NeverBounce and validateemail.io at a glance
| Feature | NeverBounce | validateemail.io |
|---|---|---|
| Real-time API for one address | Yes, meant for checks at the point of entry | Yes |
| Bulk list verification | Yes | No. The batch API takes up to 100 addresses per request. |
| Mailbox (SMTP) verification | Yes | No. It's on our roadmap. |
| Catch-all detection | Yes, as a catchall result | No |
| Disposable detection | Yes, as a disposable result | Yes, with a list refreshed daily |
| Result codes | valid, invalid, disposable, catchall, unknown | valid, invalid, risky, unknown, each with a reason |
| Try it without an account | Free test credits | The free email checker needs no account |
| Pricing | Pay-as-you-go credits or a monthly plan | Pay as you go at £0.002 per email, or a custom Enterprise plan. Opening soon. |
When NeverBounce is the better choice
Choose NeverBounce if you need to know whether a specific mailbox exists, or if your main job is cleaning existing lists. Mailbox checks and catch-all detection need a conversation with the recipient's mail server, and validateemail.io doesn't do that yet.
NeverBounce also handles large lists in bulk. Its own guidance is to use the single-address API for real-time checks and the bulk feature for lists you already have.
When validateemail.io fits better
validateemail.io is built for the sign-up form: one quick request when the user submits, and an answer you can act on in code.
- Every response includes the result of each check next to the verdict, so you can set your own policy. A B2B form might accept role addresses like
sales@but block disposable ones. - Typo suggestions know which domains each provider really uses.
gmial.combecomesgmail.com, while real regional domains likeyahoo.deandhotmail.itare left alone. - The API runs on Cloudflare's network and caches domain lookups, so checks on popular domains don't wait on DNS.
- You can run the full set of checks in the free email checker before you sign up for anything.
Switching from NeverBounce
If you're moving sign-up validation from NeverBounce, map its result codes like this.
| NeverBounce result | validateemail.io result | Notes |
|---|---|---|
valid | valid | |
invalid | invalid | When the domain or its mail server is the problem. A missing mailbox at a real domain comes back valid from us, because we don't check mailboxes. |
disposable | risky, reason disposable | |
catchall | valid | We don't test whether a domain accepts every recipient. |
unknown | unknown | NeverBounce uses it when the mail server couldn't be reached; ours means a DNS lookup failed. Retry later in both cases. |
The API reference lists every status and reason, and the guides for Node.js, Python and PHP show complete integrations.
Frequently asked questions
Is validateemail.io cheaper than NeverBounce?
Our pay-as-you-go price is £0.002 per email, which is £20 for 10,000 checks, with no subscription. NeverBounce lists its prices on its own website, so compare the two at the volume you expect. Paid plans open soon, and you can register your interest now.
Does validateemail.io check whether the mailbox exists?
Not yet. We confirm that the domain exists and has working mail servers. Mailbox-level checks are on the roadmap, and the response already has a checks.smtp field that stays null until then.
Should I block catch-all addresses at sign-up?
Usually not, because many real company domains accept mail for any name. Block invalid and disposable addresses, and treat everything else as worth a confirmation email.
NeverBounce is a trademark of its owner. This page isn't affiliated with or endorsed by NeverBounce. Details come from NeverBounce's public website and documentation as of October 2026, so check their site for current features and prices. We also compare validateemail.io with ZeroBounce and mailboxlayer.