourself:
- Are your emails landing in spam, or are you just worried they might?
- Do you send real, human-written emails, or is this mostly cold outreach?
- Do you need one-off fixes or ongoing monitoring?
- Are you running things in-house, or does your marketing team need a self-serve tool?
Pro Tip: If you’re not sure you have a deliverability problem, don’t buy anything yet. Most issues start with bad content, poor list hygiene, or sketchy sending practices. No tool will fix that for you.
Step 2: Understand What Inboxally and Its Competitors Actually Do
Let’s cut through the marketing language. Here’s what these tools usually claim:
- Seed testing: Send your email to a list of test inboxes and see where it lands (Inbox, Promotions, Spam).
- Inbox placement monitoring: Ongoing checks of whether your emails reach the inbox.
- Warm-up services: “Train” mailbox providers to trust your domain by sending/receiving fake or semi-fake emails.
- Reputation scores: Grading your sender domain/IP.
- Alerts: Get notified when something breaks.
What’s unique about Inboxally?
Inboxally says it “trains” ISPs to deliver your emails by having a network of real accounts interact with your messages. It’s less about fake opens and more about simulating real engagement (opening, replying, dragging to Inbox). That’s different from most warm-up tools, which use bots or low-quality accounts.
What about the competition? - GlockApps: Focuses on diagnostics and analytics—lots of data, not much direct action. - Warmup Inbox, Mailwarm, Folderly: Mostly automate warm-up and engagement, but often with less sophisticated or transparent networks. - Mailflow, Postmark Monitoring: More about alerts and deliverability reporting, not proactive fixing.
What to ignore:
Don’t get distracted by “proprietary AI” claims, fancy dashboards, or endless metrics. If you can’t see a clear path from feature to improved deliverability, it’s probably fluff.
Step 3: Evaluate the Real Impact on Deliverability
All these tools promise better inbox rates. Here’s the reality:
- Seed testing is a rough estimate. It doesn’t always match what your real recipients see. It’s useful for spotting major issues, but don’t obsess over minor differences.
- Warm-up tools help some, but not all. If you’re launching a new domain or have a history of spam, warming up can help. If you’re already established and following best practices, it won’t do much.
- Engagement simulation can move the needle. This is Inboxally’s big claim. If their accounts are high-quality and actually interacting, you might see some improvement. But mailbox providers are getting smarter—if they detect obvious patterns or fake engagement, it won’t last.
- No tool is a magic fix. If your emails are unwanted or your content triggers spam filters, nothing will help for long.
Honest take:
Inboxally’s approach is more legit than most warm-up tools, but don’t expect miracles. If your content and sending practices aren’t solid, you’re just putting lipstick on a pig.
Step 4: Compare Pricing and Transparency
Deliverability tools are notorious for unclear pricing and surprise upsells. Watch for:
- Per inbox/domain or per volume pricing: Some charge per domain, some by number of emails “warmed up,” some by features.
- Minimum contracts: Are you locked in for a year, or can you cancel anytime?
- Transparency: Can you see exactly what’s happening “under the hood,” or is it a black box?
Pro Tip:
Ask for a free trial or pilot. If a vendor balks or wants you to pay upfront, that’s a red flag.
Step 5: Test With Your Real Email Flows
Whatever tool you choose, don’t just trust their demo or sample results. Test it with your actual emails and sending patterns.
- Set up a small test group. Use real subject lines, content, and sending schedules.
- Monitor results: Are you seeing more opens from real users? Is reply rate up? Are fewer people complaining about missing emails?
- Watch for unintended consequences: Some tools can actually hurt deliverability if they trigger spam filters or look fake.
Don’t skip list hygiene:
No tool will save you if you’re emailing bad addresses or ignoring unsubscribes. Clean your list regularly.
Step 6: Look for Red Flags and Empty Promises
There’s a lot of snake oil in the deliverability space. Here’s what to watch out for:
- “Guaranteed inbox placement.” Nobody can promise that and mean it.
- No explanation of how their network works. If they can’t tell you where their “real accounts” come from, assume they’re not.
- Pushy sales tactics or hiding pricing. If you feel rushed, there’s a reason.
- Fake “AI-powered” features. If everything is branded as “AI” with no details, it’s marketing, not substance.
Step 7: Consider Support and Community
Deliverability isn’t one-size-fits-all. You’ll need help at some point. Look for:
- Live chat or fast email support: Can you reach a human who actually knows how email works?
- Documentation: Is it practical, or just full of buzzwords?
- User community or forums: Sometimes, the best tips come from other users, not the vendor.
Step 8: Make a Decision (and Don’t Overthink It)
After you’ve demoed a couple of tools, looked at your real results, and checked support, just pick one and run with it for a month. Don’t get stuck in endless comparison.
Remember: - Most B2B teams don’t need five deliverability tools. One good one, plus solid sending habits, is enough. - If you don’t see a clear improvement in your actual email results, cancel and try something else. - Deliverability is about trust—between you and mailbox providers. Tools can help, but they can’t fake that trust forever.
Summary
Picking a deliverability tool isn’t about chasing every new feature or marketing claim. Get clear on your problem, test with real emails, and ignore the hype. Tools like Inboxally offer a slightly smarter take on engagement, but they’re not magic. Keep it simple, check your results, and don’t be afraid to switch if you’re not seeing real-world gains. The best approach? Stay curious, iterate, and focus on sending emails that people actually want. That’s what gets you to the inbox.