ReadNotify

Overview

ReadNotify is an email and document tracking service for senders who want activity reports and controls over messages. It is best suited to people who need timestamped proof of posting and opening alongside tracking; its Gmail add-on rules out users who access mail through POP or IMAP.

Key features

ReadNotify reports when tracked emails are opened, how long they are read, and whether they are forwarded or reopened. Click and attachment tracking, plus real-time alerts, add useful signals for follow-up. Notifications can arrive by email, SMS, or supported instant messaging services, though engagement data cannot establish a recipient’s intent.

Certified email provides digitally signed proof of posting and opening with timestamps, a stronger record than a basic open alert when dated evidence matters. Tracking also covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF documents. Reports may include approximate location, IP address, email or browser software, language, and document activity. That breadth can help explain recipient activity, but it is sensitive information; users can permanently delete collected tracking data, ending further activity collection.

Self-destructing, ensured-receipt, and retractable emails give senders message controls as well as monitoring. The Gmail add-on works with Google Workspace, and the service also describes a Hotmail/Outlook OfficeJS app. Gmail users should note that the add-on does not work when mail is accessed through POP or IMAP. Its page says email content is never sent to ReadNotify, received-message headers are temporarily processed but not stored, and communications are encrypted.

Pricing

The Free plan costs nothing and lasts indefinitely, with 20 tracked emails per month. It includes two weeks of trial access to sender tracking and detailed recipient tracking, so it is useful for light use but not a substitute for a continuing paid quota.

Monthly Select costs $3.99 a month and allows 350 emails per subscription period. It suits users who need a modest monthly allowance without an annual commitment; unused emails accumulate indefinitely. Basic costs $24 a year for 2,000 emails per subscription period, making it the lower-cost annual option for regular tracking. Premium costs $36 a year for the same 2,000-email allowance. That higher price is hard to justify from the stated quota alone.

Subscriptions have email limits, and unused credits roll over while the subscription remains current; ReadNotify does not offer pay-as-you-go plans. Check the quota against actual sending needs before subscribing.

Platforms

ReadNotify supports Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, web, and an extension. Email client support covers Gmail and Outlook, subject to the Gmail POP/IMAP restriction.

Who it's for

Choose ReadNotify if timestamped proof, document tracking, or message controls matter alongside email engagement signals. It is less suitable for high-volume senders who need flexible, usage-based billing, or Gmail users who rely on POP or IMAP.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Digitally signed proof of posting and opening gives a dated record when ordinary open alerts are insufficient.
• Pros: Tracking spans common Office documents and PDFs as well as email, with optional recipient and document activity details.
• Pros: Permanent deletion of collected tracking information lets users stop further activity collection.
• Cons: Subscription email caps and no pay-as-you-go option limit flexibility for changing or irregular workloads.
• Cons: Gmail add-on access excludes users who retrieve mail over POP or IMAP.
• Cons: Premium costs more annually than Basic for the same stated 2,000-email allowance.

Alternatives

Mailbutler Smart Assistant is worth considering for readers seeking a freemium option across a broad set of platforms. Boomerang may suit Gmail or G Suite users who want send-later and reminder features, with a free plan capped at 10 message credits per month.

Mixmax offers a free allowance of 20 tracked emails per month plus sequence recipients, making it a relevant alternative for users who need both tracking and sequences. DidTheyReadIt is another email-tracking option to compare.

Mail Track for Gmail may be preferable to readers who prioritize unlimited tracked emails and push notifications on a free plan. Mailcastr offers a free tracking tier with a web dashboard, push notifications, and Android and iOS apps. Mailsuite is an alternative with a freemium model and a paid plan that includes unlimited tracking, seven days of history, and limited link and campaign email allowances.

Right Inbox is another freemium option, though its Limited plan is capped at five emails per month and excludes mail merge, sequences, and CRM integration. Readers comparing products by category can also browse Sales Email Tracking Software.

Verdict

ReadNotify is a strong choice for senders who need timestamped proof, document tracking, and message controls in one service. Its main trade-offs are capped subscription quotas and the Gmail POP/IMAP restriction; choose another tool if either conflicts with your workflow.