How our email verifier works
KillBounce runs a multi-layer verification pipeline on every email address you submit. Each layer catches a different class of failure — together they replace the guessing game with a deterministic verdict.
Syntax check
We validate the format of the email address against RFC 5322. Addresses like john@ or user@domain are flagged immediately before any network call is made.
Domain & MX record check
We query the domain's DNS to confirm it exists and has valid MX (Mail Exchange) records. If a domain has no MX records, no email can ever be delivered to it.
SMTP verification
We simulate the start of an email delivery — without actually sending anything — to check whether the mailbox exists and is accepting messages. This is the most accurate way to verify an email address.
Disposable email detection
We cross-reference the domain against a continuously updated database of 50,000+ disposable and temporary email providers (Mailinator, Guerrilla Mail, 10minutemail, etc.) and flag them accordingly.
Catch-all detection
Some domains accept all incoming emails regardless of whether the mailbox exists. We use an in-session SMTP probe to detect these and label them as "catch-all" so you can decide whether to include them.