
Want to make your cold email plan better in 2025? Begin by using free email warm up tools. These tools help your emails go to the inbox, not spam. Email warm-up helps email providers trust you more. It also makes sure your emails get delivered. Doing warm-up often keeps your sender reputation safe. It also helps your cold emails get delivered well. Use automated email warm-up with Mails.ai for a simple start. Pay attention to your email content and warm-up steps. Good email deliverability is important for every campaign. Get your emails seen and get more replies by using automated email warm-up.
Key Takeaways
Look at your email and domain health before you start warming up. This helps you stay out of spam and keeps your reputation safe.
Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records. These show your emails are safe and help your emails get to inboxes.
Pick a warm-up tool like Mails.ai. It sends emails for you, works with your email provider, and has free plans.
Begin by sending only a few emails each day. Slowly send more over time. This helps email providers trust you.
Make sure your email list is clean. Do not use spammy words. Watch how your emails do to keep good deliverability.
Getting Started with Free Email Warm Up Tools
Assess Email and Domain Health
Before you start with any free email warm up tools, you need to check your email and domain health. This step helps you avoid problems with deliverability and keeps your email domain reputation strong. If you skip this, your emails might end up in spam, or your domain could get blacklisted.
Start by looking at your current email performance. Here’s a simple way to do it:
Check your bounce rates. Remove any invalid or inactive addresses from your list.
Look at open rates, click-through rates, and spam complaints. These numbers show if people like your emails or if you need to change your approach.
Run a risk analysis on your contact list. Take out anyone who often marks emails as spam or never opens them.
Use tools like Google Postmaster, MxToolbox, or Talos Intelligence to see your domain reputation and spot any issues.
Make sure your content is friendly and not too promotional. This helps build trust and keeps your domain warm up on track.
Tip: Always use a clean, verified list for your first warm-up. This keeps your email warmup process smooth and protects your domain reputation.
Set Up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC
Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC is a must for any email warmup tool. These records prove to email providers that your messages are real and safe. Without them, your emails might get blocked or sent to spam, no matter how good your warm-up is.
Here’s how you can set up these records:
Log in to your DNS provider’s dashboard.
Add a TXT record for SPF. This tells email servers which mail servers can send emails for your domain.
Create DKIM keys. Publish the public key as a TXT record in your DNS.
Add a DMARC record. This sets rules for how email providers handle messages that fail SPF or DKIM checks.
Save your changes and wait for them to update.
Use online tools to check if everything works.
Watch DMARC reports to see if your emails pass the checks.
Note: Microsoft and Google now require DMARC for better inbox placement. If you skip this, your deliverability could drop fast.
Here’s a quick look at how these records affect inbox rates:
Provider | Q1 2024 Inbox Rate | Q1 2025 Inbox Rate |
---|---|---|
Gmail | 59% | 54% |
Google Workspace | 64% | 53% |
Outlook/Hotmail | 49% | 27% |
Exchange | 77% | 51% |

You can see that inbox rates dropped as rules got stricter. Setting up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC helps you keep your email warm-up on track and protects your email domain reputation.
Choose an Email Warmup Tool (Mails.ai and Alternatives)

Now you’re ready to pick a free email warm up tool. The right email warmup tool will automate your warm-up, save you time, and help you build a strong sender reputation. You want a tool that fits your needs and supports your email provider.
Here’s what you should look for:
Automation: The tool should send and receive emails for you.
Customization: You should control how many emails go out each day.
Compatibility: Make sure it works with your email provider (like Gmail, Outlook, or Zoho).
Support: Good help resources make setup easier.
Let’s compare some popular options for 2025:
Tool Name | Starting Price (Monthly) | Free Trial or Free Tier | Key Features and Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Lemwarm | $29 | No | Personalized warmup emails, niche targeting, integrated with Lemlist tools, higher price point |
TrulyInbox | $39 | 7-day free trial | Warmup scheduling, detailed analytics, limited integrations |
Warmup Inbox | $19 | 7-day free trial | Easy to use, supports multiple email providers, detailed warmup reports |
Mailwarm | $79 | No | Customizable warmup schedules, detailed stats, higher price |
Email Warmup by Instantly | $37 | No | API and integrations, reputation protection |
MailReach | $19.5 | No | Sender reputation monitoring, blacklist monitoring |
Warmbox | $19 | No | Sender reputation monitoring, blacklist monitoring, simple setup |
Note: Most email warmup tools offer free trials, but fully free email warm up tools are rare in 2025. Mails.ai stands out by offering a free plan with unlimited email accounts and unlimited email warmup for Gmail and Google Workspace users.
When you use Mails.ai, you get dual-layer warm-up, inbox rotation, and free email verification. This means you can warm up both your mailbox and your campaigns at the same time. The platform uses AI to make your emails look real, which helps your email domain reputation and keeps your emails out of spam.
Here’s how to start your warm-up with any tool:
Connect your email account to the warm up tool.
Start with 10-15 emails per day. Let the tool send and receive messages for you.
Gradually increase the volume as your reputation grows.
Monitor your results in the tool’s dashboard.
Adjust your settings if you see any issues with deliverability or engagement.
Pro Tip: Use Mails.ai’s free plan to test the email warmup process before you scale up. This helps you protect your domain reputation and get the most out of your outreach.
By following these steps, you set yourself up for success. You build a strong sender reputation, keep your domain warm up healthy, and make sure your emails reach the inbox.
How Email Warmup Tools Improve Deliverability

Why Warm-Up Matters for Inbox Placement
You want your emails to go to the inbox. You do not want them in spam. Email warm-up helps with this. When you use a new account, you need trust. You start by sending just a few emails. Then you slowly send more each day. This helps mailbox providers trust you. If you do not warm up, your emails may go to spam.
Email warmup tools make this easy. They send and get emails for you. You do not have to do it yourself. These tools act like real people using email. Gmail and Outlook like this. Studies show warm-up can double open rates. It can also lower spam complaints. You will see fewer bounces and more people reading your emails. This helps your emails get to the inbox.
Tip: Warm-up is not only for new accounts. Use it if you change providers, rebrand, or start a big campaign.
Dual-Layer Warmup with Mails.ai
Mails.ai uses dual-layer warmup. This means you get mailbox warmup and campaign warmup. Mailbox warmup sends emails between your account and others. This builds your sender reputation. Campaign warmup helps your outreach emails get delivered. Both layers protect your domain and campaigns.
Mails.ai also uses inbox rotation and email verification. These features keep your sender reputation strong. They help your emails get delivered. You do not get sudden jumps in email volume. This keeps your reputation safe. Dual-layer warmup means more emails go to the inbox. You get better results from your campaigns.
AI-Powered Engagement and Trust Score
AI makes warmup smarter. Mails.ai uses AI to watch opens, clicks, and replies. The platform checks your sender reputation. It gives you a Trust Score. If your score drops, you get alerts. You can fix problems fast.
AI Feature | What It Does | How It Helps Deliverability |
---|---|---|
Grows sending volume based on engagement | Builds a strong sender reputation | |
Real-Time Monitoring | Tracks bounces and spam complaints | Keeps your emails out of spam |
Content Analysis | Spots spammy words and suggests changes | Improves inbox placement |
Adaptive Sending | Adjusts timing for high engagement | Protects sender reputation |
AI-powered warmup tools help you keep high engagement. They make your emails look real. Your emails reach the inbox more often. Over time, you build a good reputation. This helps your emails get delivered well.
Setting Up and Using an Email Warmup Tool

Configure Warmup Settings
Ready to start your email warm-up? You need to set up your email warmup tool the right way. Start slow. On your first day, send just two emails. On day two, send four. Keep increasing the number every day. This helps your email account look natural. If you use a new domain, keep the warm-up going for eight to twelve weeks. For older domains, three to four weeks is enough.
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:
Connect your email account to the warm-up tool.
Set your daily email volume. Begin with a low number, like 5–10 emails.
Make sure your emails get replies and are marked as read. This boosts your sender reputation.
Check your domain authentication. Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records.
Use the tool’s dashboard to adjust your settings as your reputation grows.
Tip: Never jump from sending a few emails to hundreds in one day. Sudden spikes can trigger spam filters.
Monitor Performance Metrics
You want to know how your email warmup process is working. Watch your performance closely. Look at open rates, click-through rates, bounce rates, and spam complaints. These numbers tell you if your emails reach the inbox or get blocked.
Here are the key metrics to track:
Open rates: Shows how many people open your emails.
Click-through rates: Tells you if people interact with your content.
Bounce rates: Points out delivery problems.
Spam complaints: Warns you if your emails annoy recipients.
Sender reputation: Measures trust with email providers.
Engagement levels: Tracks replies and interactions.
Use tools like Google Postmaster or your email warmup tool’s dashboard. These help you spot problems early and keep your email warm-up on track.
Adjust Strategy for Optimal Results
Your email warmup process needs regular tweaks. If you see low open rates, try changing your subject lines. High bounce rates mean you should clean your list. If spam complaints go up, review your content for spammy words.
Follow these steps to optimize your warm-up:
Increase your daily email volume slowly, about 5–10% each week.
Send emails at the same time each day. This builds a predictable pattern.
Use a list of engaged contacts. Avoid sending to inactive addresses.
Keep records of your sending volumes and engagement.
Use analytics tools for real-time feedback.
Note: Patience pays off. Give your email warm-up several weeks before launching big campaigns. Consistency and steady growth build trust with email providers.
Best Practices for Ongoing Email Warm-Up Success
Maintain List Hygiene
Keeping your email list clean helps your emails get delivered. If you send emails to fake or inactive people, your reputation drops. Here are some ways to keep your list healthy: 1. Only send emails to real people who open them. This helps your sender reputation. 2. Take out addresses like info@ or support@. These can be spam traps. 3. Delete any emails that bounce or have mistakes. Bounces hurt your warm up. 4. Make sure everyone on your list wants your emails. This keeps your cold email plan safe. 5. After each campaign, remove bounces, unsubscribes, and spam complaints. 6. Use double opt-in for new people. This keeps your list full of real users. 7. Clean your list often and watch who interacts. This protects your deliverability.
Check out these numbers to see why list hygiene is important:
Metric | Statistic (%) | Impact Description |
---|---|---|
Marketers rarely/never clean lists | Many do not keep their lists clean | |
Prioritize list hygiene for sender reputation | 48 | Helps keep a good reputation |
Improved engagement | 19 | More people interact with emails |
Decrease in spam complaint rates | >17 | Fewer complaints mean better deliverability |

Avoid Spam Triggers
You want your emails in the inbox, not in spam. During warm-up, do not use words like “FREE,” “URGENT,” or “ACT NOW.” Do not use all capital letters or too many exclamation marks. Sending too many emails at once can hurt your reputation. Always keep your sending pattern steady.
Here are some things that can trigger spam filters: 1. Using sales words or urgent language. 2. Sending lots of emails at one time. 3. Not setting up SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records. 4. Sending to bad or inactive addresses. 5. Sending at odd times or changing your volume a lot.
Write your emails in a friendly, normal way. This helps your cold emails get delivered and keeps your warm up working.
Use Inbox Rotation and Verification
Inbox rotation and email verification help your warm-up work better. Inbox rotation means you send emails from different accounts. This keeps your sending safe and protects your reputation. Email verification checks if addresses are real. This helps you avoid bounces and spam traps.
With Mails.ai, you get: - Unlimited inbox rotation to spread out your emails. - Free email verification to keep your list clean. - Dual-layer warm-up for both mailbox and campaign. - Real-time analytics to watch inbox placement and reputation.
These tools help you build a strong cold email plan and keep your warm up healthy. You will see more emails in the inbox and better engagement. Remember, steady warm-up and good habits help your emails get delivered for a long time.
You want your emails to go to the inbox, not spam. First, check if your email is healthy. Next, set up authentication for your account. Then, choose a good warm up tool. Mails.ai lets you warm up as much as you want. It also uses inbox rotation and checks if emails are real. Each step helps more people get your emails. When more people see your emails, you get better results. Want to reach more people and improve your email? Try Mails.ai for free today! Start your free trial 🚀
FAQ
What is email warm-up and why do you need it?
Email warm-up means sending and receiving small amounts of email to build trust with providers. You need it so your emails go to the inbox, not spam. Warm-up helps you get better results from your outreach.
How long should you run the email warm-up process?
For new domains, run warm-up for 2–4 weeks. Older domains need less time, maybe 1–2 weeks. Watch your open rates and Trust Score. If you see good results, you can start sending more emails.
Can you use Mails.ai for free email warm-up?
Yes! Mails.ai gives you unlimited email warm-up for Gmail and Google Workspace accounts on the free plan. You can connect as many inboxes as you want and start warming up right away.
What happens if you skip SPF, DKIM, or DMARC setup?
If you skip these records, your emails might land in spam or get blocked. Providers use SPF, DKIM, and DMARC to check if your emails are safe. Always set them up before starting warm-up.
How do you know if your warm-up is working?
Check your dashboard for open rates, reply rates, and Trust Score. If you see more emails in the inbox and fewer bounces, your warm-up works. Mails.ai shows real-time stats so you can track progress easily.
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