ReadNotify

Overview

ReadNotify is an email and document tracking service for senders who need activity reports alongside controls such as retractable messages. Its strongest fit is a user who values timestamped proof of email posting and opening; the Gmail add-on is not suitable for people who access mail through POP or IMAP.

Key features

ReadNotify reports when a tracked email is opened, how long it is read, and whether it is forwarded or reopened. Click and attachment tracking, plus real-time alerts, broaden the picture beyond opens; notifications can arrive by email, SMS, or supported instant messaging services. These signals help follow engagement, but they do not establish what a recipient thought or did with a message.

Certified email provides digitally signed proof of posting and opening with timestamps. That is the service’s clearest differentiator for senders who need a dated record rather than a simple open alert. Tracking also covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF files. Reports may include approximate location, IP address, email or browser software, language, and document activity. This detail can be useful for follow-up, but it makes privacy controls important: users can permanently delete collected tracking information, ending further activity collection.

Self-destructing, ensured-receipt, and retractable emails add message controls that basic tracking tools may not provide. The Gmail add-on works with Google Workspace, and ReadNotify also describes a Hotmail/Outlook OfficeJS app. Gmail users should check their access method: the add-on does not work with POP or IMAP. Its page says email content is not sent to ReadNotify, received-message headers are temporarily processed but not stored, and communications are encrypted.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing, lasts indefinitely, and allows 20 tracked emails per month. It includes two weeks of trial access to sender tracking and detailed recipient tracking, so it is a way to try the deeper reporting, not a generous ongoing allowance.

Monthly Select costs $3.99 a month and includes 350 emails per subscription period, with unused emails accumulating indefinitely. It suits modest, irregular use where a monthly term is preferable. Basic costs $24 a year and includes 2000 emails per subscription period, also with unused emails accumulating indefinitely; it is the lower-cost annual option for users who can work within that allowance.

Premium costs $36 a year and includes the same 2000 emails per subscription period and rollover terms as Basic. Since the included allowance is identical, the stated plan terms alone do not establish a reason to pay the premium; buyers should compare the plan details before choosing. Subscriptions have email limits, credits roll over only while the subscription is current, and there is no pay-as-you-go option. Check that the allowance matches expected sending, particularly before committing to an annual term.

Platforms

ReadNotify supports Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, web, and browser extensions. It supports Gmail and Outlook, but Gmail compatibility depends on using the add-on through Google Workspace rather than POP or IMAP access.

Who it's for

ReadNotify is a sensible fit for senders who need email and document activity reports, timestamped proof of posting and opening, or controls over messages after sending. It is less suitable for someone who needs an unrestricted monthly volume, wants pay-as-you-go billing, or relies on POP/IMAP to access Gmail.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Digitally signed proof of posting and opening with timestamps is more formal than a basic open notification.
• Pros: Tracking spans email, common Office documents, and PDFs, with alerts delivered through several channels.
• Pros: Users can permanently delete collected tracking data, and the Gmail add-on describes encrypted communications and limited header handling.
• Cons: The free allowance is 20 tracked emails per month, while paid subscriptions impose email limits and do not support pay-as-you-go use.
• Cons: Gmail users accessing mail over POP or IMAP cannot use the Gmail add-on.
• Cons: Basic and Premium have the same stated annual email allowance and rollover terms, making their price difference hard to assess from those terms alone.

Alternatives

For a broader comparison, see Sales Email Tracking Software.

Mailbutler Smart Assistant is worth considering for users who want a freemium option across a wider range of listed platforms. Boomerang may suit Gmail or G Suite users who want scheduled sending and reminders, with a free plan limited to 10 message credits per month. Mixmax offers a free allowance of 20 tracked emails per month and up to 50 sequence recipients, making it an alternative for users who need sequence support.

DidTheyReadIt is another paid email-tracking option with a free subscription. Mail Track for Gmail is a fit for readers prioritizing unlimited tracked emails, open counts, timestamps, and push notifications on its free plan. Mailsuite offers a freemium alternative with a Mailtrack plan at $6.99 a month. Right Inbox has a free tier limited to five emails per month for solo use. Yesware provides a free option with basic open and attachment tracking and 10 campaign recipients per month.

Verdict

Choose ReadNotify if timestamped proof, document tracking, and post-send message controls matter more than a high or flexible email allowance. Its activity reporting is broad, but the monthly caps, absence of pay-as-you-go billing, and Gmail POP/IMAP restriction are material reasons to look elsewhere.