SPF Creator vs MXToolbox: SPF Generator Comparison
Comparing SPF Creator and MXToolbox for generating SPF records. See how the dedicated SPF generator stacks up against the popular email diagnostics suite.
MXToolbox is one of the most recognized names in email diagnostics. It offers a wide range of tools including SPF lookups, blacklist monitoring, and SMTP testing. SPF Creator is a dedicated, free SPF record generator built around one job: helping you build a valid SPF record quickly and privately. Here is how they compare for SPF record generation specifically.
The Comparison
| Feature | SPF Creator | MXToolbox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no account required | Free tier with paid plans ($129+/mo for full features) |
| SPF Generation | Dedicated generator with guided UI | SPF record builder available as one of many tools |
| DNS Lookup Counter | Real-time counter updates as you add mechanisms | Lookup count shown after record is analyzed |
| Provider Presets | Library of presets for common providers | Manual entry of include values |
| Privacy | All processing happens locally in your browser | Data is sent to MXToolbox servers for processing |
| SPF Validation | Syntax validation during generation | Full SPF record checker and diagnostic tool |
| DKIM/DMARC Tools | Links to dedicated sister tools | Built into the same platform |
| Email Diagnostics | SPF generation only | Full suite: blacklists, SMTP, MX, headers, and more |
| Monitoring | Not included (use Deliverability Checker) | Included in paid plans |
MXToolbox Strengths
MXToolbox has earned its reputation for good reason. It is a comprehensive email diagnostics platform that goes far beyond SPF:
Full Email Diagnostics Suite
MXToolbox covers blacklist checks, SMTP testing, MX record lookups, email header analysis, and more. If you need to diagnose a deliverability issue, it is a one-stop shop.
SPF Record Checker
Their SPF lookup tool parses your published record and shows you exactly what it contains, including nested includes, lookup counts, and any errors. This is useful for auditing existing records.
Blacklist Monitoring
MXToolbox monitors your IPs and domains against dozens of blacklists. This is a separate concern from SPF but important for overall deliverability.
Brand Recognition
MXToolbox has been around for years. Many IT professionals already use it and trust its results, which makes it a common reference point.
SPF Creator Strengths
SPF Creator focuses on the generation side of the SPF workflow — building the record in the first place:
Dedicated SPF Generator UX
The entire interface is designed for one task: building an SPF record. No navigating through dozens of tools to find the generator.
Real-Time DNS Lookup Counter
As you add mechanisms, the lookup counter updates in real time. You can see exactly how many of your 10 allowed lookups each mechanism consumes before you publish anything.
Provider Preset Library
Select your email providers from a preset library instead of looking up the correct include values. Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, SendGrid, Mailgun, and many more are pre-configured.
Local Processing / Privacy
Your domain and SPF record data never leaves your browser. There is no server-side processing, no account creation, and no data collection.
Free With No Account Required
Open the page, build your record, copy it. No signup, no email gate, no trial period.
The Key Differentiator: Real-Time Lookup Counter
The 10 DNS lookup limit is the most common reason SPF records break. Every include, a, mx, and redirect mechanism costs at least one lookup, and nested includes within those records add more.
MXToolbox shows you the lookup count after you analyze a published record. SPF Creator shows you the count as you build, updating in real time each time you add or remove a mechanism. This means you can see that adding SendGrid's include pushes you from 6 to 8 lookups before you ever publish the record. You catch the problem during construction, not after deployment.
The 10 DNS lookup limit is defined in RFC 7208. Exceeding it causes a "permerror" result, which can lead to email delivery failures. Building with the counter visible helps you stay under the limit from the start.
Track your email authentication daily
After building your SPF record, monitor it alongside DKIM, DMARC, and MX records to catch issues before they affect delivery.
When to Use MXToolbox
MXToolbox is the right choice when you need more than SPF generation:
- You need to diagnose a deliverability problem. If email is bouncing or landing in spam, MXToolbox's diagnostic suite can help identify the cause — blacklists, DNS issues, SMTP configuration, or authentication failures.
- You need blacklist monitoring. If your sending IPs or domains are at risk of being blacklisted, MXToolbox's monitoring is valuable.
- You want to verify an existing SPF record. MXToolbox's SPF checker is excellent for parsing and validating records that are already published.
- You need SMTP testing. Testing your mail server's SMTP configuration and response codes is something MXToolbox handles well.
- You want everything in one platform. If you prefer a single tool for all email infrastructure checks, MXToolbox consolidates many tools into one dashboard.
When to Use SPF Creator
SPF Creator is the right choice when your primary goal is building an SPF record:
- You need to generate a new SPF record. The dedicated generator interface makes it fast to build a record from scratch.
- You want to see lookup counts in real time. If you are adding multiple providers and need to stay under the 10-lookup limit, the live counter prevents mistakes.
- You want provider presets. Instead of searching documentation for the correct include value for each provider, select them from a list.
- You want privacy. If you prefer that your domain and DNS data are not sent to a third-party server, SPF Creator processes everything locally.
- You want free with no friction. No account, no email, no trial. Open the page and start building.
The Full Authentication Stack
SPF is one piece of the email authentication puzzle. For complete protection, you also need DKIM and DMARC. MXToolbox offers checking tools for all three within its platform. SPF Creator is part of a suite of dedicated generators — each focused on one protocol:
- SPF Record Check — Validate your published SPF record
- DKIM Creator — Generate DKIM key pairs and DNS records
- DMARC Creator — Build your DMARC policy record
- Deliverability Checker — Monitor all your authentication records daily
Bottom Line
MXToolbox and SPF Creator serve different parts of the email authentication workflow. MXToolbox is a broad diagnostics suite — excellent for checking, analyzing, and monitoring your email infrastructure. SPF Creator is a focused generator — purpose-built for constructing SPF records with real-time feedback on DNS lookups.
They complement each other well. Build your SPF record with SPF Creator, then verify it with MXToolbox or SPF Record Check. Use the approach that fits your workflow.
Related Articles
Monitor Your New SPF Record
You've built your SPF record — now make sure it keeps working. The Email Deliverability Suite watches your SPF, DKIM, DMARC, and MX records daily and alerts you when something breaks.
Never miss an SPF issue
Monitor your SPF, DKIM, DMARC and MX records daily. Get alerts when something breaks.
Start Monitoring