SURBL works differently from sender-reputation blacklists. Instead of flagging your sending domain or IP, it flags domains referenced inside your email content, such as links, tracking domains, and landing pages. This means a clean sending domain can still get caught if a link or tracking domain in the email body has a bad reputation. This guide covers how SURBL works, how to check for a listing, and how to get it cleared.
SURBL (Spam URI Realtime Blocklist)
SURBL works differently from sender-reputation blacklists. Instead of checking your sending domain or IP, it only checks domains and URLs that appear inside the visible content of an email, such as links, tracking domains, and landing pages. This guide covers how SURBL works, what it means for your deliverability, and how to check and clear a listing.
What SURBL Actually Checks
According to SURBL's guidelines, its lists flag URLs found in the visible body of a message, not the sending domain or sending IP. It only applies when a spam filter scans an email's visible links, so if your sending domain isn't mentioned or linked in your email's visible content, which is a standard practice, a SURBL listing shouldn't affect that domain's deliverability.
SURBL is not a sender-reputation blacklist like Spamhaus or Barracuda; it only applies to the domain that appears in a clickable link, tracking pixel, or landing page URL. This is why we recommend keeping your sending domain separate from your tracking/link setup.
Delist a Domain from SURBL
Verify Your Domain Listing
Check whether your domain is listed in SURBL using the SURBL lookup service or another reputable blacklist checker.
Submit a Delisting Request
Go to SURBL's website and enter the domain name.
Complete the SURBL blacklist removal form. Please use English and US-ASCII characters (standard email characters) for all responses.
Name
Email address
Organization name
Street address
Telephone number
Website domain name or IP addressFill in the email information
Sending IP address
Full headers of a typical email message
Full source of the email message body
Description of the website and organizationClick 'Request Removal'
Important Note: SURBL will review your request and verify that the domain no longer poses a threat. Review times vary depending on the complexity of the case and the number of requests received.