CheckMXCheckMX vs Hunter
Hunter is a broader prospecting platform: it finds email addresses, verifies them and runs sequences. CheckMX is a cold email outreach workspace that comes with email checks. The two overlap in places, so this page sets out the differences.
Hunter prices checked Oct 27, 2026 on its official pricing page. Vendors change prices, so confirm there. We describe only what that page states.
The short version
Hunter shares credits across its Email Finder, Verifier and Domain Search. Verification costs 0.5 credit per address and unknown results are free. Plans: Free at $0 with 50 credits a month; Starter $49 a month ($34 a month billed yearly) with 2,000 credits; Growth $149 a month ($104 yearly) with 10,000; Scale $299 a month ($209 yearly) with 25,000; Enterprise is custom.
Because verification costs half a credit, 2,000 credits could cover up to 4,000 addresses if you used them only for verification. That is our arithmetic, not a Hunter claim, and it ignores credits spent on finding. CheckMX comes with email checks on every plan, including the free Sandbox.
Pricing compared
| Item | Hunter (checked Oct 27, 2026) | CheckMX |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0: 50 credits a month (up to 100 verifications at 0.5 credit) | Email checks included free with every plan, including the free Sandbox. |
| Starter | $49 a month ($34 a month yearly): 2,000 credits | Not offered |
| Growth | $149 a month ($104 a month yearly): 10,000 credits | Not offered |
| Scale | $299 a month ($209 a month yearly): 25,000 credits | Not offered |
| Enterprise | Custom | Not offered |
| Verification cost | 0.5 credit per address; credits are shared with Finder and Domain Search | No credits for email checks |
| Unknown results | Free | Email checks are included free. |
Source: Hunter pricing, checked Oct 27, 2026. CheckMX email checks are included free with every plan; see the homepage for plans.
Features compared
| Feature | Hunter | CheckMX |
|---|---|---|
| Core job | Prospecting platform with finder, verifier and sequences | Email verification, with a smaller outreach workspace |
| Email finder and Domain Search | Yes | No |
| B2B lead database | Yes | No |
| Cold email sequences | Yes | Campaigns, unified inbox and mailbox warm-up workspace |
| Warm-up | Add-on | Mailbox warm-up in the workspace |
| API and MCP | API and MCP | API keys (Bearer auth), CLI, hosted MCP tool and webhooks for bulk-job events. |
| Users | Unlimited users | Not stated on the pricing page we checked |
| Bulk verification | Not stated on the pricing page we checked | CSV upload, up to 2 MB and 10,000 unique addresses per job. |
| Catch-all handling | Not stated on the pricing page we checked | Catch-all domains are labelled risky, because acceptance cannot confirm an individual inbox. |
| Free tools | Not stated on the pricing page we checked | Email verifier, MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC, blacklist and catch-all checkers |
“Not stated on the pricing page we checked” means we did not confirm it either way. It is not a claim that the feature is missing.
When to pick Hunter instead
- You need to find email addresses and company contacts, not only verify addresses you already hold.
- You want a B2B lead database and a finder in the same account as your verifier.
- You want sequences and a warm-up add-on from the same vendor.
- You have a team and want unlimited users on the plan.
When CheckMX is a good fit
- You already have a list and want verdicts with reasons, plus free tools to inspect domains.
- You want email checks included with an outreach workspace, without buying verification credits.
- You want catch-all domains kept as risky and unknown results never charged.
- You want an assistant, CLI or API to verify addresses on demand.
No verifier, including CheckMX, can guarantee delivery. A server may accept an address during a check and still bounce or filter a real message, and catch-all domains cannot be confirmed by acceptance alone. Read what catch-all emails mean and try the free email verifier on a few addresses to judge the verdicts yourself.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hunter a direct CheckMX competitor?
Partly. Both verify email addresses. Hunter also finds addresses, holds a B2B lead database and runs sequences, so it covers more of prospecting. CheckMX is narrower and focused on verification.
How many verifications does a Hunter plan include?
Verification costs 0.5 credit, so Starter at 2,000 credits could cover up to 4,000 if all credits go to verification. Credits are shared with Email Finder and Domain Search, so real numbers depend on how you use them (checked Oct 27, 2026).
Does CheckMX find email addresses?
No. CheckMX verifies addresses you provide. If finding contacts is the main job, Hunter is a better fit.
Does CheckMX sell verification credits?
No. Email checks are included free with every plan, including the free Sandbox.
More comparisons
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- CheckMX vs NeverBounce
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- Hunter alternatives
Test CheckMX on your own addresses
Email checks come with every plan, including the free Sandbox.
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