HighLevel December 2025 Email Marketing Performance Report
As 2025 comes to a close, December served as the final stress test for email infrastructure worldwide. Following a record-breaking Black Friday in November, HighLevel users maintained their momentum, sending 1.29 billion emails to close out the year.
December is often a challenging month for deliverability due to high volume and aggressive spam filtering during the holidays. Yet, HighLevel maintained elite performance metrics, ensuring users ended the year on a high note.
1. Delivery Rate
Delivery Rate measures the percentage of emails that successfully reach recipient servers. It is the ultimate test of a platform's reputation and infrastructure, especially during the holiday rush.
*Competitor data shown is updated on an annual basis and does not reflect data from this month.
Key Takeaway: HighLevel achieved a 95.69% delivery rate on dedicated domains despite the year-end rush. This proves that when you own your reputation, you can scale indefinitely without sacrificing deliverability.
2. Bounce Rate
Bounce Rate logs the portion of emails blocked from servers due to incorrect email addresses or refusal codes. Controlling it tightly keeps inbox delivery high.
*Competitor data shown is updated on an annual basis and does not reflect data from this month.
Key Takeaway: December's bounce rate remained steady at 4.34%, reflecting HighLevel's inclusive approach that allows customers to manage the quality of their own email lists while maintaining high deliverability.
3. Open Rate
Open Rate tracks the percentage of delivered emails that were opened by recipients. December is notoriously competitive, with every brand fighting for attention in the inbox.
*Competitor data shown is updated on an annual basis and does not reflect data from this month.
Key Takeaway: The dedicated open rate stood strong at 39.14%, well above the industry average of ~20-30%.
4. Click-Through Rate
Click-Through Rate indicates how many delivered emails resulted in a click. In December, this is the "money metric" as it represents customers clicking through to claim year-end deals.
*Competitor data shown is updated on an annual basis and does not reflect data from this month.
Key Takeaway: HighLevel emails generated a 4.36% click-through rate on dedicated domains. This figure is nearly double the typical industry benchmark of 2-2.5%, showing that HighLevel users are sending content that people actually want to click.
Shared vs. Dedicated Domains: The Breakdown
Our Dedicated Domain users drive the massive volume numbers (96% of total sends), yet HighLevel’s Shared Domain infrastructure remains a silent powerhouse. Often dismissed as "starter" territory, shared IPs on our platform defy expectations. While Dedicated Domains provide the superior control needed for scale, our shared pools consistently outperform industry standards. Smaller senders are achieving exceptional engagement rates, proving that you don't need a dedicated server to get elite results. Whether scaling to billions or nurturing a niche list, our infrastructure adapts to deliver.
Why HighLevel Leads the Pack
How do we maintain >96% delivery during the busiest email month of the year?
Custom Authenticated Domains: We empower users to own their reputation. By authenticating your own domain, you aren't at the mercy of others' bad sending habits.
Smart Traffic Management: Our infrastructure automatically manages IP warmth and reputation, ensuring that even when you scale up for Black Friday, your delivery doesn't drop.
Behavioral Automation: High engagement comes from sending the right message at the right time. Our workflows allow users to trigger emails based on clicks, visits, and tags, ensuring high relevance.
With 2025 in the books, we are ready to kick off 2026 strong. Whether you are sending a dozen personal notes or a billion broadcast emails, HighLevel is built to deliver.
