Introduction
The contact form on your Newsifier website is a convenient way for readers, advertisers, and partners to reach you. Unfortunately, it is also a popular target for spam — unsolicited guest post pitches, link exchange requests, and automated messages. Newsifier already protects every contact form with reCAPTCHA, but some spam still comes from real people typing into the form manually, often from free email providers.
To give you more control, Newsifier now supports a blocked email domain list for the contact form. Any submission from a blocked domain is rejected before it reaches your inbox. This article explains how the feature works, when it makes sense to use it, and how to set it up from your admin panel.
How Does It Work?
Once a blocked domain list is active on your website, the contact form checks the email address a visitor enters before the message is sent:
The check looks at the domain part of the email address — everything after the
@symbol.If the domain is on your blocked list, the submission is rejected. The message is not delivered to your contact email, and nothing is stored.
The visitor sees an error message directly on the form explaining that the email address cannot be used to submit it.
If the domain is not on the list, the form works exactly as before.
The check happens on the server, so it cannot be bypassed by disabling scripts in the browser.
Tip: The blocked domain list works alongside the existing reCAPTCHA protection — it does not replace it. reCAPTCHA stops bots, while the domain list stops unwanted messages from real senders.
When Should You Use It?
Blocking email domains is most useful when you notice a clear pattern in the spam you receive. Common examples:
Free email providers: A large share of guest post and link exchange spam is sent from addresses ending in
@gmail.com,@hotmail.com,@outlook.com, or@yahoo.com.Disposable email services: Temporary inbox services that spammers use to avoid being traced.
Specific domains that keep contacting you: A company or agency that repeatedly sends unwanted messages despite being asked to stop.
📌 Note: Blocking a large provider such as @gmail.com also blocks genuine readers who use that provider. Before adding it to your list, consider whether your legitimate contacts (readers, tipsters, local businesses) are likely to use those addresses. Some publishers choose to mention an alternative way to get in touch — for example a direct email address on the contact page — so real people can still reach them.
How to Set Up Your Blocked Domain List
You can manage the blocked domain list yourself from the admin panel. No request to support is needed, and there is no additional cost.
Open the setting. In the Newsifier admin panel, go to [Settings > Start tab > Blocked Email Suffixes]
Add the domains you want to block. Enter each domain without the
@symbol, for examplegmail.comorhotmail.com. [comma-separated]Save your changes. The block is active immediately.
Test the form. Open your contact page and try submitting the form with an email address from one of the blocked domains. You should see an error message and the form should not send.
To change the list later, return to the same setting and add or remove domains. Removing a domain lifts the block straight away.
What Visitors See
When someone tries to submit the form with an email address from a blocked domain, the form does not send the message. Instead, an error message is shown on the form itself, so the visitor immediately understands why the submission did not go through. No message is delivered to your inbox.
FAQs
Can I block a single email address instead of a whole domain? Answer: The feature is designed around domains, since spam rarely comes from one fixed address. If you have a specific address that keeps contacting you, share it with support and we will look at the best way to handle it.
Will blocking @gmail.com also block Google Workspace addresses on custom domains? Answer: No. The check only looks at the domain after the
@. An address like[email protected]is not affected even if that company uses Google to host its email.Does this affect newsletter subscriptions or user registration? Answer: No. The blocked domain list applies only to the contact form. Newsletter sign-ups, comments, and user accounts are not affected.
Will spam stop completely? Answer: It will reduce significantly if most of your spam comes from the domains you block, but spammers can switch to other providers. If spam continues from new domains, simply add them to your list. If you are receiving a lot of automated spam, reach out to support to discuss additional anti-spam options for your contact form.
Can I see the messages that were blocked? Answer: No. Blocked submissions are rejected before they are sent, so they are not stored or delivered anywhere.
How quickly does the change take effect? Answer: Immediately after you save the setting. You can test it right away by submitting the form with an address from a blocked domain.
Is there a cost for this feature? Answer: No. The blocked domain list is included in your Newsifier subscription at no extra charge.
Conclusion
The blocked email domain list gives you a simple, targeted way to cut down spam on your contact page without adding friction for the majority of your readers. Decide which domains are causing the most noise, add them in your admin panel, and the block is active right away. If you are unsure whether blocking a domain is the right move for your audience, or you need help with other kinds of spam, reach out to [email protected] and we are happy to advise.