MXToolbox is the industry standard for one-off DNS and email diagnostics. EdgeIQ is built for continuous monitoring. Here's the honest difference — and how to pick the right tool.
MXToolbox is the go-to for one-off diagnostics. Need to look up a DMARC record right now? Check if an IP is blacklisted? Test your MX servers? MXToolbox has free tools that do exactly that — instantly, no account needed. It's been around since 2004 and every email deliverability engineer knows it.
EdgeIQ Labs is built around the question MXToolbox doesn't answer: what changed since last time I checked? EdgeIQ monitors your domain continuously — DMARC, SPF, DKIM, SSL certificates, subdomains, open ports, DNS — and sends you a plain-English alert when anything changes. You don't have to remember to check. The monitoring runs automatically.
MXToolbox is a toolkit. It gives you 100+ individual lookup tools — DMARC lookup, SPF lookup, MX lookup, blacklist check, email header analyzer, SMTP diagnostics, and more. You type in a domain or IP, click a button, get the result. All free for basic lookups.
MXToolbox Delivery Center (their paid product) adds monitoring and alerts, but it's focused primarily on email deliverability — blacklist monitoring, DMARC reporting, and inbox placement testing. It's enterprise-oriented with pricing that starts around $129/mo and scales with volume.
EdgeIQ starts with continuous monitoring across your entire external attack surface — not just email. Pulse monitors your SSL certificates, open ports, subdomains, DNS records, and CVEs. Inbox Shield monitors your DMARC, SPF, and DKIM records and alerts you when policy or records change. BrandGuard watches for new lookalike domains. All of it sends you a plain-English weekly digest (or daily on Pro), so the monitoring is zero-effort after setup.
Pricing starts free for one domain, with Pro plans at $9–$19/mo. There are no per-seat fees and no enterprise contracts.
| Feature | EdgeIQ Labs | MXToolbox |
|---|---|---|
| DMARC / SPF / DKIM check | ✓ Continuous monitoring + alerts | ✓ Free one-off lookup |
| Blacklist monitoring | ✓ Included in Inbox Shield Pro | ✓ Free lookup; monitoring in Delivery Center |
| SSL certificate monitoring | ✓ Expiry alerts included in Pulse | ~ SSL lookup only; no proactive alerts |
| Subdomain discovery | ✓ CT log + DNS probe scan | ✗ Not available |
| Open port scanning | ✓ Included in Pulse Pro | ✗ Not available |
| Lookalike domain monitoring | ✓ BrandGuard ($12/mo) | ✗ Not available |
| Weekly security digest email | ✓ Core feature, every plan | ✗ Not available |
| DMARC XML report analysis | ~ Summary via Inbox Shield | ✓ Deep forensic reports in Delivery Center |
| Email header analyzer | ~ Guide available | ✓ Full header analyzer tool |
| MX / DNS diagnostics | ~ DNS monitoring; no ad-hoc diagnostic | ✓ Full suite of one-off lookup tools |
| SMTP diagnostics | ✗ Not available | ✓ Full SMTP testing |
| Inbox placement testing | ✗ Not available | ✓ Available in Delivery Center |
| Free tier | ✓ 1 domain, 6 checks, weekly digest | ✓ Unlimited free one-off lookups |
| No-setup required | ✓ Email + domain, done | ✓ No account needed for basic tools |
| Slack / webhook alerts | ✓ Pulse Pro and above | ~ Available in paid tiers |
| Plan | EdgeIQ Labs | MXToolbox |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 domain · 6 checks · weekly digest | Unlimited one-off lookups (no monitoring) |
| Entry paid tier | $9/mo — Inbox Shield Pro (DMARC monitoring) | $129/mo — Delivery Center entry (blacklist + deliverability) |
| Attack surface monitoring | $19/mo — Pulse Pro (5 domains, 13 checks, daily) | Not available |
| Full suite | $58/mo — all 5 products on Pro plans | $279–$499/mo — enterprise tiers |
| Per-seat pricing | None — flat per-domain pricing | Volume-based pricing |
| Contract required | No — month-to-month, cancel anytime | Monthly; enterprise may require annual |
You want to be automatically notified when anything changes — SSL expiry, DMARC policy drift, new subdomain, open port — without logging in and manually checking. Set up once, get weekly digests.
You're debugging an email deliverability issue right now and need deep diagnostic tools — SMTP testing, MX lookup, email header analysis — with no account required.
You're a small business, startup, or solo IT owner who can't afford the time to check security posture manually. EdgeIQ's free plan covers one domain at zero cost.
You're a high-volume email sender who needs inbox placement testing, detailed DMARC XML report analysis, and dedicated deliverability support. MXToolbox Delivery Center is purpose-built for that.
You want attack surface monitoring beyond email — SSL certificates, open ports, subdomain discovery, lookalike domain alerts — all in one weekly digest.
You're an IT consultant or MSP who needs a quick toolbox for ad-hoc client diagnostics. MXToolbox's free lookup tools are unmatched for speed and depth.
Enter your domain. Get a real-time security check for DMARC, SPF, SSL, and more — then subscribe for continuous monitoring. No credit card, no setup.