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Bulk-sender compliance checklist

Check off what you've got and see how ready you are for the 2026 Gmail, Yahoo and Microsoft bulk-sender requirements — authentication, infrastructure, one-click unsubscribe and complaint rate. Each unmet item links to the tool or doc that fixes it. Nothing is saved or sent.

Readiness

0% Not ready

Authentication

SPF record published and passing required SPF checker
DKIM signing with a 2048-bit key required DKIM checker
DMARC record published (at least p=none) required DMARC checker
From domain aligns with SPF or DKIM required Header analyzer
DMARC at quarantine or reject (enforcement) recommended DMARC report reader

Infrastructure

Valid reverse DNS (PTR / FCrDNS) for every sending IP required Authentication doc
Mail transmitted over TLS required Config file
Valid HELO/EHLO hostname matching reverse DNS required Virtual MTAs

List & engagement

One-click unsubscribe (List-Unsubscribe + Post) required List-Unsubscribe generator
Unsubscribes honored within 2 days required
Spam complaint rate kept under 0.3% required Emails going to spam
Sending only to opt-in / permission-based recipients required
RFC 5322 formatting (valid From, Message-ID, Date) required Header analyzer
New IPs warmed up gradually recommended Warm-up scheduler

Compliance FAQ

What are the 2026 bulk-sender requirements?+

Gmail, Yahoo and Microsoft require bulk senders to authenticate with SPF, DKIM and DMARC (with From alignment), support one-click unsubscribe and honor it promptly, keep spam complaints low (under 0.3%), use valid reverse DNS and TLS, and send RFC-compliant mail to people who opted in. This checklist scores you against those core requirements.

What counts as a 'bulk sender'?+

The thresholds were introduced around senders of roughly 5,000+ messages per day to a given provider, but the requirements are best practice for everyone. If you operate PowerMTA at any real volume, treat all of these as mandatory rather than optional.

Is this checklist saved or sent anywhere?+

No. It runs entirely in your browser and nothing is stored or transmitted. It's a self-assessment to show where you stand and what to fix, with links to the relevant tools and documentation.

Which item matters most?+

Authentication and complaint rate. Failing SPF/DKIM/DMARC can get mail rejected outright in 2026, and a complaint rate over 0.3% will get you throttled regardless of perfect technical setup. Fix those first, then work down the list.

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