HighLevel January 2026 Email Marketing Performance Report

Kicking off the new year with momentum, HighLevel users didn't slow down after the holiday rush. In January 2026, our users sent over 1.31 billion emails, proving that businesses are starting the year with aggressive outreach and engagement strategies.

January is crucial for setting the tone for the year. It's often a time of "inbox cleanup" for consumers, making engagement harder to earn. Despite this, HighLevel's infrastructure delivered improved performance across the board, signaling a strong start to 2026.

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.

*Competitor data shown is updated on an annual basis and does not reflect data from this month.

Key Takeaway: HighLevel achieved a robust 96.48% delivery rate on dedicated domains in January. This improvement shows that as volume stabilizes after the holidays, our reputation management systems continue to optimize 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: January saw a significant improvement in list hygiene, with the bounce rate dropping to 3.59%. This reflects our users' commitment to maintaining clean lists as they enter the new year.

3. Open Rate

Open Rate tracks the percentage of delivered emails that were opened by recipients. January is often competitive as brands launch New Year promotions.

*Competitor data shown is updated on an annual basis and does not reflect data from this month.

Key Takeaway: Engagement surged in January, with the dedicated open rate rising to 41.27%. This exceptional engagement suggests that recipients are highly receptive to the "New Year" campaigns sent by HighLevel users.

4. Click-Through Rate

Click-Through Rate indicates how many delivered emails resulted in a click. In January, this metric reflects how effectively businesses are converting interest into action.

*Competitor data shown is updated on an annual basis and does not reflect data from this month.

Key Takeaway: HighLevel emails generated a 4.60% click-through rate on dedicated domains. This figure is nearly double the typical industry benchmark, showing that HighLevel users are sending content that drives real action.

Shared vs. Dedicated Domains: The Breakdown

Our Dedicated Domain users continue to drive the majority of our volume (sending 1.2 billion emails), but our Shared Domain infrastructure delivered standout results in January. While Dedicated Domains offer superior control at scale, our shared pools are achieving massive engagement. Smaller senders utilizing our shared infrastructure saw open rates nearly hit 50%, proving that our shared reputation management is world-class.

Why HighLevel Leads the Pack

How do we maintain more than 96% delivery while handling over 1.3 billion emails?

• 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 high volume doesn't result in high bounce rates.

• 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 January setting a high bar, we are excited to see what the rest of 2026 holds. Whether you are sending a dozen personal notes or a billion broadcast emails, HighLevel is built to deliver.