The Top Anti-Spam Add-Ins for Outlook

Stop spam before it hits your inbox

Microsoft Outlook is a popular email client included in many versions of the Microsoft Office/Microsoft 365 application suites. While Outlook comes with a junk email filter, third-party anti-spam add-ins can block spam, protect against phishing and other email fraud, and ensure your privacy. Here's a look at the top anti-spam add-ins for Microsoft Outlook.

The information in this article applies to Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2013, and Outlook 2010. We indicate which products support which versions of Outlook and other email clients.

01
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Spam Bully

Screenshot of SpamBully anti-spam add-in for Outlook
What We Like
  • Easy to install.

  • Recognizes your contacts.

  • Forwards only good email to your mobile device.

  • Accesses server blocklists.

What We Don't Like
  • No Mac version.

  • Free trial limited to a single email account.

Spam Bully is a highly regarded, full-featured spam blocker. It uses artificial intelligence and spam blocklists to ensure that only good emails reach your inbox. It detects links in phishing emails and provides detailed information about emails you receive, including IP address, character set, and how Spam Bully decided to filter it. Customize Spam Bully to recognize your contacts and set controls about what's allowed and what isn't.

Spam Bully offers a 14-day free trial, after which you can buy a one-year subscription.

Spam Bully works with Microsoft 365, Outlook 2019 and older, Live Mail, Outlook Express, Windows Mail, and IMAP.

02
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SPAMfighter

Screenshot of SPAMfighter anti-spam add-in for Outlook
What We Like
  • Gold Microsoft Partner.

  • Creates whitelists automatically.

What We Don't Like
  • Slightly outdated interface.

  • Sometimes removes whitelisted emails.

SPAMfighter partnered with Microsoft to build this effective anti-spam filter for Outlook and Outlook Express, as well as Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail, and Thunderbird. There currently isn't an Outlook for Mac version, though the company appears to be working on it.

SPAMfighter blocks spam and protects against phishing, identity theft, and other email fraud. You can report spam with a one-click alert that removes it from the rest of the SPAMfighter community, as well.

SPAMfighter is free for home use. There is an option for a one-year SPAMfighter Pro subscription that offers other features, including use on all an organization's PCs.

SPAMfighter works with Windows versions of Outlook 2019 and older, Outlook Express 5.5 and later, Windows Mail, Windows Live Mail, and Thunderbird.

03
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Spam Reader

Screenshot of Spam Reader anti-spam add-in for Outlook
What We Like
  • Works with Exchange, POP3, IMAP, and HTTP accounts.

  • Creates a dedicated folder for detected spam.

What We Don't Like
  • Lets some spam through.

  • Can be glitchy.

Spam Reader is a free anti-spam add-in for Outlook. This add-in uses Bayesian algorithms and user input to detect and redirect as much as 98% of the spam that comes to your Outlook inbox. To make filtering safer, Spam Reader uses a whitelisting technique that guarantees messages from regular correspondents won't be blocked as spam even if the contents look like spam. It is compatible with Exchange, POP3, IMAP, and HTTP accounts. 

Spam Reader offers a Pro version for a one-time fee that doesn't add a disclaimer message to outgoing emails, as the free version does after 30 days of use.

Spam Reader works with Windows versions of Outlook 2019 and older, as well as Outlook for Microsoft 365.

04
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MailWasher

Screenshot of MailWasher anti-spam add-in for Outlook
What We Like
  • Compatible with mobile devices.

  • Intelligently detects spam.

What We Don't Like
  • Sometimes crashes.

  • There's a bit of a learning curve.

MailWasher uses Bayesian spam filters to spot spam and profanities and keeps a customizable list of blocklisted email senders. Check your email at the server with MailWasher to block spam before it gets to your computer. The program learns as you use it, allowing only good messages to arrive in your inbox.

MailWasher has a free version as well as a paid-for Pro version for a one-year license. You can also try the Pro version free for 30 days. MailWasher Pro includes updates, access to the mobile version, a real-time spam blocker, and support. Use it on up to three computers.

MailWasher works independently of email programs, so you can use any email program you want, such as Outlook, Windows Live Mail, Thunderbird, Gmail, Hotmail, or Yahoo. It requires Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, or Windows XP with .NET4.

05
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Spamihilator

Screenshot of Spamihilator anti-spam add-in for Outlook
What We Like
  • Combines multiple strategies to detect spam.

  • Easy to use.

What We Don't Like
  • Does not offer web-based administration.

  • No recent upgrades.

Spamihilator is a free tool that works between your Outlook inbox and the internet, examining every incoming message. A set-up wizard makes installation easy. Spamihilator runs in the background and claims a 98% out-of-the-box spam recognition rate due to its Bayesian filter and a unique spam word filter. Customize Spamihilator by adding user-defined words and expressions to its spam word list.

Spamihilator requires Windows. It works with almost every email client, such as Outlook, Mozilla Thunderbird, Eudora, IncrediMail, Pegasus Mail, Phoenix Mail, and Opera.

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