Updated January 31, 2026
TL;DR: Mailtrack tracks Gmail opens and clicks for freelancers who send fewer than 10 emails per day. But the mandatory "Sent with Mailsuite" signature on the free tier screams automation to prospects, and per-seat pricing ($9.99/user/month for Advanced) punishes agencies that need to scale. We charge a flat $97/month for unlimited email accounts with built-in warmup, custom tracking domains, and a unified inbox. If you manage multiple client domains, our platform removes the per-seat tax and keeps your outreach looking professional.
Mailtrack became the default Gmail tracker for a reason. It is free, installs in seconds, and tells you when someone opens your email. For a solo founder sending ten emails a day, that is plenty.
But the free tier has a cost. Multiple agency operators report that the mandatory "Sent with Mailsuite" signature damages credibility with high-value prospects. One user noted that the branding in the signature of outgoing emails can be intrusive, especially for professional communication. When your prospect sees that line, the email stops feeling personal and starts looking like automation.
This article compares Mailtrack and Instantly across the metrics that matter to agency operators: pricing models, branding control, deliverability infrastructure, and scale. If you need to track emails across dozens of inboxes without looking like an amateur, read on.
The Hidden Cost of "Free" Email Tracking Tools
Free tracking tools monetize in two ways: data harvesting or branding injection. Mailtrack follows the second model. The free tier adds a visible signature to every outgoing email, effectively turning your message into an ad for their product.
That trade-off makes sense for personal use. But agencies bill clients for results. One user wrote that branding in the email signature looks unprofessional in business communication, and multiple agency operators flag this as a deal-breaker.
Chrome extension-based trackers also create management challenges for teams. While tools like MailTracker offer a centralized feed of recently opened emails, they lack the deliverability tools and unified reply management that agencies need. Free Gmail trackers like Mailtrack offer basic open and click insights but lack deliverability tools and unified reply management.
The real cost of "free" shows up when you try to scale past ten emails a day. Suddenly the branding, the limits, and the fragmented toolset become blockers.
Why "Sent with Mailtrack" Hurts Agency Reply Rates
Every email you send carries an implicit message about your professionalism. A clean, personal-looking email signals that you took time to write it. A signature reading "Sent with Mailsuite" signals automation.
Multiple reviewers flag this issue. One user noted that the branding in outgoing emails can be a bit intrusive, and another described frequent ads and the mandatory email signature as annoying.
The psychology is simple: high-value prospects receive hundreds of cold emails. They filter aggressively. Anything that looks like a mass blast gets ignored. A visible tracker signature breaks the illusion that your email was handwritten for them specifically.
Mailtrack Pro removes the signature for $5.99 to $9.99 per user per month. But that cost multiplies fast when you have 20 team members sending across 50 client inboxes.
Daily Sending Limits vs. Agency Scale
Gmail itself caps personal accounts at 500 emails per day. Google Workspace accounts can send up to 2,000 emails daily. These are system limits, not inbox-safe limits. Cold outreach triggers spam filters long before you hit these numbers.
Mailtrack's Advanced tier allows campaigns with mail merge for up to 10,000 recipients. That sounds like a lot until you run multi-step sequences. A five-email sequence to 2,000 prospects consumes your entire capacity.
Agencies running outreach for multiple clients hit these walls fast. You need a platform designed for volume, not a Chrome extension stretched beyond its limits.
Mailtrack vs. Instantly: Feature and Pricing Comparison
The table below compares Mailtrack Advanced (their highest tier) with our Hypergrowth plan (the most popular agency plan).
| Feature | Mailtrack Advanced | Instantly Hypergrowth |
|---|---|---|
| Price model | $9.99/user/month | $97/month flat fee |
| Email accounts | Per-user pricing | Unlimited |
| Free tier branding | "Sent with Mailsuite" | N/A (no free tier) |
| Custom tracking domain | Not available | Yes (CNAME setup) |
| Built-in warmup | No | Automated, unlimited accounts |
| Unified inbox | No | Yes (Unibox on Hypergrowth+) |
| Monthly email volume | 10,000 recipients per campaign | 100,000 emails |
| Team collaboration | Advanced tier only | Hypergrowth and above |
Detailed Feature Breakdown: Free vs. Paid
Mailtrack offers three tiers. The Free plan includes unlimited open tracking but attaches the mandatory signature and limits link tracking to 10 emails. The Pro plan ($5.99-$9.99/user) removes branding and adds full link tracking. The Advanced plan ($9.99/user) unlocks campaigns with mail merge.
We don't offer a free tier. Our Growth plan starts at $47/month and includes unlimited email accounts and warmup. The Hypergrowth plan at $97/month adds tools for teams, A/B testing, API integrations, Unibox for centralized reply management, and premium support. Note that Growth plan users can preview replies in Unibox but need Hypergrowth or Light Speed to reply directly within the interface.
For solo consultants or freelancers sending fewer than 10 emails per day, Mailtrack's free tier is a solid choice. The branding trade-off is acceptable when you're not managing client accounts or high-value B2B outreach. For agencies managing multiple domains, the lack of unified tracking, warmup, and custom domains creates friction that slows growth.
Pricing Models: Per-Seat Tax vs. Flat-Fee Growth
Here is the math for a 10-person agency:
- Mailtrack Advanced (10 users): $9.99 × 10 = $99.90/month
- Our Hypergrowth plan: $97/month (flat fee, unlimited accounts)
At 10 users, the costs look similar. But add five more team members and the gap widens:
- Mailtrack Advanced (15 users): $9.99 × 15 = $149.85/month
- Our Hypergrowth plan: $97/month
Scale to 25 users managing 100 client inboxes:
- Mailtrack Advanced (25 users): $9.99 × 25 = $249.75/month
- Our Hypergrowth plan: $97/month
Per-seat pricing punishes growth. Every new team member or client inbox increases your software bill. Most agencies run our Hypergrowth plan at $97 per month regardless of how many accounts they manage.
Why Agencies Switch from Mailtrack to Instantly
The switch usually happens after agencies hit one of three walls: inbox management chaos, deliverability problems, or reporting gaps. We address all three in a single platform.
"I have been using Instantly for around two years, primarily for reaching out to our target audience in Sweden at scale and personalized with AI, both for ourselves and for our clients. I find Instantly to be a reliable service; after trying many tools, we always return to Instantly." - Johan S on G2
Unlimited Accounts and Unified Inbox Management
Managing 20 Gmail accounts via Chrome tabs creates chaos. You lose track of which account sent what, replies scatter across inboxes, and follow-ups slip through the cracks. The result is missed meetings and annoyed clients.
Our Unibox centralizes all replies in one view (available on Hypergrowth and Light Speed plans). You see every response across every account without switching tabs. Filter by campaign, account, or status. One operator reported managing 50 inboxes without missing a single reply after switching to Unibox.
"I really like the analytics dashboard, which gives me clear insights into opens, clicks, and replies so I can adjust my campaigns quickly. The Unibox feature is a great touch—it helps me manage replies in one place without switching tools." - Shiv C. on G2
Outcome: Zero missed replies, faster response times, and clients who see you as responsive.
How to measure: Track average reply time in Unibox. Agencies should respond within 4 hours during business hours.
For a walkthrough of the campaign setup process, watch the full tutorial on YouTube.
Built-In Warmup and Deliverability Protection
Tracking is useless if your email lands in spam. Mailtrack tracks opens but does not protect sender reputation. We warm accounts automatically on all plans.
How warmup works: The system connects your accounts to a deliverability network of 4.2M+ accounts. These accounts exchange emails that signal legitimacy to Gmail, Outlook, and other providers. New domains build reputation before you send your first campaign.
Ramp plan:
- Turn on warmup for each new account
- Run for at least 14 days before launching campaigns
- Monitor health scores in the dashboard
- Start campaigns at 5 emails per inbox per day
- Ramp to 15 after one week, then 30 after three weeks
- Keep bounces under 1 percent
"I really like the straightforward nature of Instantly's warm-up feature for email accounts. It's incredibly easy to use with just one click, enabling us to warm up unlimited email accounts without any worries about usage limits." - Ashish T. on G2
The Warmup filters guide explains how to configure warmup for Google and Microsoft accounts.
Advanced Analytics and Client Reporting
Mailtrack shows who opened a specific email. That is useful for personal follow-ups but inadequate for agency reporting.
We provide campaign-level analytics: open rates, reply rates, click-through rates, and A/B test results. You can track link clicks across campaigns and monitor account health scores in real time using our dashboard.
"The platform is straightforward to set up, easy to run multiple campaigns, and keeps deliverability strong. Whether I'm testing a small list or scaling a larger outreach, it stays consistent and reliable." - Taylor G on G2
For a deeper look at analytics and features, the 'Instantly AI Review' video covers the platform in detail.
How to Implement Invisible Tracking for Scale
Custom tracking domains are non-negotiable for agencies sending at volume. Without one, your tracking pixels use a shared domain that spam filters recognize. Your ESP's tracking domain has a tarnished reputation due to widespread use, leading to deliverability problems.
Setting Up Custom Tracking Domains (CNAME)
A custom tracking domain replaces generic tracking links with branded ones like track.yourdomain.com. This isolates your sender reputation from other users.
Setup steps:
- Create a subdomain: Add a subdomain like "track" or "inst" to your domain (e.g., track.clientdomain.com).
- Add a CNAME record: In your DNS settings, create a CNAME record pointing to prox.itrackly.com.
- Enable in your account: Go to Email Accounts, click on the account, navigate to Settings, and enter your custom tracking domain.
- Verify: Click Check Status. Propagation takes 24-72 hours.
Custom tracking domains improve deliverability, build trust, and provide precise analytics. They replace generic tracking links that spam filters flag.
Mailtrack does not list custom tracking domains on their current pricing page, and we found no mention of this feature in their help documentation.
Step-By-Step: From Chrome Extension to Automated Campaigns
Transitioning from Mailtrack to our platform involves three main steps:
- Connect your Gmail accounts: Link existing accounts via OAuth or SMTP. We support inbox rotation across multiple accounts to distribute sending volume.
- Enable warmup: Turn on warmup for each account. Run for at least two weeks before launching campaigns. Monitor health scores in the dashboard.
- Build your first campaign: Import leads, write your sequence, and configure send windows, daily limits, and A/B variants. Start at 5 to 15 emails per inbox per day and ramp to 30 over three weeks.
"Instantly has a really good academy to get you started. I was able to get everything set up in a few hours." - Richard on Trustpilot
Choosing the Right Tracker for Your Growth Stage
Use Mailtrack if you are a freelancer sending fewer than 10 personal emails a day and you do not mind the signature. The free tier covers basic open tracking without cost.
Use us if you run an agency, manage multiple client domains, or need to scale beyond hobbyist volume. Our flat-fee pricing, unlimited accounts, built-in warmup, and custom tracking domains remove the friction that slows agency growth.
"Instantly is the best platform of its kind by a mile. They have everything you need in one spot from buying domains to warming them up, to scraping qualified leads, and then of course, actually sending emails on autopilot." - Jack B on Trustpilot
Stop paying per-seat fees that punish growth. Start a free trial, connect your first five inboxes, and see how much time you save when tracking, warmup, and reply management run from one dashboard.
Frequently asked questions about email tracking
Is Mailtrack really free?
Yes, Mailtrack offers a free plan. However, it includes the mandatory "Sent with Mailsuite" signature on all outgoing emails and limits link tracking to 10 emails. Removing the branding requires the Pro plan at $5.99-$9.99 per user per month.
How do I activate email tracking in Gmail?
For Mailtrack, visit the Chrome Web Store, search for Mailsuite, and click "Add to Chrome". Grant Gmail permissions when prompted. For our platform, connect your Gmail account via OAuth in the Email Accounts dashboard.
Can you track a Gmail email without the recipient knowing?
Yes, if you use a premium tracker without branding. We include custom tracking domain setup on all plans, which removes visible signatures and makes tracking invisible. Technically-savvy recipients can still detect tracking pixels by inspecting email source code.
What are Gmail's daily sending limits?
Personal Gmail accounts can send 500 emails per day. Google Workspace accounts can send up to 2,000 emails daily. These are system caps. Cold outreach triggers spam filters at much lower volumes, so keep sends under 30 per inbox per day.
Key terminology for email tracking
Open rate: The percentage of delivered emails that recipients opened. Calculated as (Unique Opens / Delivered Emails) × 100.
Click-through rate (CTR): The percentage of delivered emails where the recipient clicked a link. Calculated as (Unique Clicks / Delivered Emails) × 100.
Sender reputation: Domain and IP trust signals that mailbox providers use to accept or filter your mail. Built through consistent sending behavior, low spam complaints, and high engagement rates.
Custom tracking domain: A subdomain you control (like track.yourdomain.com) that replaces generic tracking links and isolates your sender reputation from other users. Custom domains improve deliverability by avoiding shared tracking domains flagged by spam filters
