CheckFast vs MXToolbox
an honest comparison
Side-by-side
| Feature | CheckFast | MXToolbox |
|---|---|---|
| SPF analysis (lookups, void, all qualifier) | ||
| DKIM probes across 30+ selectors | 3-5 selectors | |
| DMARC policy + alignment | ||
| MX with reverse DNS (PTR) | MX only | |
| 15 DNSBLs in parallel | ||
| BIMI + VMC validation | ||
| MTA-STS DNS + policy file | ||
| TLS-RPT | ||
| DNSSEC validation | ||
| DANE / TLSA | ||
| Provider auto-detection | ||
| Shareable permanent reports | paid | |
| Public API | Pro $29/mo | $349/mo |
| Telegram alerts | ||
| 44-tool catalog | ||
| Starter price | $9/mo | $99/mo |
Why teams switch
Modern checks
BIMI, MTA-STS, TLS-RPT, DNSSEC, DANE — all the 2024-era email security standards. MXToolbox stopped at the basics.
Managed alert channels
MXToolbox alerts are email-only and bundled into pricier tiers. CheckFast includes Telegram on Starter, with Slack and webhook delivery on Pro and Agency.
Lower published entry price
MXToolbox monitoring starts at $99/mo for ~10 monitors. CheckFast Starter is $9/mo for 15 monitors, with a different feature scope and broader diagnostic catalog.
FAQ
Does CheckFast cover everything MXToolbox does?+
All the email diagnostics — SPF, DKIM (across 30+ selectors), DMARC, MX, blacklists (15 DNSBLs) — yes. Plus modern checks MXToolbox doesn't (BIMI, MTA-STS, TLS-RPT, DNSSEC, DANE). What we don't have: SMTP traceroute and a few enterprise compliance reports. For 95% of teams that's a non-issue.
Is the data quality the same?+
CheckFast queries Cloudflare DNS-over-HTTPS, native DNS and configured DNSBL sources, then applies its own validation rules. Results can differ from MXToolbox because source lists, resolver timing and product scope are not guaranteed to match.
How do the published entry prices compare?+
CheckFast monitoring starts at $9/mo for 15 monitors. The MXToolbox plans compared on this page start at $99/mo, but the products and included enterprise features are not identical.
Can I import my MXToolbox monitors?+
There is no MXToolbox importer today. Export the target list, then recreate each monitor through /monitors/new. A dedicated importer remains roadmap work.
Does CheckFast have an API?+
Yes — POST /api/v1/email-checker/check returns the JSON report. The authenticated API is included from Pro ($29/mo) with current limits of 300 requests/hour and 2,000/day. Anonymous use is limited to 5/hour and 10/day.