Mailgun Validate for ActiveCampaign checks contact email addresses for deliverability inside ActiveCampaign. You can use it in two ways:
- In automations: Validate each contact's email address as it enters an automation, then branch on the result.
- Bulk validation: Validate your full contact database, a segment, an uploaded list, or a single address from the Accounts page.
This article covers connecting your Mailgun account, adding validation to an automation, and running bulk validations.
Before you begin
You need:
- An ActiveCampaign account with access to Automations.
- A Mailgun account with Validate. If you don't have a Mailgun account, you can sign up for one while connecting (see Step 2).
Pricing
New Mailgun customers who sign up through ActiveCampaign get the Marketplace Validations 5k Plan: $19/month for 5,000 validations. Validations beyond 5,000 in a month are billed at tiered overage rates.
If you already have a Mailgun account, your current plan must include Validate.
Step 1: Add the Mailgun Validate action to an automation
- In ActiveCampaign, go to Automations.
- Create a new automation, or open an existing one.
- Click + to add a step.
- In Add an action, search for
mailgun. - Select Mailgun Validate - Validate single email.
Step 2: Connect your Mailgun account
The first time you add the action, ActiveCampaign prompts you to connect Mailgun Validate. Click Connect.
A new window opens asking for your Mailgun API key.
Follow the path that matches your situation.
If you already have a Mailgun account
- Confirm your Mailgun plan includes Validate.
- In a separate tab, log in to app.mailgun.com.
- Open the account menu and select API Security.
- Create or copy an API key.
- Return to the connection window, paste the key into API key, and click Connect.
Keep your API key secure. Your Mailgun API key grants access to your Mailgun account. Don't share it publicly or store it in unsecured locations.
If you don't have a Mailgun account
- In the connection window, click create an account.
- Complete the signup form for the Marketplace Validations 5k Plan and enter your payment details.
- Verify your Mailgun account using the email Mailgun sends you.
- Copy the API key shown after signup.
- Return to the connection window, paste the key into API key, and click Connect.
The signup page shows the plan details before you enter payment information.
Confirm the connection
After you click Connect, Mailgun confirms the connection and returns you to ActiveCampaign.
In ActiveCampaign, you'll see Account connected! Click Continue.
Step 3: Review result values and finish
The Tags step lists the results Mailgun Validate assigns to each contact it processes. Review them, then click Finish.
The action now appears in your automation.
Step 4: Use results in your automation
When a contact reaches the Mailgun Validate step, their email address is validated and the contact is marked with the result. Add steps after it to act on the result, for example:
- Add an If/Else branch that continues the sequence only for Deliverable contacts.
- Route Undeliverable and Do Not Send contacts out of the automation, or add them to an exclusion or suppression list.
Place the Validate step before your first Send an email step so invalid addresses are caught before you send.
Validation usage. Each contact that passes through the Validate step uses one validation from your plan.
Validation results
| Result | Meaning | Recommended action |
|---|---|---|
| Deliverable | Email exists and can receive mail. | Safe to send. |
| Do Not Send | Email exists but shouldn't be mailed: role addresses, disposable addresses, or previously bounced. | Exclude from sends. |
| Catch All | Domain accepts all email regardless of whether the mailbox exists. Delivery is possible but not guaranteed. | Send with caution, or monitor engagement. |
| Undeliverable | Email doesn't exist, or the mailbox is full or disabled. Will hard bounce. | Suppress. |
| Unknown | Mailgun couldn't determine deliverability because the mail server didn't respond. | Re-validate later. |
Run bulk validations
Bulk validations run from the Mailgun Validate panel on an ActiveCampaign Account record. Use them to clean an existing database or check a list before importing it.
Open the Mailgun Validate panel
- In the left-hand menu, go to Contacts → Accounts.
- Open an existing account. If you don't have one, click Add an account, create it, then open it.
The Mailgun Validate panel appears below General Details on the account record.
Start a new validation
Click New Validation and choose a validation type.
Validate database: Validate your Entire customer database, or A segment of my customer database. Select an option and click Validate.
Validate an email list: Drop in a CSV or TXT file of email addresses. If you use a CSV, download the CSV template first and format your file to match it.
Validate a single address: Enter one email address and click Validate to get an immediate result.
Review results and update contacts
- Bulk validations appear under History with their status. Large lists can take some time to complete.
- When a validation completes, review the summary under Latest validation.
- Choose to update your contacts. ActiveCampaign marks each contact with its validation result.
Validation results are only written to your contacts when you choose to update them.
Use results to manage your list
After updating contacts, use the results to:
- Build segments of Deliverable contacts for campaigns.
- Add Undeliverable and Do Not Send contacts to your exclusion or suppression lists.
Troubleshooting
Mailgun Validate doesn't appear when I search for an action
Make sure you're searching from Add an action inside an automation, not the start trigger list.
The connection fails after I enter my API key
- Confirm the API key was copied in full with no extra spaces.
- Confirm the key is active in API Security in Mailgun.
- Confirm your Mailgun plan includes Validate. If it doesn't, upgrade your plan in Mailgun or contact Mailgun Support.
I don't see the Mailgun Validate panel on the Accounts page
Open an individual account record. The panel shows on the account record, not on the Accounts list.
My bulk validation is still processing
Large databases and lists take longer to complete. Check History for the current status.
My CSV list doesn't start validating
Download the CSV template from the Validate an email list screen and reformat your file to match it.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an existing Mailgun account?
No. You can create one during setup and sign up for the Marketplace Validations 5k Plan ($19/month for 5,000 validations).
Can I use my existing Mailgun account?
Yes, if your plan includes Validate. Connect it with your existing API key.
Is there a free trial?
No. The Marketplace Validations 5k Plan is a paid monthly plan.
Does Mailgun Validate change my contacts without my approval?
The automation action marks each contact that passes through it. Bulk validations only update contacts when you choose to apply the results.
What data is sent to Mailgun?
The email addresses being validated: the contact's address in an automation, or the addresses in your database, segment, or uploaded list for bulk validation.
Who handles support?
For questions about Mailgun Validate, API keys, billing, or validation results, contact Mailgun Support. For ActiveCampaign platform questions such as automations, accounts, or user roles, contact ActiveCampaign Support.