Identify signups from free email providers
VerifyWall detects emails from Gmail, Yahoo, Outlook, and hundreds of other free providers — useful for B2B platforms that require business email addresses.
What it is
Free email providers like Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook.com, and ProtonMail offer email accounts at no cost. While perfectly legitimate for personal use, free email addresses on B2B SaaS platforms can indicate lower-quality signups, trial abuse, or users who are less committed to a business relationship.
Why it matters for SaaS
For B2B SaaS platforms, the distinction between free and business email addresses is meaningful. Users signing up with company emails ([email protected]) are typically more qualified leads with higher conversion rates. Free email signups are more likely to be tire-kickers, competitors doing research, or users who will abuse free trials without converting to paid plans.
How VerifyWall detects it
VerifyWall maintains a database of known free email providers covering hundreds of services worldwide — from major providers like Gmail and Yahoo to regional free email services. When an email is checked, we identify whether its domain belongs to a free email provider and include the "free_email" signal in the response. This is a soft signal meant to inform, not block.
Risk score impact
Free email detection adds only 5 points to the risk score. On its own, a free email is not a strong abuse indicator — millions of legitimate users have Gmail addresses. It becomes meaningful when combined with other signals.
API response example
When this threat type is detected, the API returns a response like this:
{
"data": {
"id": "a1b2c3...",
"type": "checks",
"attributes": {
"subject": "[email protected]",
"subject_type": "email",
"risk_score": 5,
"risk_level": "none",
"reasons": [
"free_email"
],
"details": {
"email": "[email protected]",
"domain": "gmail.com",
"is_disposable": false,
"has_mx_records": true,
"is_free_provider": true
}
}
}
}Frequently asked questions
Should I block all free email signups?
For most platforms, no. Free email detection is best used as a qualifying signal, not a blocker. B2B SaaS platforms might require business emails for enterprise plans while allowing free emails for individual accounts. The signal helps you tailor your onboarding and lead qualification process.
Which free email providers are detected?
VerifyWall detects hundreds of free email providers worldwide, including Gmail, Yahoo Mail, Outlook.com, ProtonMail, iCloud Mail, GMX, Mail.com, Yandex Mail, and many regional providers. The database is regularly updated as new providers appear.
How does free email detection work with Google Workspace?
Google Workspace (formerly G Suite) uses custom domains ([email protected]), not the gmail.com domain. These are correctly identified as business emails, not free emails. Only addresses using the actual free provider domains (gmail.com, yahoo.com, etc.) are flagged.
Related resources
Integration Guides
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