MailSentinel vs Microsoft SNDS: Complete DMARC Monitoring
Compare MailSentinel and Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services). Learn why you need dedicated DMARC monitoring alongside Microsoft's tools.
MailSentinel
Starting at $14/month
- Modern, intuitive dashboard
- Real-time alerts
- Transparent pricing
- Self-service signup
Microsoft SNDS
Free
- Free from Microsoft
- Outlook-specific insights
- IP reputation data
- Microsoft only - limited coverage
- No DMARC report parsing
- IP-focused, not domain-focused
Feature Comparison
| Feature | MailSentinel | Microsoft SNDS |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft IP Reputation | ||
| DMARC Report Parsing | ||
| All Provider Coverage | ||
| Real-time Alerts | ||
| Forensic Reports | ||
| DNS Monitoring | ||
| Modern Dashboard | ||
| Source Discovery |
Why You Need More Than Microsoft SNDS
Microsoft SNDS (Smart Network Data Services) is a free tool from Microsoft for monitoring your sending IP reputation with Outlook.com, Hotmail, and related services. Like Google Postmaster Tools, it's useful but limited.
What Microsoft SNDS Provides
- IP reputation with Microsoft
- Spam complaint data for Microsoft recipients
- Trap hits (spam trap information)
- Filter results for your IPs
What It Doesn't Provide
- DMARC report parsing ❌
- Data from Gmail, Yahoo, or others ❌
- Real-time alerting ❌
- Domain-level authentication view ❌
- Sending source discovery ❌
The Visibility Gap
Microsoft SNDS Shows
| Metric | Available |
|---|---|
| Microsoft IP reputation | ✅ Yes |
| Microsoft spam complaints | ✅ Yes |
| Microsoft trap hits | ✅ Yes |
| Gmail data | ❌ No |
| Yahoo data | ❌ No |
| DMARC reports | ❌ No |
MailSentinel Shows
| Metric | Available |
|---|---|
| DMARC pass/fail all providers | ✅ Yes |
| Gmail authentication | ✅ Yes |
| Microsoft authentication | ✅ Yes |
| Yahoo authentication | ✅ Yes |
| All sending sources | ✅ Yes |
| Real-time alerts | ✅ Yes |
Using Both Tools
For complete visibility, use both:
Microsoft SNDS
Best for:
- Microsoft-specific IP reputation
- Diagnosing Outlook delivery issues
- Understanding Microsoft filtering
MailSentinel
Best for:
- Complete DMARC monitoring
- All-provider authentication data
- Real-time alerting
- Sending source discovery
- Historical analysis
Setup Recommendation
Step 1: Register with Microsoft SNDS
- Go to sendersupport.olc.protection.outlook.com/snds
- Register your sending IPs
- Monitor Microsoft-specific metrics
Step 2: Set Up MailSentinel
- Sign up for MailSentinel
- Add DMARC record:
v=DMARC1; p=none; rua=mailto:your-id@reports.mailsentinel.io- Get complete DMARC visibility
The Complete Stack
For optimal email authentication monitoring:
| Tool | Purpose | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Google Postmaster Tools | Gmail insights | Free |
| Microsoft SNDS | Microsoft/Outlook insights | Free |
| MailSentinel | Complete DMARC monitoring | $14-49/mo |
Total cost: $14-49/month for complete visibility.
Why This Matters
Google & Yahoo Requirements (2024)
Bulk senders must have:
- ✅ SPF configured
- ✅ DKIM signing
- ✅ DMARC published
- ✅ Passing authentication
Microsoft Requirements (2025)
Microsoft now requires similar authentication for Outlook.com, Hotmail, and Live.
You Need Complete Visibility
SNDS and Postmaster Tools show provider-specific data. DMARC reports show everything.
Only with dedicated DMARC monitoring can you:
- See ALL sending sources
- Catch ALL authentication failures
- Detect spoofing attempts
- Meet ALL provider requirements
The Bottom Line
Microsoft SNDS is useful for Outlook-specific insights—and it's free!
But for complete email authentication monitoring:
- SNDS = Microsoft IP reputation
- MailSentinel = Complete DMARC visibility
Use both for the full picture.