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Spamfighter Pro

*Est. $30
Reviewed
February 2012
by ConsumerSearch
Spamfighter Pro

Pros
  • Easy to use
  • No ads
  • Network-based filtering means no training
  • Filters by language
  • Effective
Cons
  • Yearly subscription
  • Doesn't work with all email clients

According to experts, Spamfighter Pro has a number of features that set it apart from similar spam filtering software. Spamfighter's filter is network-based, so it relies on a large community of users to identify and block spammers. That means that Spamfighter Pro is effective from the moment's it's installed and it requires no rules-based filter. It allows users to block spam written in foreign languages, and it has advanced blacklisting and whitelisting options. Spamfighter Pro works with Microsoft's Outlook, Outlook Express and Windows Live Mail, and with Mozilla's Thunderbird. Spamfighter also comes in a free edition, but users must put up with a thinner feature set and annoying ads in outgoing emails as well as in the program itself.

Most reviews of Spamfighter Pro are of earlier versions, though comments remain largely relevant. The most reliable review source for Spamfighter Pro is PCMag.com, whose review contrasts the paid and free versions. Web User and TopTenReviews.com also rank Spamfighter Pro among the best spam filters. Download.com doesn't have a professional review, but the site provides an impressive number of user reviews for some added perspective.

Our Sources

1. PCMag.com

PCMag.com's Neil J. Rubenking gives Spamfighter 4 stars out of 5. He says Spamfighter is very effective, and he looks at the advantages and disadvantages of both the free and Pro versions. Rubenking notes that the Pro edition does away with the annoying ads of the free version, and it has an unlimited blacklist/whitelist and multilanguage blocking options.

Review: Spamfighter Standard, Neil J. Rubenking, June 10, 2008

2. WebUser

This British site covers a number of anti-spam software programs. Reviews are very short and there's no discussion of methodology, but Web User does seem to test many of the programs. Scott Colvey gives Spamfighter Pro a Gold Award.

Review: Spamfighter Pro, Scott Colvey, Dec. 17, 2009

3. TopTenReviews.com

TopTenReviews.com's coverage in the anti-spam category is more balanced than their other roundups. Spamfighter Pro gets a Gold Award, earning top marks for its feature set, ease of use and installation, and stability. Editors say only customization and filtering could be slightly improved.

Review: Spamfighter Pro, Editors of TopTenReviews.com, Not Dated

4. Download.com

Nearly 5,000 users weigh in on the Spamfighter program, contributing ratings and occasional reviews. The majority of these ratings are positive, with Spamfighter receiving an average of 4 out of 5 stars. Most reports are of earlier versions; only a handful pertain to the current software, but those regard it equally well.

Review: Spamfighter, Contributors to Download.com

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