Frequently asked questions

Common questions about uploads, validation quality, and how Bounce Protect handles data.

What file types can I upload?

CSV and Excel (XLSX) files are both supported. We auto-detect the email column so no reformatting is needed. Maximum 10,000 rows per upload.

How accurate is validation?

Our DNS-based pipeline reliably catches domain-level issues — typos, missing MX records, disposable providers, and SPF/DMARC status. SMTP verification (checking if the specific mailbox exists) is rolling out, which brings valid classification accuracy to 95%+.

What signals does Bounce Protect detect?

Ten signals per email: disposable domain (121K+ database), role accounts, domain typos with suggested corrections, catch-all servers, free email providers, SPF record status, DMARC record status, MX record presence, spam risk score (0–100), and a send recommendation (Send / Caution / Review / Don't Send). Run Deep Analysis after validation to also get domain legitimacy scores and company intelligence from our 22M+ organisation database.

How is this different from NeverBounce or ZeroBounce?

Most validators give you a score. We give you the reason. Instead of 'risky: 0.4' you get 'Domain typo detected — did you mean gmail.com?' Every email gets a plain-English explanation so you know what to do, not just what the status is. We also give a deliverability score (0–100) and our credits never expire within 1 year.

Do you have an API?

Yes — a REST API is available on Agency ($99/mo) and Scale ($199/mo) plans. Endpoints include single email validation, bulk validation (up to 100 emails per request), and account balance. Full documentation at bounceprotect.com/docs.

What happens to uploaded data?

Uploaded lists are stored to show you results in your dashboard history. You can delete any upload at any time. We do not sell or share your data. All data is encrypted in transit and at rest.

Do credits expire?

Welcome credits and subscription credits expire after 1 year. Credit packs (one-time purchases) also never expire within 1 year. We do not retroactively change expiry terms on credits you have already purchased.

Can I get a PDF report to share with clients?

Yes — after validating a list, click 'Download PDF report' in the Results page. The report includes a list health score, signal breakdown, deliverability analysis, and recommendations. Branded with Bounce Protect — useful for agencies sharing results with clients.

Is there a free trial?

Yes — 100 validation credits on signup, no credit card required. Enough to validate a sample list and see all signals in action.

What is a spam risk score?

Every email gets a spam risk score from 0–100 that predicts how likely the address is to cause inbox placement problems or spam complaints. 75+ is low risk and safe to send. Below 25 is very high risk and should be excluded. The score is based on signals like disposable domain, role account, domain age, and catch-all status.

What is a send recommendation?

After validation every email gets one of four recommendations: Send (safe to include), Send with Caution (risky but not disqualifying), Review (manually check before including), or Don't Send (exclude from your list). It combines all signals into a single plain-English decision so you don't have to interpret scores yourself.

What is Deep Analysis?

Deep Analysis runs after your email list is validated and checks every unique domain for business legitimacy. It checks whether the domain has a live website, valid SSL, how old the domain is, whether it passes Google Safe Browsing, what mail provider it uses, and whether we can match it to a real company in our 22M+ organisation database. Domains that look suspicious — parked, very new, no website — get a low legitimacy score so you can filter them out.

What is Company Intelligence?

Company Intelligence is our database of 22M+ organisations matched by domain. When you run Deep Analysis, we check every domain in your list against this database and return the company name, industry, employee size, year founded, country, and LinkedIn URL where available. This means you can see not just whether an email is valid, but whether the company behind it is a real, established business.