Spam Filters: Reviews

ClearMyMail filters email before it ever reaches the user's inbox. Since it doesn't need to be installed directly onto a computer, it works with any operating system, including Windows, Mac and Linux, as well as portable… expanddevices like smartphones and BlackBerry phones. According to the company, mail is filtered 18 ways before being sent on to the recipient. ClearMyMail does require some setup time, but reviews are consistently positive. ClearMyMail rates particularly high for its low false-positive rate, meaning there's less risk of legitimate emails being blocked. A month-to-month option is offered (*Est. $3.50 per month) for those who don't want to commit to a yearly subscription. collapse

Reviewers like the community-based approach taken by Cloudmark Desktop. More than a million program users send information to Cloudmark, which uses their feedback to build the program's ever-growing database of known… expandspammers. Reports say one of the strengths of Cloudmark Desktop is that legitimate email is almost never blocked, though some spam does slip through. It's also easier to set up and use than most spam filters. The most significant downside is cost, and the subscription must be renewed annually. collapse

Critics say no free spam blocker matches the top-rated paid options for performance or ease of use. Still, Spamfighter gets very good grades for effectiveness. Reviewers praise the program's simplicity, and its… expandnetwork-based filtering means that Spamfighter blocks all spam right from installation, no "training" required. However, the free version of Spamfighter attaches ads to outgoing email, something that many find annoying. The only way to disable the ads is to upgrade to the paid version, Spamfighter Pro (*Est. $30 per year). collapse